Prosperity and Faith
The topic of prosperity can sometimes cause controversy among believers, churches and denomination. It’s a complicated concept and there are no easy answers, yet the Bible says that God wants us to prosper. It's a well-known bible teaching even though some preachers refuse to talk about it.
There are many reasons WHY we do not prosper when we think we should.
I believe we should always have faith in God’s promises, and seek the blessings He proclaimed to us. Prosperity is promised to those of faith... but there are conditions to prosperity.
One of the primary blocks to prosperity is the condition of our heart.
Sometimes it seems that God is just not listening, but we should not lose hope or faith. Perhaps we should examine our hearts from time to time, and see if there is something lingering there that is actually blocking the blessings that God wants to send our way. Some hurt or offense that is buried deep in our psyche and deep in our heart.
Believe me when I say that I am speaking for myself also. I have been plagued with financial problems for the past 5 years. That’s why I can talk about it.
I’ve been reading “Your Best Life Now” by Joel Osteen, and I have come to realize that the “bitter root” of resentment and anger have been living inside of me. They have taken root in my heart without my permission. Giving in to anger allowed the seed to be planted. Even though the seed may not have grown into a full-grown plant, it rooted itself into me and stayed beneath the surface, poisoning my life and my walk with God.
How can God fill us with love, light and blessings when we are hiding anger, resentment, bitterness and maybe even hatred?
Ask God to show you what you are hiding in your heart that needs to come to the surface and be dealt with… then listen for the answer.
Once you know what bitter root has taken a home in your heart, you can choose to forgive the hurt – forgive the pain – and forgive the person or persons who brought you to that place.
It’s a daily thing for me now, I MUST remember to pray for this person and choose to forgive him over and over again until I am full of love for that person. It has not been a one-time event, but a process. That bitter root has been living inside of me for a very long time, and it has affected my life in numerous ways.
Grace abounds when we ask for it, and there is more than enough grace to forgive and start anew.
There are certainly more meanings to the word prosperity... you can prosper in health, wealth and spiritually. I believe the word pertains to all of these and much more... I do not agree with many of the faith who say that God wasn't talking about financial prosperity.
What Father doesn't want his children to prosper?
God bless you!
There are many reasons WHY we do not prosper when we think we should.
I believe we should always have faith in God’s promises, and seek the blessings He proclaimed to us. Prosperity is promised to those of faith... but there are conditions to prosperity.
One of the primary blocks to prosperity is the condition of our heart.
Sometimes it seems that God is just not listening, but we should not lose hope or faith. Perhaps we should examine our hearts from time to time, and see if there is something lingering there that is actually blocking the blessings that God wants to send our way. Some hurt or offense that is buried deep in our psyche and deep in our heart.
Believe me when I say that I am speaking for myself also. I have been plagued with financial problems for the past 5 years. That’s why I can talk about it.
I’ve been reading “Your Best Life Now” by Joel Osteen, and I have come to realize that the “bitter root” of resentment and anger have been living inside of me. They have taken root in my heart without my permission. Giving in to anger allowed the seed to be planted. Even though the seed may not have grown into a full-grown plant, it rooted itself into me and stayed beneath the surface, poisoning my life and my walk with God.
How can God fill us with love, light and blessings when we are hiding anger, resentment, bitterness and maybe even hatred?
Ask God to show you what you are hiding in your heart that needs to come to the surface and be dealt with… then listen for the answer.
Once you know what bitter root has taken a home in your heart, you can choose to forgive the hurt – forgive the pain – and forgive the person or persons who brought you to that place.
It’s a daily thing for me now, I MUST remember to pray for this person and choose to forgive him over and over again until I am full of love for that person. It has not been a one-time event, but a process. That bitter root has been living inside of me for a very long time, and it has affected my life in numerous ways.
Grace abounds when we ask for it, and there is more than enough grace to forgive and start anew.
There are certainly more meanings to the word prosperity... you can prosper in health, wealth and spiritually. I believe the word pertains to all of these and much more... I do not agree with many of the faith who say that God wasn't talking about financial prosperity.
What Father doesn't want his children to prosper?
God bless you!
Be careful of prosperity gospel tactics. The Bible says, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12." It is not a choice it is a fact that a Christian's life is a hard life. Praise God for Christians who have been blessed abundantly financially, they too have a greater task before them. Jesus did not live a prosperous life, the apostles did not, the early Christians certainly did not for these people have been persecuted. Some people use God to their own agenda like God works for them. Blessings or no blessings we are all required to work with our own hands. When Jesus fed the 5,000 they followed Him because of He fed them but when He told them about himself they left leaving the 12 disciples. In a same way, there are those among Christian circles who follow Christ to be blessed but when persecution comes they fade away.
ReplyDeleteA Christian's lips should utter something like, "Even if there were no heaven for me in my life, I'd still walk with Jesus here in this life." God bless you.
Thank you for your comments Earl. I believe God does not put limits and restrictions on the term prosperity. I also believe the Bible has many statements regarding prosperity as well as persecution. For every thing, there is a season.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, some scholars now believe that many of the apostles, in fact, were quite prosperous. We can't know for sure, but we do know that many of the great men of the old testament were quite wealthy.
I guess that I am truly blessed because I have not known any who turned away from God because of life's struggles, although I have known many who stray because of life's temptations.
I have not found the Christian life to be hard, at least not hard because I'm Christian, but I do realize that I am also not living in a country where I have to fear for my life because of my beliefs - Praise God!
Poverty, persecution, family strife, and many other problems that plague our society are not just the problems of Christians, nor are they exclusive to non-believers.
All of God's children have rain and sunshine, and a few cloudy days too.
You are quite right about what our position is as Christians, no matter what happens, I shall proclaim Him as my God and praise Him for His majesty!
God bless you.
I think Earl's response put it well. I would also point out that with regards to the patriarchs and individuals of the Old Testament who were wealthy, these people were also frequently unfaithful and unrighteous in their obedience to God (remember Abraham and his "plan-b" with Hagar and Ishmael?) It could be very possible that their great wealth was a contributing factor in their unfaithfulness to God.
ReplyDeleteConsider even Job: very rich guy, but once the calamities started pouring down on him, then he started to question what God was doing.
Just some things to consider. That, and I'd encourage you (and Joel Osteen!) to reread Luke 18 and study the message of the rich young ruler and what Jesus had to say to him.
God bless you
Thank you for your comments Rob. As I said before, there is a season of both famine and prosperity all throughout the Bible. No one is immune.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I prefer to focus on the blessings that have been promised, rather than the struggles that some endure for a season.
I truly believe God wants us to prosper so that we can help those who are in need. How can we help if we are in poverty?
That is what God has laid on my heart.
As for the rich, if they did not "love" their wealth to the point of becoming greedy instead of sharing with those in need, they would not have a problem. The rich young ruler could not even fathom giving away his money... that was his problem.
As for Job, it is not wrong to question God when things are puzzling. It is, however, wrong to blame God... Job's story is to teach us to endure and have faith... believing God's promise that everything that has been stolen from us will be returned - by God.
When God restored Job, He gave him double what he had before (Job 42:10).
Anyone that gives up houses, lands, brothers, sisters, possessions in this lifetime for the sake of the gospel, God will restore back one hundredfold now (Mark 10:29-30).
The Lord does abundantly above what you can ask. He does abundantly above what you can think of (Ephesians 3:20).
Malachi 3:10
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 hosts, 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.
As for Joel Osteen, you'll have to contact him directly, but I'm pretty sure he would tell you something along the lines of... enjoy the poverty that you believe God has given you.
Meanwhile, as Christians we agree on many things, but let us not try to force all Christians to agree with us on every thing. You can support opposing points of view on nearly every topic, from the Bible itself. There are many contradictions on certain concepts. Therefore, I choose the pearls of wisdom that uplift my faith and I share those with people.
Matthew 11:30
"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Words of Jesus)
God bless!
While every parent want his own children to prosper, just like you said.... The wise man wants his own children to conduct themselves correctly; and he will take away everything that he has given them, rather than strengthening them in their own personal wickedness.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Yahweh The Father is far wiser than: Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Robert Tilton... or any of those other [ highly-numerous ]: " Evil Shepherds, False Prophets, and Empty Oracles "!
Indeed Jeshurun, I don't think anyone was suggesting that any of those people were wiser than God.
ReplyDeleteAs for the wise father you mentioned, I have never known one that took everything away.
Prospering means more to me than having money. Wisdom, love, character, integrity, honesty, health, and many other items would make my list of definitions for prosperity. Financial prosperity without those attributes are the reason that most people think it is evil to be rich, when it is not.