Help! Does God Want Me to Prosper ?

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.

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.

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)

1. Genesis 12:2 - God promises to bless Abraham and make him a great nation, indicating God's desire for his people to prosper.

1. Deuteronomy 8:18 - God gives the power to create wealth and confirms his covenant, showing that prosperity is linked to God's promises.

1. Psalm 1:3 - Those who delight in God's law are like trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in due season, suggesting that obedience to God leads to prosperity.

1. Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is our shepherd, and we shall not lack, indicating God's provision for his people.

1. Psalm 35:27 - God takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants, implying that prosperity brings joy to God.

1. Proverbs 3:9-10 - Honoring the Lord with our wealth and first fruits will result in abundance, indicating a connection between prosperity and godly stewardship.

1. Proverbs 8:21 - Wisdom promises to endow those who love her with wealth, indicating that godly wisdom can lead to prosperity.

1. Malachi 3:10 - God encourages his people to bring tithes and offerings, promising to pour out blessings until there is no more need, indicating God's desire to provide for his people.

1. Luke 6:38 - Jesus teaches about the principle of giving and receiving, suggesting that generosity can lead to prosperity.

2. John 10:10 - Jesus promises abundant life to his followers, indicating that God desires his people to experience abundance in all aspects of life.

1. 2 Corinthians 9:8 - God is able to bless his people abundantly, so that they may have all sufficiency in all things and abound in every good work, indicating God's desire for abundance and generosity.

1. 3 John 1:2 - John prays that his readers may prosper and be in good health, suggesting that God's desire for prosperity includes physical well-being.

1. Philippians 4:19 - Paul assures the Philippians that God will supply all their needs according to his riches in glory, indicating God's provision for his people.

1. 1 Timothy 6:17 - God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment, indicating that God wants his people to enjoy the blessings of prosperity.

1. James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, indicating that God is the source of all blessings, including material prosperity.

1. 3 John 1:8 - John encourages his readers to support those who proclaim the truth, so that they may become fellow workers for the truth, suggesting that prosperity can enable God's people to support his work.

1. Proverbs 22:4 - Humility and the fear of the Lord bring riches, honor, and life, indicating that godly virtues can lead to prosperity.

1. Ecclesiastes 5:19 - God grants the ability to enjoy wealth and possessions as a gift from him, indicating that God wants his people to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

2. Acts 20:35 - Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," indicating that generosity and giving can lead to blessings and prosperity.