No — being a Christian does not require poverty; believers may have wealth, but material things must remain secondary to God.
Les Feldick teaches that God has promised believers only the basics — food, clothing, and shelter — while allowing material abundance beyond that as His grace. At the same time, he warns that Christianity does not promise a life of luxury or automatic riches. The real issue is priority: a believer can be rich or poor and still have a fulfilling life in Christ.
Colossians 3:2 — Paul directs believers to set their affection on things above, not on earthly possessions — showing material things are not forbidden but must not rule.
2 Corinthians 12:14 — Paul states that parents should lay up for their children, showing it is legitimate and good to accumulate material resources for family.
Scripture never tells the believer that poverty is a virtue or a requirement. In 2 Corinthians 12:14, Paul writes that “the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children” — showing that it is legitimate and right for parents to accumulate resources for their family. The Bible does not command or even suggest that following Christ means having nothing. At the same time, Scripture keeps material things in their proper place. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Verse 3 explains, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” This does not ban wealth; it puts it in a secondary position. The believer’s liberty is emphasized in Romans 6:14: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” This is about freedom from sin’s dominion, not a demand for self-imposed poverty.
Les Feldick consistently answers that Christianity does not mean mandatory poverty. He says, “There’s nothing wrong with accumulating some wealth, and there’s nothing wrong with accumulating an estate that your kids can fight over” (Clip 1). He also notes that “all God has promised the believer in the age of grace is a roof over our heads, clothes on our back, and food to eat” — beyond that, it’s grace and blessing (Clip 2). At the same time, he rejects the prosperity idea. He says it is wrong to think that becoming a believer means “two Cadillacs in your garage” and “the biggest home in town” (Clip 3). He cannot teach that obedience or giving will “make you a millionaire” (Clip 5). He summarizes the balance: believers do not have to live a “Spartan experience” with only the meager requirements, but they simply must not let things take priority (Clip 6). Even believers in extreme poverty can have “joy unspeakable” (Clip 4). The freedom a believer has in Christ is real freedom, but it is not license to let the old nature rule (Clip 7, Clip 0).
Les says there is nothing wrong with material blessing or accumulating wealth. He points out that God promised the believer only the basics — a roof, clothes, and food — and anything more is grace. The problem is not having things, but letting them become a priority. He uses the example of believers in Haiti who, despite extreme poverty, had deep spiritual joy. The teaching is that wealth is permissible but not guaranteed, and poverty is not required neither is it a sign of failure.
No. Les states he cannot stand and teach that if you are obedient and give and pray, God will make you a millionaire. He also corrects the idea that becoming a Christian automatically means a life of two Cadillacs and sumptuous living. God does bless obedience, but His blessing is not necessarily material. Therefore, neither poverty nor wealth is a measure of spirituality.
Scripture tells believers to set their affection on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). Les applies this by saying believers are dead to the old Adam and the things of this world, and life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). That is why material things must remain secondary. The believer is free from sin's dominion under grace (Romans 6:14) and should yield as an instrument of righteousness, not allow the old nature to rule.
Freedom from Law and Dominion of Sin
Les explains that the believer is not under law but under grace, and the Christian life is about yielding the will to God rather than fulfilling a legal requirement like imposed poverty.
Wealth and Family Provision Are Not Wrong
Les says there is nothing wrong with accumulating wealth or leaving an estate for your children, quoting Paul's principle that parents lay up for their children.
God's Promise: Necessities, Not Luxury
Les says the only material promise for the believer in this age is food, clothing, and shelter; wealth is not condemned, but it must not become a priority.
No Guarantee of Luxury
Les rejects the idea that a believer will automatically have Cadillacs, a big house, and sumptuous living; the Christian life is not a bed of roses.
Joy Unspeakable in Poverty
Les points to Haitian believers who, though extremely poor, had a spiritual joy that raised the roof — showing poverty does not prevent satisfaction in Christ.
Obedience Does Not Equal Riches
Les says he cannot teach that obedience, giving, and prayer will make you a millionaire; God's blessings are not necessarily material.
No Spartan Demand, But Priorities
Les says believers do not have to live a Spartan existence, but they must not let material things take priority over heavenly things.
Christian Freedom Is Not License
Les describes the believer's freedom in Christ as real freedom, but immediately warns that freedom is not license — the old nature must not have dominion.
Romans 6:13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Les reviews this verse to emphasize the exercise of the will in yielding to righteousness rather than sin.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Les uses this verse to show the believer lives under grace, not under law, meaning the Christian life is about yielding, not legalistic deprivation.
2 Corinthians 12:14: Behold, the third time I am ready to come unto you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Les cites this principle to show parents should lay up for children, making wealth accumulation acceptable.
Colossians 3:2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Les references the idea of setting affection on things above, showing material things are secondary, not forbidden.
Colossians 3:3: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Les explains believers are dead to the old Adam and their life is hidden with Christ, which is why material things should not dominate.
Romans 8:31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Les uses this verse to correct the idea that God being for us means a life of ease and luxury.
No. Les Feldick teaches that God has promised believers food, clothing, and shelter, but He does not require poverty. Wealth is not condemned; it is simply not to become the priority of a believer's life.
Les rejects that idea. He says he cannot teach that being obedient, giving, and praying will make you a millionaire. God's blessings are not necessarily material.
Yes. Les describes believers in Haiti who had almost nothing physically, yet they sang with a spiritual joy that raised the roof — joy unspeakable in spite of poverty.
Watch the Teaching: Not Under Law but Under Grace — What Romans 6:14 Really Means