Prosperity Misrepresented
Many preachers speak against prosperity as though it is evil from Satan, but the scriptures are clear that God delights in the prosperity of His children (Psalm 35:27). They do that because of a misunderstanding of what true prosperity is. If they had really studied the scriptures and prayed for an understanding about prosperity the Lord would make it clear to them. But they prefer to take an egotistical, prejudicial view that doesn’t align with the Word of God. They only view prosperity as being about money, but true prosperity covers every area of a persons’ life and that includes money.
Ministries need finances to operate, but they will not acquire offerings if they preach that their people should not be prosperous financially. What they should be preaching is what the Lord says about it, not what their misunderstood prejudices are. What they are doing is picking and choosing what they want to believe and what they don’t want to believe. Which means they are not preaching the whole Word of God, which may be just what Satan wants them to preach. Remember it’s not money that is the root of all evil, it’s the love of money (making money of first priority in ones’ life, dependence it, instead of dependence on God).
The Lord teaches about prosperity
- 3 John 2: “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers”.
- Joshua 1:8: “Study this Book of the Word daily. Meditate on it day and night, be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do”. That is, in every area of your life, spiritually, physically and financially, not just finances!
- Psalm 1:1-3: “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
- Deuteronomy 8:18: “Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath” (NLT). Being successful also means being prosperous and the Lord gives you power to accomplish that!
- Proverbs 3:9: “Honor the lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops”. You can’t honor the Lord with your wealth if you aren’t wealthy (which is the same as financially prosperous). (NAS).
- Proverbs 13:22: “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.” You can’t leave much of an inheritance or wealth if you aren’t prosperous in all areas!
- Psalm 35:27: “Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause, and let them say continually, ‘Let the Lord be magnified who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant” (NKJV).
- Psalm 84:11: “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord ‘will withhold no good thing’ from those who do what is right” NLT. That’s being prosperous in everything!
- Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it” (NKJV).
So, to be successful
Study, meditate, follow and obey His Word, then you will be successful in everything you do. He gives us power to be successful in all He’s called us to do. He promises to bring sinners’ wealth to us because He receives pleasure when we prosper and He won’t withhold any good thing from us. Because we are Gods’ children, He wants us to prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper. Here are some scriptures to help in your growth.
Joshua 1:8: Study the Word and apply it.
Mattew 6:33: Seek first the kingdom of God.
John 15:5: Christ is the vine you are the branches so abide in Christ and allow Him to abide in you, you will bring forth much fruit, without Him you can’t do anything.
John 15:7: Abide in Christ and have His Words abiding in you
2Timothy 2:15: Study to show yourself approved unto of God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. (KJV)
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an understanding of the truth about prosperity and to show you how that truth applies to every area of your life, spiritually, physically and financially.
The above is only a short explanation of the meaning of biblical prosperity. There is much more that can be learned by studying the scriptures yourself. That is how you grow closer to abiding in Christ and His Word in you and bring glory to God.