God's Prosperity
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 1:2)
These beautiful words from the Apostle John should encourage us to live a holy life. But Satan is good at twisting the Word of God and confusing the personally ambitious. He began his career on earth with that approach in the Garden of Eden. How else can we account for the notion that of financial prosperity is the goal of Christian faith?
"If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied." (1 Cor. 15:19)
The early church understood that the Christian faith is not about this lifetime in terms of rewards. The blessings of God in this lifetime had to do with His enabling to help us preach the Gospel. America has been blessed because it was a missionary nation. Can we say that it still is? Why all the emphasis on financial prosperity?
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8-8)
Prosperity carries with it a responsibility. We are blessed to bless others. The world may not see our prosperity in the same light as what is generally accepted as prosperity. But does the world have righteousness, peace, and joy? Do worldly people live in the presence of God?
Remember the parable of the rich man who would tear down his barns to build bigger barns so that they could contain all his wealth? Remember the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? What happens to us when think only of ourselves and ignore the poor? In fact, Jesus said that we would be judged by how we treat the poor:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' " (Matthew 25:31-40)
Jesus said that no one can serve two masters. We either serve God or Mammon (the love of money.) In the American church we glory in prosperity. God has called us to repent of this perversion and distortion of His Word. And we have not. Judgment is upon us!