In response to the previous post -

I really agree with everything you said regarding riches and the so-called "doctrine of prosperity" that permeates many churches... I'm just not seeing the connection to this article, which I'm reading as much more related to confidence and boldness (because of whose we are) than comfort and materialism.

I accept that God wants the very best for us. But in this materialistic world what we call "best" and what God calls best are very different. God calls us into a spirit of poverty - many times He did remind his apostles and many times the apostles remind us on the New Testament that the riches of this world are not the riches of God's world. James says true religion is loving God and caring for the poor and the widows. How can you honestly care if you drive past in your flashy car on your way home to your mansion? Chirst himself owned nothing and exhorted his followers to leave behind everything and follow Him. Christ did say that it is easier for a rich many to pass thru the eye of a needle than to enter the kingdom. Many scriptures point to this well know fact - focus on material wealth and you miss the point. Even King David used his wealth for the wrong reasons. It is in losing our worldly goods that we find our selves in jesus and all that He has to offer.