Is there true biblical prosperity and how does it differ from the popular “prosperity doctrine” preached from many pulpits today? If so, how do we put ourselves in a position to experience it? And what is the danger of believing an unbiblical doctrine concerning prosperity?
Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 49 & 50
Psalm 112.1-4
Proverbs 26.13-15
Ephesians 1.1-23
Does God Give His People Prosperity?
Psalm 112.1-4:
Blessed is the Man …
Verse 1 says:
… Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.
Psalm 1 expands on this theme:
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.3 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.
Unfortunately, the message preached in many pulpits is, “Just come to Jesus and He will cause everything you do to prosper.” There is an element of truth in that idea, but without qualifying it with the truths found in these verses and understanding what prospering means from God’s perspective, people end up coming to Him as if He is a spiritual vending machine.
Psalm 1.3 must be understood in context. According to verses 1-2, it’s the man or woman who fears the Lord, doesn’t listen to ungodly advice, and doesn’t hang around people who scorn the truths and reality of God who will prosper. It’s those who delight in the things of God, meditate on His truths, and obey His commands.
When the Prosperity Doctrine Doesn’t Deliver
Sadly, many people have bought into an unbiblical doctrine on prosperity. It’s a message that sounds good to our selfish, sinful nature but requires little of us in the way of change or growth. A large percentage of those people will walk away from God at some point when what they believe doesn’t deliver. Sometimes they reject God altogether when they do.
The reality of God’s love and care for His children and the work of grace through salvation is so much greater and more wonderful than we can imagine! But God is not at our beck and call like a genie in a bottle. He doesn’t always answer the way we hope He will. He is far too wise to give us everything we ask for or do things on our timetable.
True Prosperity
True prosperity is first peace with God, knowing that we will spend eternity with Him, that our sins are forgiven, and that we are no longer living under His judgment (Rom. 3.23, 6.23; 1 Cor. 5.17).
Then it’s understanding that God takes care of His own, that He meets our needs even when He doesn’t give us everything we want. True prosperity includes contentment with the blessings of God and not always striving for more (Phil. 4.11-13).
It’s knowing He’s with us in our trials and has a plan to use them to change us into the likeness of Christ (Jas. 1.2-4; Rom. 8.28-29). It’s trusting in His love, His goodness, and His sovereignty. It’s knowing that our past is forgiven, our present guided by His hands, and our future secure.
Let’s not settle for some false gospel or the cheap imitation that the world offers.
Today’s Other Readings:
Isaiah 49 & 50:
The Coming Messiah
These two chapters continue to talk about the (then) coming Messiah. He would be a man—a human being—born of a woman (49.1) and a light not just to the Jews but to the Gentiles (49.6). Though there would be a time of separation from the nation of Israel, God would not divorce her (50.1). It also tells us the Messiah would suffer torment at the time of His first advent (50.6-7).
There is an invitation to all who are in darkness to come and trust in the name of the Lord (50.10), as well as, a warning that man-made religion will not work (50.11). We can do nothing to save ourselves; all our attempts at being good enough or finding our own way to God (“you who kindle a fire”) are futile.
Men and women have tried to find their own way to God since the tower of Babel and, probably, before. But there is only One Way! That is through Jesus Christ!
Proverbs 26.13-15:
There’s a Lion in the Street! Just Stay in Bed!
These three verses all talk about the “lazy man.”
The lazy man says, ‘There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!’ (v. 13).
This is the person who can never do anything, especially work because there is always some risk, some danger, some excuse that he claims he has no control over, which would make it unwise to do so.
As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed (v. 14).
The lazy man fails to redeem the time God has given him or her, preferring to stay in bed and do nothing.
And verse 15:
The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
This person is so lazy he or she won’t even use the resources God has so generously provided, whether it is time, talent, or opportunities.
Ephesians 1.1-23:
To Those Who Are “in Christ”
The first three chapters of Ephesians are theological; they focus on doctrine. But don’t let that scare you off.
As you read through these three chapters take special note of all the things God has provided through our relationship with Him, more reminders of true prosperity. Then as we get to chapters 4-6, we will see Paul’s instructions on how these truths are to be lived out in our lives and behavior.
In Chapter 1, we see that He has, “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places ‘in Christ’,” that He has “predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,” that “He made us accepted in the Beloved,” “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,” “in Him also we have obtained an inheritance,” “that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory,” and we have been “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance,” just to name a few!
Your Thoughts:
How has God spoken to you today? Did you find a promise to hold on to or an area where you need to grow and change?
What does Psalm 1.1-3 teach us about how to have true biblical prosperity?
What part of Ephesians 1 was the most encouraging to you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll talk about true freedom, what a mature Christian looks like, what’s going on when we think we can sin now and ask forgiveness later, and more.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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