“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” - 3 John 2
There seems to be a controversy in the Body of Christ concerning money, and prosperity. I'd like to define what prosperity is so we can understand that it is not a bad thing.
“Prosperity is having more than enough to provide for your family, an overflow to help others and seed to keep planting.”
The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines prosperity as “the condition of being successful or thriving; especially : economic well-being.”
The Lord has pleasure when you are prosperous, providing for your family, helping others and sowing seed to keep reaping your harvest. The Apostle John stated that he wished “above all things” that you would be prosperous and be in good health. That tells me that the Lord wants your health to be thriving as well.
In John 10:10 (AMP), Jesus tells his disciples, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”
This tells me that the Lord wants you to live your LIFE with abundance, and not lack. It is not money that causes evil, it is the lack of money that causes so many problems today. Money is NOT the root of all evil, the Bible tells us that, "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil," so that tells me that having money is not a bad thing, but it is good to have. Money is a tool for us to use to advance the Kingdom of God. God gave the church the commandment to "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15) God did not give this to the business world, he gave this assignment to the church, the body of Christ. It takes money to reach out into all the world by TV, Satellite, radio, internet and telephone to preach the Gospel to others and lead them to Jesus. It takes money to support ministries and missionaries who go out into the world to preach the Gospel. It takes money for the local church to carry out the mission that God gave it. Corporations were not entrusted with this great mission. It was entrusted by God to the church.
Psalm 1:1 – 3 tells us, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
The Lord wants above all things for you to prosper in every area of your life. He wants your job to prosper you. He wants your health to be prosperous so you can live a full life for Him. He wants your relationships to prosper, your marriage to prosper, your children to prosper. His desire is that your life would be so full, and that it would overflow so you will be a blessing to others and a light to the world.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” - Joshua 1:8
To your success,
Tom