God and Prosperity

When we become Christians, God doesn’t promise us a trouble-free life of prosperity & bliss according to our definitions of the terms.  When God says that He has plans for us (Jer 29:11), His plans aren’t what most people think, for God’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways.  While it is comforting to know that God does indeed have a purpose for our lives, His ultimate purpose is for the advancement of His kingdom and for heavenly, not earthly, ends.

God does promise prosperity or abundance to believers, but not in the way we often think of it.  While we commonly think of abundance as happiness or material gains,  God promises us a future in heaven as adopted children of God.  He also promises to enable us to be the men and women He wants us to be here on earth through  the power of His Holy Spirit.  God’s promised blessings to us this side of eternity are spiritual & character blessings, not physical blessings (Eph 1:3-6), so that we can be holy and without blame before Him.  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  (Gal 5:22 NKJV)

These are definitely spiritual blessings, all of which pertain to character, nothing more.  Godly character is highly valued by God because God looks at the heart of man, not his or her exterior.  We will have success God’s way when we allow God to make us into the people He wants us to be so that we can do for Him what He wants us to do.  The fullness of our prosperity, God’s way, will come when we get to heaven, not here on earth, but it will definitely be worth the wait!  While we are waiting, let’s just keep pressing on, pressing into God, and allowing Him to change us from the inside out as He so desires.

Who will you encourage today with the Truth you know?

Comments

[Rachel]

I have thought a lot about this . . perhaps you agree but I thought I would throw in my 2 cents . .I agree God cares about the heart. But I don't think that excludes the physical blessing God wants to give us. When you look at the Israelites, David, Solomon, Job and so on – the physical blessings are apparent. God wanted to give them good things, material things. Just like a father desires his children to have good things I believe God wants that for us to. He doesn't give what would draw us away and he knows what each one of us can handle. But I think physical blessings are a part of God as well. From what I have read he desires to give His children good things in all forms.

As I have grown near to Him the physical blessings don’t push me away they pull me to him with praise and thanksgiving. And interestingly I am not tied to them.

Rachel

[Janna]

Rachel, I do appreciate your two cents. :) I agree with what you say and I believe we can find biblical proof that God wants to give good things to His children, including those physical blessings. However, those things aren't the "guaranteed" blessings. Some people never have much. Some people never have good health, but they have the intangibles.

Thanks for expanding on the topic!

[Sue]

Janna and Rachel, I agree with both of you. Whenever a blessing is given to a believer whether it be spiritual[the best kind] or material, there is a huge responsibility that goes along with it. The question is : Are we going to be a good steward of the blessing? How do we view what we have been given? And, does it satisfy our deepest desire? I like nice girley things just like any other woman BUT they will perish and have no significance once the Lord takes me home. When my family reads my journal someday and they see the personal and intimate things I have written to Jesus thanking Him for every "spiritual blessing", thanking Him for "never leaving me nor forsaking me" in my most darkest times, "thanking Him for forgiveness and unconditional love and most of all, thanking Him for the gift of faith that has transformed my life".Now that my dear sisters will live on and testify to faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone and that the word of God is alive and it is "truth" and how we present that truth is testimony to a life that is rich in what really matters.Prosperity is living a fruitful life in Christ Jesus. 2Tim.2:15