Prosperity. What is it?

God's word teaches us that prosperity is the result of an inward condition of the heart that overflows into one's life. Broken down into the basics of the NT word, prosper means "to do well in one's journey in life" (Strong's, 3 Jn 1:2). This 'doing well' is a condition of the heart and soul of man - which then overflows into the natural world.

That definition seems a bit different than today's twist on the word prosperity, which focuses on financial and material wealth. However, godly prosperity is achieved by following the leading of the Lord, as shown in Isaiah 48:17: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. " In other words, He teaches us the way to live for Him, that we would benefit and prosper on His terms.

Constant grasping for wealth can lead us away from the plans of God. Even though there are scriptures indicating God's gift of financial blessings, focusing on these scriptures as an overriding doctrine will subtly lead us away from God and into serving the God of this world. In fact, this grasping for wealth is evidence that one is already off track from God's purposes and serving fleshly lusts. Perhaps the most grievous sin in this is trying to coerce God into supplying our material desires and calling it 'faith.'

OT law made allowance to help those in need of food and other necessities-this was the responsibility of God's community of believers. There are also instances in the Bible where God miraculously supplied food, finances and other necessities to His servants. However, please be cautious about the continuous seeking of multiplication of finances as a means of satisfying the flesh - these Biblical instances were born out of deep necessity.

A look at the financial and material prosperity in our society, overall, in comparison to the standard of living during Biblical times, is indication that we have prospered both financially and materially above and beyond what they could have imagined. Now, the question is, have we kept up with that Spiritually?

God's plan for each of our lives, when followed, will assure our needs are met and we have a supply to give to others. He affirms this in Psalm 37:4 where He tells us to delight ourselves in Him, then He will give us the desires our of our hearts. "Delight" means to make ones self pliable in His hands, to completely submit one's life to Him.

I ask myself and the readers this question: are our hearts and minds concerned more with God supplying our desires or are we consumed with God's plans?

Purify our doctrine, Lord Jesus, and set our hearts and minds on your purposes. Lead us into lives which glorify you and bring your presence into a world of materialism and self-satisfaction. You are the answer to the world's sin, and we will deliver that answer just as you delivered us!