Why Church Folk Are Poor: Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs About Money

Have you ever wondered why people who love God, believe in the Bible, and attend church seem to struggle with their finances? I know I did. Growing up in the church, I often heard people talk about prosperity and God's promises, yet so many believers seemed to be stuck in financial struggle. It’s a question that plagued my mind for years: Why are church folk poor?

The world discovered the secret to prosperity—through the law of attraction—and began to prosper. But here's the twist: The truth of the law of attraction isn’t new. It’s been right there in the Bible all along, waiting for us to recognize it. Unfortunately, many of us have been conditioned to ignore or even reject the idea that the law of attraction is a principle of God. Yet, as believers, we are taught time and time again that God wants us to prosper.

The Biblical Truth About Prosperity

Did you know there are over 200 scriptures in the Bible that deal with money? These scriptures cover budgeting, saving, tithing, borrowing, lending, investing, and, yes—prospering. However, there’s one scripture that often stands out and is frequently misquoted, leading many of us to misinterpret God’s will for our financial lives. It's the famous verse, “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Many of us grew up hearing the phrase “Money is the root of all evil,” but that’s not what the Bible actually says. It's the love of money that is the problem, not money itself. Money is a tool, a resource to help us fulfill our purpose, not a curse. The truth is, God doesn’t want us to avoid wealth; He wants us to manage it well.

Eric Butterworth, in his book Spiritual Economics, puts it perfectly: "The right attitude toward money is the root of all kinds of prosperity." And that’s the key—attitude. You see, if you’ve been raised to believe that wanting money is wrong, you might find yourself sabotaging your own prosperity, even without realizing it. I had to unlearn those limiting beliefs about money and embrace a new mindset—one rooted in prosperity thinking.

Shifting Your Mindset: From Scarcity to Abundance

In 2006, I moved from Orlando to Los Angeles, and I honestly believed that homeownership would never be possible for me. The housing market in LA was outrageous, and my salary didn’t come close to matching the sky-high prices. But in 2016, something shifted in my spirit. I felt God urging me to purchase a home in Los Angeles.

I’ll be honest, I laughed at the idea. It felt impossible. But I decided to honor that prompting and completed a pre-approval loan application. Much to my surprise, the bank offered me a loan of $500,000. My initial reaction? There’s no way I can afford this. I had already written off the idea of homeownership, convinced that it was out of my reach. So, I only considered cheaper options—condos, which were still above my comfort zone.

But my realtor had other ideas. She refused to send me listings for condos or even single-family homes. Instead, she encouraged me to look at multi-family units. She told me that, if I wanted to be a homeowner, I needed to consider becoming a landlord as well. I was skeptical. After all, multi-family homes in Los Angeles were far more expensive than the condos I’d been eyeing.

Then I found a property I liked, listed at $629,000—still more than I had planned to spend. I was hesitant to even look at it. But my realtor asked me a question that changed my entire perspective: “Don’t you believe in God? Didn’t God say He would give you the desires of your heart?”

Those words hit me hard. I had been limiting myself and my expectations based on old, negative beliefs about money. I had failed to recognize that God was fully capable of providing me with the desires of my heart, even in a city as expensive as Los Angeles. From that moment, my mindset shifted. I began to elevate my thoughts, exercise my faith, and believe that God could—and would—provide for me in ways I never imagined.

The Power of Asking, Believing, and Receiving

One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned on this journey is that all we have to do is ask, and it will be given to us. When you pray and ask God for something, it’s not your job to figure out how it will happen. Your job is simply to expect that God will keep His promises. The Bible says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7).

It’s a powerful concept: asking with faith, believing that it’s already on the way, and receiving it when it comes. I believe that our inability to receive often stems from the limiting beliefs we hold about money and our worthiness to prosper. If you’ve been taught that wealth is bad or that you can’t have both money and God, it’s time to dismantle those lies and embrace God’s promise of abundance.

Why Are Church Folk Poor? A Guide to Financial Freedom

If you’re ready to break free from the cycle of poverty thinking and step into the abundance that God has promised, my book Why Are Church Folk Poor is the perfect resource for you. In it, I guide you through practical exercises designed to help you examine your relationship with money and begin to shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance.

Each chapter is filled with self-reflection exercises that will challenge your thinking and help you align your financial life with God’s principles. You’ll learn how to:

• Develop a positive relationship with money

• Understand the Biblical principles of prosperity

• Create a financial plan that aligns with your faith

• Break free from limiting beliefs about wealth

This book is for anyone who is ready to live the abundant life that Jesus promised. Whether you're just starting your journey toward financial freedom or you're already on the path and need a little encouragement, Why Are Church Folk Poor will give you the tools and wisdom to create lasting change in your financial life.

Ready to Prosper? Let’s Get Started

If you’re tired of struggling with money and want to align your financial life with God’s promises, it’s time to make a change. The first step is to shift your mindset, and Why Are Church Folk Poor can help you do just that. Get your e-copy today and start your journey toward financial freedom and prosperity.

Remember, God wants you to thrive. Don’t let outdated beliefs or fear hold you back any longer. Your prosperity is waiting, and it’s time to claim it.

Click here to listen to Why Are Church Folk Poor and start living an abundant life today!