GOD’S WILL IS PROSPERITY
(Long Read)
“The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous”
(Genesis 26:13)
The above was said of Isaac during a time of famine (economic recession), because
1. He had a covenant with God
2. He obeyed God
The Bible is clear that when God’s people (by covenant) obey His Word and act on His commands, they would experience prosperity (Deuteronomy 28)
The reason for this prosperity is also clear; for the establishment of His covenant on the Earth (Deuteronomy 18:8) and to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2).
All through the scripture, we see God’s eagerness towards prospering His people; providing for their needs, causing them to find favor with men and granting them wisdom for productivity and effectiveness. We see that God delights in their prosperity (Psalm 35:27)
God’s anger and displeasure can also be seen with those who put their faith in money, refuse to be liberal with their resources, refuse to be productive with the resources he has made available or refuse to act on his instructions because they lacked the resources.
Walking with God is by faith, not by resources.
Walking by faith is also seen in one’s attitude towards resources.
The parable of the talents shows that the servant who didn’t do business with the talent he was given, had a wrong view of his Master and consequently, a wrong view of what to do with the talent he was given.
Now, to the topic at hand.
A prosperous person is one who is helped by God, and is able to help others as a result.
While this help is not limited to money, money is obviously a part of that help because we live in a in a money-dependent world.
(How God helps men financially is a conversation for another time)
Dear Believer, you’ve got to renew your mind where money is concerned.
John in speaking to Gauis expresses a desire to see him “prosper and be in health as his soul prospers.”
We need to get our hearts (and minds) right.
Money is not the problem, the love of money is.
Having money is not the problem, greed and covetousness is.
Thinking about money is not the problem, trusting in money is.
The charge from Paul to Timothy, is for believers to use their resources for the good of God’s kingdom agenda (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
The early church was characterised by people giving of their resources towards God’s agenda; both the rich and poor gave what they had.
The more you had, the more you could give and the more the church had, the more of God’s kingdom agenda they could execute.
You see, whether we like it or not… Money is an essential part of our everyday lives. It is integral to almost everything that we do.
You don’t need anyone to tell you to think about money, because you already do.
But what if we can change how we think about money?
To think about it as something beneficial and advantageous rather something to shun or flee from.
To think about it as a tool, useful in getting a task (or several) done rather than a badge of honor or a stamp of sin.
Here’s where I stand unequivocally;
- God’s will is to prosper His people; for His sake and for theirs.
- God’s desire is that His people (and the world at large) live and enjoy His blessing. That they are healthy, wise, victorious, excellent, productive, prosperous etc.
- God provides his people with opportunities to prosper and live out the blessing, and believers should be taught to maximise these opportunities.
- Poverty, just like sickness, is a result of the fall and like Jesus made clear of divorce (another consequence of the fall and the hardness of hearts), it was never God’s intention for man.
- Poverty (of any sort) is not in the original design.
- God’s people must be taught that the realities of today, are not necessarily God’s original intentions for them.
- God has an agenda for the earth and He needs His people equipped to execute that agenda. Equipped, not only to preach the gospel, but also to put a lot of money where their mouth is.
“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
Philippians 4:12 NKJV
Stay blessed.
#Thinkmoney