Christian Living

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PROSPERITY
By Annie Wanjiru. About 800 words
Is it unscriptural to be prosperous? Popular opinion holds it that it is unchristian to be wealthy, and often Christians who pursue material prosperity are viewed with suspicion. Ministers who urge adherents out of mediocrity are looked upon as peddlers of lies or at best, miracle merchants.

I was investigating the matter of money in Christianity, when I stumbled upon the truth. Despite what opinions there are on the matter God does aspire to prosper his children. I found this priceless truth in a book by Don Gosset, a Canadian Minister of the gospel. He outlines the facts in his book titled What You Say Is What You Get, and backs this truth with quotations from Scripture. Here below is what it takes to be prospered by God.

RULE 1
Stay away from laziness, slothfulness, gluttony and dishonesty. God rewards your efforts but if you are full of evil, then his blessings will be deflected from your tainted hands. Trusting God is not the excuse to sit back and wait for a quick fix solution. Many lazy people excuse their inactivity by claiming that they are waiting upon the Lord. God who is very real sees through their pretence and cannot be hoodwinked to bless such people.

Do not overindulge in food and pleasures. Do not lie cheat and extort. Stay away from: corruption and all forms of lies. As the bible says, 'The bread of deceit will not be blessed.'(Prov. 20:17,21)
RULE2
Have Faith. Believe without doubting at all that God can grant you what you trust him for. Just like all other of Gods blessing you will not receive financial prosperity from God if you do not believe that He can grant it. God has an unbroken record of not disappointing anyone who goes to him with faith. Let your faith be manifest by your positive words and actions and know God will do his part.
RULE 3
Rise early. Well known success writers attest to the fact that early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wealthy and wise. Proverbs 23:21 speaks the same in the assurance that 'drowsiness will cloth a man with rags' Also quote Proverbs 24:33-34, 'A little sleep , a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest; and poverty will come upon you as a robber, and want as an armed warrior'(KJV)
RULE 4
Give. This perhaps the most important thing you must do. Next time the gospel minister asks you to give abundantly, know he is not just pursuing his own personal interest. Never be tempted to believe that you have too little. Whenever you give you really are stretching out your hand to receive. Give of yourself, of your time and resources. Most importantly give in church in your tithes and offerings. As you give God will cause men to give unto you, 'a full measure, pressed down shaken together and running over'. (Luke6:38KJV) The more you give the more you have unexpected sources give unto you, and resounding success upon your efforts.
The only scripture where God asks us to test him has to do with giving. Quote Mal 3:10 'bring your full tithes into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing an overflowing blessing. . . .' God promises to defeat the devourer for those who follow His word in giving. And as has been proven over and over since time immemorial, God is a capable provider, and testimonies abound that are proof of this statement.


RULE 4
Do not be a show off. Pride will knock you right off Gods prosperity list. God wants you to be humble. Put God first. You will not prosper if you do not have God as your first priority and He hates pride. Check your motives. Do not be a showoff. Do not your alms in public because you will already have your reward (see Mat 6:1-4) Purify your motives and walk right into the welcome embrace of our loving father in heaven. God is always looking for someone who will do what He wants done.
Trust that God is always working in the lives of those who call upon him. Through your humble submission to his leading He will remove whatever it is that keeps you from prospering, and you will live a life of abundance and joy, which is the will of your heavenly Father.

END.

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