Christian Living

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True Prosperity

Nov 17, 2002
By Rick L King

We here much teaching on prosperity these days. I wonder if some of it be the doctrines of devils because of some itchy ears? Let me share maybe a different approach to prosperity that maybe you have not heard.

From the worldly way of looking at things, we are somewhat judged by what we own materially or how much money we have in the bank. The odd thing is that many people with many riches may look good outwardly, but can they say that they sleep well at night? Is their head all full of thoughts, worry and fear? Do they experience peace in their heart and also joy?

We as a church have gone many miles with Jesus and financially or materially sometimes have very little. We have tithed and made offerings, we have helped others. I want to submit this idea for consideration. What does prosperity really mean? Does it mean that we are rich financially or materially? Or could it mean we are rich in our soul (mind)? Scripture says, “for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15) KJV. According to this scripture material or financial possessions do not make the man of God.

Jesus told the man in Mark 10:21 in front of the disciples that to follow Jesus he needed to sell all he had and give it to the poor. Doesn’t sound to me like he was going to have a big bank account following Jesus. To follow Jesus is done in faith. It takes faith to be saved, it takes faith to please God, and it takes faith to follow Jesus wherever He chooses to take you. It does not take faith to have a big bank account unless the bank account belongs entirely to Jesus. I wonder, has the majority of the Church gotten to the place that they can say with Paul, I have learned to be content with or without? If we have to have money or possessions to be happy, then we are still building our own kingdom for ourselves. When we give tithes and offerings what is our motive? Is it to receive back or is it just to be obedient to the Holy Spirit? Do we give thinking we are going to get back so we can build our selfish kingdom? Do we give all in obedience to the Lord and trust him to take care of us because of His promises to us? The word says where our treasure is our heart will be also. If our treasure is building an earthly kingdom for our self, then we are missing it big time. We are to lay up our treasures in Heaven instead where moth and rust doth not corrupt, and where thieves won’t break through and steal (Mathew 6:19).

I have been concerned many times when I have heard preachers say that if you give a certain amount, that you will receive a certain amount back. Yes, God may answer in that way to some. Yet I have to look at the motives for giving. I have to look at the motives for the preachers saying what they say. Many Christians are still very selfish and are building their own kingdoms. These messages play right into their plans. The preachers get large amounts of money for their projects and comfort. Even if the person does not receive what the preacher said they should get, they are told their faith is weak, or they have to keep doing it till it works. Many finally give up disillusioned and wonder why it didn’t work.
First, God is not a formula. If we give as led by the Holy Spirit, we will be taken care of by the Lord. I personally believe that our motive should only be obedience to what the Holy Spirit tells us to do. If we are like what Jesus said that we should be to follow Him, our focus will be on doing God’s will and building His kingdom and not our own.
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3 John 1:2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”. When a soul prospers does money make it happen? Not hardly. A prospered soul is one that is content with whatever portion God gives. This soul is ruled by the Holy Spirit as it has died to self-pleasure, and self-gratification. This soul has found peace, is able to rest and trust the Lord, as its total source of all things. This soul is happy as it has the mind of Christ not the mind of man.

I find an interesting contrast here with the scripture in Psalms 106:15. God gave the person their request, but with it came leanness of soul. Doesn’t that say that you can posses materially and financially yet still have a lean soul?

I have become convinced over the years that true prosperity is not about money or possessions. True prosperity is the fruit of the Spirit whether we posses anything or not. True prosperity is following Jesus and knowing His power and presence. God will always take care of our needs as we have them: He didn’t say that He would take care of all of our wants though. You may say that if we delight our self in the Lord that He will give to us the desires of our heart. Yes He may but what does delighting in the Lord mean? I think delighting in the Lord means that we have made Him Lord of everything. We have given up our own mind, will, desires, and impure motives. If we are truly delighting in the Lord, I believe we will have His heart not ours. I think a key here is that who rules our money? Is it Jesus or self? If Jesus rules it then we know it is not ours. We do with it as the Holy Spirit directs. We may at times have an abundance then all the sudden we have little or none. We will not be swayed either way. We will be like Paul, content with or without. We will have learned who our source really is and that we can trust in His faithfulness.

One thing that I have learned is that when I am in God’s presence, I find that I desire nothing more than
Him. All of the things I thought I wanted or needed don’t even enter my mind. The spirit gives to us life,
not our selfish flesh. To me, true prosperity is having an intimate relationship with Jesus through the Holy
Spirit. I find nothing greater or more satisfying.


Copyright © 2007
By: Rick L. King

No portion of this may be reproduced or used without written permission from the author.
Please contact me at [email protected] if you have a need for this writing. Thank You.

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