Leon, a 40 year-old man from Paris, had spent the last 20 years as a dedicated follower of the prosperity gospel.
He had given away a substantial amount of money to his church and various prosperity preachers, firmly believing that his generosity would lead to financial blessings.
Yet, despite his consistent giving, Leon continued to struggle financially.
Frustrated and disillusioned by the constant demands for more money, Leon decided to adopt a contrarian approach, inspired by a French perspective.
He resolved to stop giving money to the church and prosperity preachers.
His decision was reinforced by Psalm 126, which says,
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
This verse led Leon to a profound realization: to start reaping, one must stop sowing.
Emboldened by this insight, Leon ceased his financial contributions and, astonishingly, his business began to flourish.
However, his wife Marie was a bit worried because her father, Henry, was a pastor at their local church. Henry firmly believed it was a sin not to give, but Leon felt that 20 years of giving was sufficient.
To explain his decision, Leon wrote a letter to Henry, outlining his thoughts in five main points:

1. Everything has a season: Leon explained that his season of giving was over.
2. It was time to reap: He felt it was now time to benefit from his hard work.
3. If it’s not working, try something different: Leon believed that after 20 years, it was clear the prosperity gospel wasn’t working for him.
4. All giving by Christians is voluntary in the teaching of the New Testament: He emphasized that the New Testament encourages voluntary giving, not compulsion.
5. The church should not promise blessings for money: Leon argued that it was wrong for churches to promise financial blessings in exchange for money.

Henry responded with a short letter, citing traditional teachings about tithing, but Leon remained unconvinced.
His newfound wealth seemed to him to be proof that he had made the right decision.
Inspired by his own experience, Leon decided to share his story with a wider audience.
Leon wrote a book that became a bestseller and set thousands of people free from the burdens of the prosperity gospel.
In his book, he addressed common frustrations:
“Are you tired of being told that you need to give more money to your church in order to be blessed by God?
Are you tired of hearing that if you give more money, you’ll be more successful and prosperous?”
His story exposed the lies and false teachings about tithing and the prosperity gospel that had been promoted in many churches.
Leon’s book offered a biblical perspective on giving and wealth, helping readers understand their true purpose and calling in relation to money.
It provided practical guidance for managing finances and living a truly prosperous life, free from the guilt and shame often associated with these false teachings.
“For anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the Bible’s teachings on money and wealth, reading this will help you gain a renewed sense of purpose and direction in your financial life and equip you with the tools you need to live a life of true prosperity,” Leon wrote.
He urged readers: “Don’t let false teachings hold you back any longer.
Learn the truth about tithing and the prosperity gospel, and start living the truly prosperous life God intended for you.”
By uncovering the truth about tithing and the prosperity gospel, Leon’s readers could finally see through the lies and false teachings promoted in many churches.
They could develop a deeper, better biblical perspective on giving and wealth, helping them understand their true purpose and calling in relation to money. The book provided practical guidance for managing finances and living a truly prosperous life, free from the guilt and shame often associated with these false teachings.
Through his book, Leon hoped to help others gain a renewed sense of purpose and direction in their financial lives by understanding the Bible’s teachings on money and wealth.
His journey encouraged everyone to stop giving blindly and start receiving the true prosperity that comes from wise financial stewardship and sincere faith.

www.tonyegar.com

A fictional story.