A part of the current worldview battle in America swirls around the concept of prosperity and the “have’s v. the have-nots”. Since I am not an economist, I can only debate economic theory at a superficial level. I do understand, however, that it is important to have a thriving middle-class and for every opportunity to be available for impoverished people to move out of their poverty. The good news is, that this desire for the impoverished people of the earth to prosper is not only linked to human compassion and hopes, but also the will of God. The Lord wants people to prosper (Psalm 35:27). The key is to translate God’s Will into definable actions on our part. The Lord may want something for your life, but the question is whether or not a person is willing to do (obey) what is asked.
This leads us to the first “stream” of prosperity…
Work.
“The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers…” (Deuteronomy 30:9)
“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23)
Everyone can prosper because everyone can work. Everyone can do something to generate an income stream. God uses this work, whether it be labor, skills, job, career, or valuable expertise, to enlarge and prosper His people. In fact, dare I say that on most occasions and on a regular basis, this is how the Lord prospers His people. This “stream” should be the foundational expectation of all believers. God expects you to work for your sustenance and the meeting of needs. This is actually a spiritual precept and command.
“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (I Timothy 5:8)
There is nobility, dignity, and spiritual virtue when you are working for your resources (money). Work is esteemed and honored by God, which is why He promotes and uses it for His purposes.
The people who seem fixated on critiquing prosperity never seem to deal with this particular scriptural precept. In fact, most who critique prosperity are the first ones to rejoice and be glad when they are promoted or given a wage increase (bonuses) at their workplace. If prosperity is so evil, then why won’t most of these folks give it back? I’ll go a step further. If those prosperity critics are not at least given a cost-of-living increase at work, they will (often times) feel ill-used. Why, especially if prospering is so bad? You should accept your restriction of money with gladness (tad bit of sarcasm here).
The fact is…
We work to prosper…
Some do not see it as spiritual (perhaps even biblical) as they need to see it.
Jobs, careers, manual labor, sales, skills, training, are all within the providential activity of God. The Lord uses these things to prosper our hands. In fact, the Scripture is quite direct if a person is lazy when it comes to work.
“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” (Proverbs 10:4)
“The soul of the lazy craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” (Proverbs 13:14)
“The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.” (Proverbs 21:25)
“Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.” (Proverbs 20:13)
“Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.” (Proverbs 19:15)
“Whoever is lazy will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.” (Proverbs 12:27)
This may be a good place to remind the readers that entitlement and socialism (mutually shared resources) is not a biblical concept. Acts 2-4 was a sharing community (as the Holy Spirit was moving and working through this early community of Christians), but it was not a socialist community where only some worked, and the others “sponged” off the rest. This was the issue Paul was addressing in 2 Thessalonians 3:10.
Interestingly, there was a time when the poor or transients upon presenting their needs to the church were often times offered a job around the church grounds to “work” for their money. This wasn’t an act of meanness, but rather an act of dignity. Paul wrote, “A workman is worthy of his wages” (I Timothy 5:18). It was implementing a spiritual principle that the needy person might begin walking in a prosperity “stream”. Socialism, by its very nature, produces mutually shared poverty, never prosperity. Capitalism, as an economic system, rewards hard work and the diligent. Joseph, even as he faced injustice through Potiphar’s house and prison, would always prosper and be elevated because of his work ethic.
So, position yourself to prosper by laying your hands to some form of work.
And as you do, realize, that you no longer need to be ashamed of prospering…
No Comments