Tracie and I have been rethinking and reevaluating what we really believe about prosperity. If you choose to follow along with some of these thoughts in the upcoming weeks, perhaps you too might want to reevaluate what you actually believe about prosperity. It may be a far more relevant concept in the coming year(s) than you might have originally considered. Eclipsing even the typical New Year’s wish for a prosperous 2021.
In many ways, the concept of prosperity has fallen on hard times. The abuse and misuse of the word in many church circles has caused a general distaste and reaction to any suggestion that God might prefer prosperity over poverty for His people. That, along with the gimmickry and hucksterism of some of the so-called “prosperity” ministers, has caused any solid defense of biblical prosperity to be seen as heretical and manipulative. To teach on this subject is to immediately open yourself up to the criticism that you are somehow prostituting the Gospel for dollars. As you will see if you trek along, nothing could be further from the truth.
The other attack upon prosperity has been in the civic arena and the renewed critique from the political “left” to frame wealth within the context of greed and avarice. To prosper, in the minds of the Marxist, the radical socialist, or even the critical race theorists, is to accumulate unrighteously or unjustly, wealth that should be equally distributed amongst everyone. Recently, New York City Mayor, Bill DeBlasio, was unambiguously clear when he stated at a press conference that government’s job was to indeed, “redistribute wealth”. The attack on the Gospel from these “secular” movements includes an assault on every aspect, benefit, and repercussion of that Gospel. It should come as no surprise that the assault aims first at a person’s mentality. If you can twist the way a person thinks, then you can eventually control their future. The Bible is clear, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) So, to think erroneously about prosperity automatically positions a person to walk in poverty. This will become clearer in the posts ahead.
My wife and I grew up spiritually in a theological system that at the time seemed to venerate poverty and despise prosperity. I know to some people who read that last line that the statement appears incredulous. Yet, there was an unbiblical conflation of the concepts of prosperity and greed. To prosper, especially as a pastor, was considered suspect, if not outright evil. I understand today that this kind of thinking was obviously twisted, but one might be amazed at the general resistance many Christians have towards the idea of prospering. The natural question is “why?”
In the upcoming weeks I am going to share my journey into this biblical promise. I am not looking for money or riches from those of you who might take the time to read these thoughts. I will disclose to you from the onset, that I have no “secret sauce” or formula to insulate you from poverty and lack or usher you into wealth and riches. I simply intend to recover a biblical promise within the biblical context and boundaries. My intent is actually what some might call “prophetic”. I honestly believe that the upcoming years are going to be financially challenging for Americans, perhaps the entire globe. If the pandemic has taught me anything, it has reminded me that America is not immune from shortages or lack. I have already seen God’s people and His Church experience setbacks during this time and if there is a mentality along with biblical principles that can be recovered, then now is the time to do it.
I believe that the Bible teaches that it is possible for God’s people to “prosper” when the economic environment may not be naturally conducive to think such things. Consider the following scriptural statements…
“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper WHEREVER YOU GO.” (Joshua 1:7)
“He shall be like a tree, Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And WHATEVER HE DOES shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3)
The Psalmist reminds us, “I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging for bread” (Ps. 37:25). There is a promise that God’s people can be sustained and even “prosper”, during the most challenging of times IF we maintain our fearless obedience to His Word and precepts.
Wherever you go….
Whatever you do….
I have never seen the righteous forsaken…
That’s not heretical…
It’s the Bible.
Say what you want…
Think as you will…
I believe God is going to distinguish Himself through His people in the coming days through a biblical concept of prospering…
Join me in the journey…
And no longer be ashamed of prospering…
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