Articles by Kevin Baird

This blog excursion started by sharing that my wife and I have been on a journey exploring and searching the genuine biblical precepts of prosperity. It is our journey. It is not an apologetic or defense for those ministries or teachers who may over emphasize the doctrine or present it with lack of precision. My guess is that this blog post in particular, will begin challenge some people’s thoughts on the matter.

I understand that there will be people who for various reasons resist and reject any thought of biblical prosperity. I understand that by the very nature of sharing a journey into a topic like this that apologetic moments present themselves which appear to be a defense. I guess that is inevitable and unavoidable to some extent. My intent is to simply present a testimony and account of things which we have either been reminded or received an epiphany concerning. The reader is, of course, at liberty to accept or reject what we discovered. Again, life unfolds, and fruit is revealed by the thousands of decisions we make in a lifetime.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (Deuteronomy 30:19)

This brings me to the “tithe”.

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As I have mentioned previously, prosperity is not a one “stream” event in people’s lives, but rather a merging of at least five resource rivers which can enlarge and financially bless God’s people. Much of prosperity can actually look quite natural and reasonable. For example, you are offered a great job opportunity based on your skills that pays exceptionally well. Perhaps you work exceedingly hard and hit the sales goal which gives you a bonus. These can be (and are) used by God in His Providence to enlarge His people. The same could be said of healing when physicians and health professionals work with you through medicines and therapies. These things most certainly can be used by God to assist His people in establishing a prosperous life. That said, there is a supernatural aspect to prospering (as well as healing) that must not be discounted.

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This is the aspect of prosperity and the area that receives the most criticism. Pastors who preach and teach against the “prosperity message” will often times play the 3-minute YouTube clip of a television fundraising event of a ministry which illustrates an abuse or misuse of the Word to solicit donations. It smacks of manipulation, gimmickry, and scheming. I cannot defend it, nor will I try. That said, we can all dislike charlatans who twist Scripture to selfish ends, however one must still come to terms with the truth of God’s Word. Implementing His Word is the fourth prosperity “stream” that God uses to enlarge His people.

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One of my favorite television shows is Shark Tank. An entrepreneur, innovator, or businessperson has some clever idea that needs an investor, so they come on this show and make a “pitch” to five venture capitalists. I am not a financier the magnitude of these investors, but I enjoy watching the minds of these people process the possibilities before them. Some of the business ideas that are presented are lame, others are good but not at a point of investment, while others demonstrate the possibility of hitting it big in the market. Again, I am amazed at the cleverness and ingenuity of the people on the show, especially the inventors. I think to myself, “What a gift that must be to create something that never existed which people need (or want) and prosper by it.”

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There is an old “saying” that many have used through the years to illustrate the connection wisdom and foolishness have to prosperity and poverty which goes like this: “A fool and his money are soon departed”. The actual phrase was used by a poet, Thomas Tusser, in a poem he wrote entitled, “Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry”, in 1557. I have not read the entire poem, but I can vouch for the counsel that to be a good husband would most assuredly include avoiding foolish expenditures, investments, or purchases. (And all the wives said, “Amen”.)

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