The prosperity of the Godly
By Jim Durkin
Worldly prosperity is an attitude of the mind that emphasizes accumulation. However, biblical prosperity is not about getting rich but rather giving, receiving and distributing wealth. Our hearts and intentions should be to give and do what the Bible says, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you’. Therefore, our sole purpose is to build the kingdom.
God’s principle is, give and it shall be given unto you. He wants us to build the kingdom of God and prosper and be in good health as our souls prosper, to prosper physically, spiritually and materially. By living above sin, we can give of the spiritual force of God. By living above sickness, we are able to labour abundantly in the work of God. By living in financial victory, we are able to give of the material things that are necessary to build the kingdom of God. He wants these three principles of prosperity to be present in every child of God. To attain this, our goals have to be in alignment with God’s divine will for our lives. We must want for ourselves what God wants for us. God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. Thus we should strive to have the same mind of Christ.
God gives us everything that we have, our talents, abilities, bodies, properties. Proverbs 6:6-11, encourages us not to be lazy as it will lead to poverty; Proverbs 8:14 links wisdom with a material blessing. The righteous prosper because of the blessing of God, Deuteronomy 8:17-18, as we begin to prosper, Satan intervenes and tries to make us think that it is our wisdom and strength that causes us to prosper. However, God allows us to prosper because this is part of His covenant with His people and He wants to confirm that covenant with us and bless us. The righteous are those who have received Jesus and practice His principles 1 John 3:7, right living, integrity, honesty, love, right thinking and speaking.
The blessing of God that produces prosperity is evident in those who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord, and He directs their lives through His Holy Spirit. They carefully read the Word of God and practice the truth every day and believe the promises of the Word and act on it. We need to enter into a co-operative relationship with God to attain any good and noble spiritual goal. Joshua 1:6, “Be strong and courageous for you shall give these people the land …so you may have success wherever you go” We fail in the basic area of life by not doing what God tells us to do. They honour God continually with their lips, time, money, prayers and lives, which keeps them in the right relationship to life itself, Malachi 1:6. Invite God into every area of our lives. People who are blessed are grateful in every area of their life, even when things go awry. They honour and praise God for the little blessings as well, Zachariah 4:10, “do not despise the day of small things”. They honour God by their tithes and offerings. Proverbs 3:9-10, so that your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine; Malachi 3:9-11, “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…I will open up the windows of heaven and bless you…” They honour God by attendance to church on the Lord’s day, church is a real part of the Christian experience. They honour God by service to His kingdom, Haggai 1:2-14. They are saving, investing, and industrious people. A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children. They are persevering and positive people who are resilient and get up each time they fall, the righteous fall seven times, but they rise up again, all things work for good for those who love the Lord, they are hopeful because they have learnt how to change tribulation into hope, such as David and Job. They acknowledge when they have made a mistake, and they don’t blame others or complain.
God wants us to experience and receive all of the things which He has prepared for us. The concept that God has determined upon His creation that this purpose should be fulfilled in them should love Him with all of their heart, mind and strength and love others as themselves. Man is not meant to focus on himself, but on God. He should renew and replace his love upon the Lord, a knowledgeable and personal commitment to God.
We cannot afford to keep this wonderful good news that we have, as we are called to spread the gospel to all the ends of the earth. We are to manifest the life of Jesus Christ and bless those around us with love and compassion.
These principles should be the foundation of our lives, and we should do all things for His glory. We should strive to express the very nature of God as the Lord has produced a measure of the change in our lives. The essential attitude of doing the Word of God allows us to have all of these things. These blessings have been withheld from some as they have a wrong attitude in their lives, 1 Corinthians 13, “love is patient…”, when we act out patience, kindness, towards God and those in our lives, our souls become re-trained, and we can exhibit God’s character. God desires that His people will be effective and powerful workers in His kingdom, that our families and children will be saved, we will act in wisdom and leave an inheritance for our children. We will love others and glorify God in all that we do.
