For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" - Matthew 16:26

A multi-million dollar home in Fayetteville, Georgia, a 2.5 million dollar apartment in Manhattan and a private jet. These are merely a few of the possessions that World Changers Church International Founder Dr. Creflo Dollar claims. And he's not alone. Multiple high priced homes and cars are normal for many modern day preachers to account for as their earthly blessings.

Dollar and many preachers at home to modern day Protestant mega church ministries would purport that God has blessed them with these things.

It is greatly debated whether their possessions and modern teachings on prosperity reflect the life of Jesus Christ?

The definition of rich is "to have abundant and costly possessions."

Essentially, having more than you need. Possessing stuff in great quantity. Simply stated, over sufficient. 

Prosperity theology or the Prosperity Gospel, which it is most commonly referred to, first became prominent in the United States in the 1950s during the healing revivals. It later became associated with the Word of Faith movement and televangelism of the 1980s. A few prominent men of faith were at the helm of this movement, E. W. Kenyon, Oral Roberts, A. A. Allen, T. L. Osborn, and Kenneth Hagin.

The Prosperity Gospel was then promoted through Christian missionaries throughout the world.

In a 2007 interview on CNN, Dollar quoted Psalm 35:27.

"Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."

"Prosperity is not just money, it is health, prosperous emotionally, in one's marriage..."said Dollar.

Yet, are financial riches a big part of his plan for your life?

A question for the ages, it has caused theological and religious rifts beyond just a mere disagreement of beliefs. It stems from the fact that many Christians are pursuing riches more now than ever before.

The Bible states in Deuteronomy 6:5 that you are to "love the Lord your God, with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."

Jesus noted this as a Christian's greatest commandment.

If this is the case, the foremost pursuit could never be the attainment of wealth and riches, then.

It may be an issue of focus. Some focus too much on it and some focus too little on it.

In 3 John 1:2, prosperity is spoken of, but it is secondary to our souls: "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."

One could argue that our soul being right with God would be the prerequisite for prosperity, then.

"I believe God blesses us according to His measure. It depends on if God can trust us with the wealth so that it does not go to our head and we forget about Him," said Bishop Basil McPherson of the Church of God of Prophecy.

In addition, much of the debate is centered on whether the teachings and life of Jesus prove that wealthy living is the way to go.

In many instances in the New Testament of the Bible, Jesus admonished His disciples and those who were vetting him as teacher to beware of chasing solely after worldly goods and possessions and neglecting the possession that lasts forever.

It is this school of thought that drives many Christians to shirk wealth and riches, despising affluence. For them, it makes them feel "worldly."

They hardly want to resemble the rich young ruler whom Jesus made an example of in the Bible. (Matthew 19:16-22)

Jesus proclaimed to his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

When the Messiah put it like that, one could hardly argue. There seems to be a pretty clear correlation. Riches is to wordliness as poverty is to holiness.

So, can you blame the Catholic nuns who commit to the latter? They commit to three vows, one of which is a vow of poverty.

The purpose behind this vow is for the nun to imitate the life of Jesus as expressed in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

"It helps her to be poor in spirit as well as in fact, and to live a life of labor and moderation. The purpose of this vow is to free her from being fascinated by material things so that she may be free to serve others," says Mary Ann Strain of "Ask a Catholic," a Catholic faith information site.

However, the Bible is teeming with examples of men of great faith who had great wealth but maintained a strong faith and reliance on God, serving others. Abraham got a huge inheritance from his father and was blessed with even more by God. King David was a wealthy ruler over all of Israel and recorded as a "friend of God." Job was a man seen as upright before God and had immense wealth and possessions.

Ironically, these men are all found in the Old Testament of the Bible or the Torah.

This may explain why people of the Jewish faith have an easier time reconciling the co-existence of faith and wealth.

Tali Loewenthal of Chabad.org writes, "In Jewish teaching, wealth is not the purpose, it is the means."

"The means to create the beautiful atmosphere of a Jewish home, with happy children and guests at one's table. To be able to give: time, attention, love, Jewish education, charity. To be able to share with others in the community and play one's part for the well-being of all," wrote Loewenthal.

Poverty for Jews is not generally seen as a condition favorable for have a fulfilling life.

Jewish author Joseph Lifshitz has said "very rarely in Judaism is poverty associated with righteousness." Jews regard poverty as "pointless suffering," he said.

Many Christians, however, maintain that "riches" don't always have to equate to a monetary estate.

"I strongly believe that God wants us all to gain some type of fortune, not particularly to be rich with money, because you can be rich with other things in life...in other forms of wealth," said Mileyka Maxwell of Brooklyn, New York. "His commandments say that we should have no other gods before Him and, in some cases, money can become a person's idol."

Could this be why Jesus hung out with so many rich people like tax collectors, doctors, businessmen? It seemed that when they met Jesus, they were moved to use their wealth for good.

The story of Zacchaeus, the crooked tax collector, is found in the gospel of Luke.

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham." Luke 19:1-10 NIV)

Essentially, God has our best interests at heart. And, yet, sometimes those best interests may not include personal affluence.

"I do not believe God want us to be poor or rich, I think both are dependent on God's plan for our lives, I think ultimately, which is echoed in Philippians, is that we will be content in whatever situation we find ourselves in and to be a good steward in both situations," said Daryl Lobban of the Church of God of Prophecy.

It appears that the blessings of God come with responsibilities and conditions; essentially, we are blessed to bless others.

Today, Creflo Dollar Ministries funds relief efforts, education programs and orphanages in over a dozen countries in addition to investing thousands of dollars in domestic charitable efforts.

Is God able to trust you with more possessions? Are you willing to share what He has blessed you with? Do you faithfully honor Him with your substance now?

"I think that God wants us to have the best of things and live with the benefits of being a King's kid," said Farran Bivins from New Jersey. "But I think that He would rather us have the things that aren't material like love, peace, maturity, etc. first."

Are you ready for riches?

Will that six figure job draw you closer or further away from Him? For many, the answer to this question may very well determine your destiny.