POVERTY TO PROSERITY: MOVING TO GREATER HEIGHTS

Wealth is good where there is no sin. Poverty is evil,the godless say- Ecclesiasticus 14:24

The idea of prosperity is deeper than the acquisition of material things. Prosperity is an "elastic concept" covering such good things as intellectual and spiritual realities. From this angle one can make some meaningful contributions to the topic of discourse. Our approach shall be to examine the Biblical meaning of poverty cum prosperity by offering scriptural and practical guide on how to overcome poverty.

BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF POVERTY

1. Poverty means lack in material or spiritual goods. The state of being poor is underscored in two ways in the Bible:

(a) Secondary cause: Poverty is seen as the consequence of moral laxity, especially laziness (Proverbs 13: 13-18, 20; 10:4)

(b) Primary cause: The scriptures recognize injustice and other social factors as being responsible for poverty (Proverbs 13: 23, Ecclesiastes 4: 1-2)

BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF PROSPERITY

Prosperity can be described as the abundant possession of various forms of material things and by extension some valuable immaterial things. Material wealth comes through the blessing of God (Deut. 28: 1-14).

Prosperity is a gift from God Ecclesiastes 5: 24-26, James 1:16-17 claims that everything that is good come from God. From the foregoing it is pertinent for us to point out that wealth is given by God for definite purposes, God gives for the purpose of meeting the needs of the poor ( Deut. 15:7-11, 2 Cor.9:8-10)

The above claim will definitely raise a question when subjected to our local experiences. Is it not the case that only bad persons "the fast guys", make much money while those who try to keep the commandments of God suffer impoverishment? Especially in Nigeria, those who have stupendous wealth are retired military Generals who stole the nation blind, the greedy political leaders who are in government to eat and not to serve the nation, corrupt civil servants, 419ners, big time businessmen who exploit the poor. Why? The scripture has the answer: read (Malachi 3:14-18, Proverbs 23:170, Ecclesiastes 5: 11- 14, Proverbs 20: 17, Proverbs 13: 22, Ecclesiastes 5: 10)

POVERTY TO PROSPERITY: SCRIPTURAL RECIPE

1. Hard work is highly recommended (Proverbs 20:13)

2. Be upright (Proverbs 15:6)

3. Be trust worthy (Proverbs 28:20)

4. Be charitable to the poor (Proverbs 11:24-25; 28:27)

5. Be charitable to the church (Proverbs 3:9; Malachi 3:10-12)

6. Prompt and consistent decision (Ecclesiastes 11;4-5)

7. Must be diligent at your work (Proverbs 12:27)

POVERTY TO PROSPERITY: TEMPORAL RECIPE

According to Pereira A.P, three things are required to succeed at any endeavour

* You must want to succeed

* You must learn how to succeed

* You must preserve till success is yours.

Further more, believe in you, remember red sea, Goliath and the wall of Jericho all gave way in the face of determination by those involved. To be prosperous in anything, you must not cut corners, no short cut to any long lasting value worth its salt.

Cut the rope of failure, the story is told about two drunken men who attempted to paddle a canoe across the river because of the intoxication they did not untie the canoe from the river side, they kept rowing from night till day break. The following day they were still on the same spot rowing furiously. They were obviously tied to the rope of failure.

Plan for success, the man who first climbed Mountain Everest to the top was reported to have planned the expedition carefully for several months; every single item he carried in his supply pack was carefully selected to get rid of needless burden, eventually he made it.

Stop the leak. Prosperity will eventually be in the pocket of the man who makes attempt to stop the leak in whatever form it appears in his activities and attempts to make it.

Take God into your plan (Proverbs 16:1, 9; 19:21)

CAUTION: DANGER SIGNAL ON PROSPERITY

In as much as there is nothing wrong in being prosperous, every true Christian should be careful about the manner he strives after prosperity and what he/she does with it after acquiring it.

1. Prosperity without the fear of God poses danger to the spiritual and moral health of the possessor. (Psalm 49:12-13, 20)

2. Prosperity is a contrary force competing with God, for man's affection and attention

(Matthew 6:21& 24; Job 22:23-26)

3. Excessive desire for prosperity can destroy one's faith (Luke 12:13-21)

4. An individual can rely on himself rather than God when prosperous (Proverbs 30:8-9)

5. Prosperity often lead to greed and avarice (Luke 12:13-21)

6. Callousness and meanness are vices that readily go with prosperity

(Ecclesiasticus 13:3-6)

Prosperity is not evil in itself. As each Christian strives to be prosperous there is the need to strive for spiritual values that will guide one on how to get it and use it according to the will of God. Our desire to be prosperous should also be to acquire spiritual values, intellectual ingenuity, good morals and good human relations.

The Bible says what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and looses his soul? Material prosperity without spiritual prosperity is abject poverty of the worst grade.

(Revelation 3:17-18 is instructive on this.

Before you as a Christian begin to strive for material prosperity at the expense of spiritual prosperity consider Ecclesiasticus 31:1ff.