Help! does God want me to prosper ?
What is real prosperity?
Beloved I wish above all things that thou prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospers (3 John 2).
What is true prosperity? some may say lots of money, but would you want all of the money without physical health?but a healthy person who cannot pay their bills or enjoy the finer things of life is not very appealing neither. What about having wealth and health but emotionally and mentally a basket case? Total prosperity is having the wealth, health and the spiritual born again life to go along with it. Have you ever wondered why people are still so unhappy even after they have the material things of life? well because true prosperity begins on the inside and expands to the outside. God says in the above text that he is most concerned first of all with our souls prospering( mind will emotions) and then the wealth and health follows to the same degree that our souls prosper, in other words a person who does not know what the word of God says concerning healing they cannot tap into God's divine healing, and a person who does not know what God's word says about finance cannot tap into God's system of finance. The more you know and believe what his word says about life's issues, then you make yourself a candidate to receive his provision in those area's. Hosea 4:6 says that my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Have you ever found some unexpected money in your pants or dress pockets? well the money was there all the time but it did not do you any good because you did not know it was there, but as soon as you gained knowledge that it was there...you took advantage of it. This is the same way Gods promises work; until you gain a knowledge through God's word that prosperity is there waiting for you...you will never tap into it. Many Christians today know that it is God's will for them to be born again because of Christ' finished work on the cross, but they don't know that the same finished work includes health and wealth, and even though every Christian will not be a millionaire...every Christian should not have lack because the New Testament church in the book of Acts chapter 5 says... none lacked! This is the goal, to have enough to pay bills because there is no lack, to have enough to provide food shelter and clothing because there's no lack, to have enough left over to give to the needy or charitable organization because there is no lack.
Financial prosperity
In the book of Matthew Jesus said if you being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask. Most parents love their children and they will do whatever they can to give them the best that life has to offer, but out of all of that care and love...it is still evil in comparison to God's love for us. A parent does not want their child to go lacking and neither does our heavenly Father want his children to go lacking, in fact he says in Matthew 6 take no thought (don't worry) what you are going to eat drink and put on, your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things, but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all of these things shall be added unto you; what are the things to be added? the provisions of life.
When we talk about God prospering his people he does not just rain money out of the sky, but we must position ourselves to become the recipients of his divine blessing. We position ourselves by first of all walking in obedience to his word...
Deuteronomy 28:1 - And it shall come to pass if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day that the Lord thy God shall set thee on high above all nations of the earth.; and all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee;
Isaiah 1:19 - If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.
Second, you must become a tither and giver:
Malachi 3:8-10 - Will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me. But ye say wherein have we robbed thee? in tithes and offerings, ye are cursed with a curse for ye have robbed me even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of host, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Luke 6:38 - Give and it shall be given unto you good measure, pressed down,and shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured unto you again.
Third, As I said earlier God does not rain dollars down from the sky but I highlighted Luke 6:38 because that is the way God blesses us financially...it will come through men = boss, bank, relatives, IRS,inheritance, just to name a few, so you must be willing to receive. You will be surprised at how many people find it hard to receive.
When it comes to giving in general, people give to charities and they even have tv programs about giving to the poor and needy, so giving is nothing new, but it becomes a problem because of Ministers who have been dishonest or who are, but there are those who are honest just in every field, there will always be someone dishonest.
Jesus has even provided for that excuse... for whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward (Mark 9:41)
Many people give with the attitude that they are giving to men, but in reality one should give in faith as giving unto the Lord, Jesus was talking to his Disciples (men of God) when he said whosoever shall give you a cup of water in my name, and he was saying that when a person gave unto them (the Disciples) as giving unto the Lord they would not lose their reward because God sees the heart ,and even though Judas a thief was one of the Disciple's, the person giving would still be blessed. Many people don't give today because they are worried about where the money is going, but in reality if you are giving unto the Lord, it should no longer concern you once it is given. Even if the person that you are giving to is another Judas (unknown to you)...Jesus says you will still be blessed because you gave as giving unto the Lord. I'm not saying just give without inspection because we must see where and what our money is going to, but we must not lose sight that our giving must be given as giving unto the Lord.
5 reasons God wants us to prosper financially
1. God wants me to prosper financially because he is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)
Since God is no respect of persons if we can find one other place where someone has been financially blessed in scripture, then we can be candidates also.Note even though he is no respecter of persons, he is a respecter of principles, that means when we find where God blessed someone else financially in the bible...we must do what they did (obedience to God)
2. God wants us to prosper financially because he demands we provide for our families
The bible says that he that provides not for his own and specially for those of his own house hath denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1Timothy 5:8)
3. God wants us to prosper financially because he commands us to be givers (Luke 6:38)
4. God wants us to prosper financially because we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:13-14)
Read the book of Genesis chapters 12 thru 22 and see how God made Abraham rich
5. God wants us to prosper financially because we must help spread the gospel in these last days (Deut. 8:18)
Comments
Prosperity is about prospective...Hold everything loosely.You certainly don't have to have a lot of money to be prosperous.I think many get the wrong idea and when they don't become rich they blame God. Or if they are faithful and rich and God tests them by taking it away their faith is effected.Always something to keep in mind.
God can give some1 a hundred million dollars and he chose to give it all to charity and live a low life coz that's what makes him happy,"giving it all without reserve".Financially he is poor but the life people think they can live if they are prosperous he is already living by giving it all and that is "living the way you want to live".He would have been an unhappy & unfulfilled person if he had kept the money...Prosperity can be a blessing as well as a curse depending on what you understand to be prosperity.
HA - I did not come from money but I was created by an AWESOME God who is the Creator of all earth and Heavenly blessing! He created it all, owns it all, and it is from Him that we receive it all. You are right on target! I have been blessed to have experienced both sides of it - having what some would call "nothing" and on the flip side having lots and lots of money! And having nothing again... Sometimes there are factors beyond our knowledge or comprehension at work for the comings and goings of tangible things. Sometimes it's not as simple as what some people assume - poor money management, economy, etc. But praise God His ways are higher than mine! I don't have to understand it all - I just have to trust! And God has been true to His Word - He was always faithful and REALLY does care more for us than the "birds of the field." And He has proven it to ME! I have never considered myself "poor" - How can someone be poor when they have everything that really matters?! It's all a matter of perspective - If we have Jesus eyes we are all rich. Money comes and goes but MY inheritance is in the Lord. As such, I am always prosperous and tap into resources that naysayers might otherwise "pooh pooh" (their loss!) or that they don't even recognize as a resource because they refuse to see the Light. Praise God for your insight HAexpressions! Fabulous article!!! I will defintely have to read more of your works! Thank you for the time you put into sharing with the world!
I agree with you. You have blessed my life and I will say that you should keep on with the good exposition of the word of God. When it comes to financial blessings as Christians many of us tend to shy away from it. However the truth is that we can do little to reach the world with the gospel in poverty. If we must affect our generations we must follow God's laid down principles of giving. We can be so spiritual, but poverty can limit us from reaching our God given goals, especially in the area of evangelism.
I agree with you and you have blessed my life. Keep on the good expostition of the word.
Great hub. I love God's Word. I am sure you blessed many.
great words, straight from the Bible. God does want us to live prosperously and in abundance. And its up to us to speak it and walk in faith
well said, the field where you are ignorant with regard to god's word, it not likely for you to survive, when we preach the gospel to the poor, surely after receiving it they will partake in its fruits
This is good and thank you for the scripture addresses on the Word. It has reminded me of what I have already placed in my heart. Let us not waste our time arguing on the Word of God.
HA, there is something you are missing. 1 Timothy 6:7-8 reminds us that contentment is about food and clothing, nothing more. These are all the Lord says we need. It is not sin to have more - but there is never a reason He commands that we need more. If you want, you can read my latest hub Winter of Discontent to see what I mean. Peace.
HI ha, I truly enjoyed your hub. You are right on. Your words so true. They flowed like fresh, living water. Yes God wants us to prosper. When we give to the poor we will not lack. God is truly amazing in his provision. The more $$ we do have the more we can advance his kingdom.You are right he wants us to have the desires of our heart. Nothing is too much for the Lord. Heaven has no asphalt, the streets are pure gold. We serve a rich God. As you said there are many ways to enlarge his kingdom without the $$. We are to be the salt and light of the earth. We stand tall and share the Good News. True prosperity begins inside, a gift from our savior when we are his children. (born again). Joy, peace, love, meekness, self control, faith, hope, kindness, gentleness. The world does NOT understnd this. No matter the economy no one can take from us or charge us. Abundance is ours unless we choose to hand it over. No thank you on that one. I am honored to meet you. Blessings at hub pages. You keep writing and share from your heart you will get lots of fans. I am in.+ I have new hub to be posted tommorrow. Hugs Merry CHRISTmas. + + +
PS God rained MANNA from the sky. His provision is amazing. How cool was that? He is the same yesterday, today and tommorrow. He could rain green, nothing is to big for him
- Author
Hello Richard,
I'm sorry if that is the impression you got, but that was not what I was trying to say. I don't have lot's of money personally neither, but God's word brings hope and good news to the poor, not a guilt trip. Luke 4:18 are the words of Jesus that say the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. What is this Gospel? that the poor can have hope and not remain poor.
Thank you and good luck!
So, are you saying that all those fundy Christians that scream and yell about Joel Osteen's ministry of prosperity aren't reading their Bibles?
It sounds like you're saying that, if you're not financially prosperous, you're actually committing sin. Hmmmm... This is not going to set well with the Poor of the World.
Good luck!
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