The greatest critiques concerning prosperity revolve around the concepts of equality, fairness, and spiritual condemnation. In other words, (say the critics), if it is God’s will to prosper His people then…
Why is there such a massive inequality of resources amongst believers?
Why do some people seem to prosper when equally righteous people are impoverished?
Can you really look at someone impoverished (especially a fellow believer) and really say they lack, “faith”?
Fair questions…
And my hope is that you will read the 6 prior blogs as well as the subsequent blogs to make sure you get the totality of my motives and intentions when it comes to prosperity. However, allow me to spend just a few moments addressing how I began to untangle the general question of inequities.
Let me start with a biblical story that irked me for years, but I have come to understand and embrace it entirely. In Matthew 26:7-11, we read the account of a woman “wasting” (in the disciples’ estimation) an expensive box of oil to anoint and minister to Jesus. The disciples were incredulous and instantly defaulted into their spiritualized pragmatism by suggesting that the sale of the oil could have been used to help the poor. (This seems like a legit critique, especially to those who see religion in exclusively sociological application.)
Jesus says something incredible…
(v.11) “For the poor you will have with you always, but Me you do not have always”.
Here’s the question…
How could Jesus say something so massively offensive? How could He be so cruel to the plight of the poor? Can you even imagine a 21st century American pastor looking at a congregation saying, “The poor you will always have with you”, after overseeing what looks to be an extravagant, opulent act?
You may not like all the answers, but I can assure you that they all originate from the Scriptures…
FIRST, God’s not fair.
This will definitely rub our current theologically egalitarian generation. It is true. God is simply not fair in the way we define “fairness”. For example,…
The parable of the workers in the vineyard whom the landowner (God) pays “equally” but hires at different times of the day. Would you consider that fair?
Or what about the parables of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the minas (Luke 19:11-27) which demonstrates how God gives different people different amounts of money and how that money is multiplied differently. It also demonstrates how God will take away from a financially poorer individual to give to a financially prosperous person. Is that fair?
We know from Paul’s letters that God establishes the Body by appointing people to different “Body functions” in His Church (I Corinthians 12:15-26). Is that fair?
In the Bible, you have revivalist, reformer kings who were incredibly rich and widows on their last measure of flour and oil? Is that fair?
A superficial observation across the church world quickly demonstrates that people have different skills, training, acumen, and giftings which clearly determine their prosperity levels. Is that fair?
I think sometimes we have turned the phrase, “God is no respecter of persons” (Romans 2:11) into our own egalitarian vision, when in actuality, it is a reminder that God works with Whom He chooses any way He chooses, and the outcomes are not always the same.
My takeaway as I explored this area was that God prospers me according to His purposes. So, I may not be as wealthy as some, but that doesn’t mean I cannot or will not experience abundance in my life. It’s not about being equal with my neighbor, but rather obedient to what God has asked of me. Pulling someone else down does me no good. I rejoice with those whom God has prospered incredibly. My job is to keep myself focused on His plan for my life.
SECONDLY, Ignorance is a roadblock.
The Bible is clear that what you don’t know can indeed steal, kill, and destroy you (Isaiah 5:13-14, Job 36:12, Hosea 4:6). What you don’t know is not automatically released into your life just based on the goodness of God. Everyone isn’t saved based solely on God’s goodness. You must hear the Gospel, believe the Gospel, and obey the commands the Word declares to enter into salvation. If salvation was solely based on God’s sovereign goodness (to the neglect of His justice) then God would be a universalist. But such is not the case.
People are impoverished, at times, because they don’t know it can be different. Sadly, many aren’t interested in finding out the truth. Remember, it’s the truth you know and apply that sets you free (John 8:32).
THIRDLY, Fearless obedience to the Word of God.
As you will see in an upcoming blog, the principles of prosperity which are outlined in Scripture must be adhered to and fearlessly obeyed. I understand the mercy and compassion people have concerning the poor and those who are financially struggling. God’s Word is clear that those who are prosperous must be sensitized to the needs of others in the Body. We are to help one another when we are able and especially as the Holy Spirit leads.
That said, those who are struggling need to do their own ruthless, self-evaluation and examine themselves with regards to the promises of God’s Word. That is not being inconsiderate or heartless to suggest such a thing. I will openly admit that there have been challenging financial times in our household. We were sustained and helped at those times by the compassion and mercy of God’s people for which we are grateful. However, Tracie and I had to come to the place where we refused to believe that our poverty was God’s ultimate plan. We had to arise and both believe and practice what God’s Word taught concerning prosperity. (Hang on, it will surprise you)
Until we personally reached the point of understanding our responsibility to act on God’s Word, prosperity was elusive. When the light clicked on and we saw the path God outlines for prospering His people as well as executing the precepts of that path, everything changed.
FOURTHLY, The issue of debt and self-control.
Any one of these points could be a book on its own. People do not prosper because when finances (seed) come into their hands they immediately spend it and demonstrate the lack of self-control God desires when it comes to prosperity (Proverbs 5:23).
FIFTHLY, The persistence of faithfulness.
I have a friend who has a great saying about success. He says, “Every overnight success took years to get there.” There is much truth in that statement. Prosperity and poverty are linked to diligence, perseverance, faith, and steadiness. A person will never prosper practicing a haphazard Christianity or refusing to deal with the biblical concepts of faith and confession.
I made fun of and criticized the positive confession group for years. Again, I will stipulate that any biblical truth can be twisted into error. However, our faithfulness in working, giving, believing, and keeping a scriptural confession on our lips has been critical to prospering. When we begin to put solid, biblical precepts into effect in our lives and make decisions based on those precepts, life suddenly starts to shift.
Let me encourage you to use the first week of 2021 as a springboard to getting your life in God’s order. It can be different for you, but you have to start believing it and practicing God’s ways.
As for me and my house…
We will serve the Lord…
And I am not ashamed of prosperity.
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