True Prosperity

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.  2 Co 9:10-11

There is no doubt that God wants you to be prosperous.  However, there are a lot of people who have an erroneous view of prosperity.  Prosperity should never be about you. If it is, then you are in error.  Look at what Paul says:

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 1 Tim 6:9

Is there a desire in you to be rich?  Is there a desire in you to have nice things and to eat at nice restaurants and to drive fancy cars?  If there is, then you are in error.  Yes, you may be saved and going to heaven, but in this area you are in error.  Paul again says this:

And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 1 Tim 6:8

Now, that doesn’t that mean that you can never have a nice house, or a nice car, or never eat at nice restaurant..  God is a God of abundance, who has been in the habit of extravagantly blessing His servants.  Remember that God was the One who made Solomon the richest man that ever lived.  God also blessed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to the point that they were considered ‘very rich.’  In the new testament we see that Paul said, “I know how to be abased and how to abound.” (Phil 4:12)  That means that Paul had times of poverty and times of abundance. Paul also commands that those who are rich to not be high minded, but to share.  This easily implies that it is okay to be rich if you have the right mindset. Paul then adds that God ‘gives us all things richly to enjoy.’ (1 Tim 6:17)

The correct mentality here is to understand that true bible prosperity is not about yourself.  It’s about having the ability to give to ‘every good work.’  That means that you have plenty of money to give to those who are in need.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Co 9:8

This verse should sum it all up for us.  It shows us what prosperity is for.  I think it is a great evil to desire to just have enough to get by. “Lord, if you’ll just take care of me and my family.”  No, you should be concerned about taking care of others and their families.  You can’t do that, however, if you are broke. You need money to do that.  If you truly desire to live a poor life for God’s glory, I’m fine with that; but instead of being broke, be rich, and continually give every bit of it away.  That honors God much more than you siting in a shack and never doing anything for anyone.

The world isn’t impressed with christians having money. They are impressed with christians giving money.  We need to follow our Lord’s example, “Who even though He was rich, became poor for us, that we through His poverty might be made rich.”  If you are not willing to be made poor so that others might be made rich, then you do not have the spirit of Christ.  You have the spirit of selfishness, because our true riches are not in this world.  Our true riches are laid up in heaven.

So what should you do?  You should give. Give and start to believe God for a return on your giving.  Believe for more money so you can give more money.  Always be willing and ready to give up everything with no hesitation.  But at the same time, enjoy the good things that God graciously gives you to enjoy.