Prosperity and Poverty. Prosperity Gospel?

Do you believe in the prosperity gospel? I don't, but should I believe in a gospel of poverty?

Jesus said:

Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
 
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Lk 6:20–21 NIV

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Lk 6:24 NIV

So should we all be poor? I read in the Old Testament that poverty is a curse.

Should wealth be a sin?

The first person in Europe to be converted through Paul’s ministry was a rich merchant, Lydia.

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

When she and the members of her household were baptised, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. Acts 16:14–15 NIV

Most churches in the first Christian centuries were house churches. The large houses of wealthy Christians became house churches.

The question is not whether you are allowed to be rich, but what you do with your wealth.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Jas 2:14–17 NIV

There are some rich Christians who are politically conservative. They want to pay less tax. They can pay for the best care from a specialist, but they don't worry about poor people dying because they can't afford good care.

What does the Bible say?

Happy are those who consider the poor; the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble.

The LORD protects them and keeps them alive; they are called happy in the land. You do not give them up to the will of their enemies. 

 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed; in their illness you heal all their infirmities. Ps 41:1–3 NRSV