Prosperity is Gospel
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What is prosperity?
What is prosperity?
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
εὐοδόομαι (euodoomai), εὐοδόω (euodoō): vb.; ≡ Str 2137; TDNT 5.109—1. LN 22.47 get along well (3Jn 2+); 2. LN 57.64 gain in business, prosper (1Co 16:2+); 3. LN 68.30 complete, have a way opened (Ro 1:10+)
εὐπάρεδρον (euparedron), ου (ou), τό (to): n.neu. [served by 2339]—LN 53.68 devotion (1Co 7:35+)
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
There’s a difference between prosperity and the love of money. You can be prosperous and not love money. You can also love money while having very little of it. God’s desire is that you would be blessed, but not so that you can hoard it and boast about your wealth.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
This verse immediately follows Galatians 6:9, which talks to us about our financial giving.
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
It’s the Church’s job to fund the advancement of the Kingdom. If our great commission is to go into all the world, preach the gospel, and make disciples, how are we going to get there if we’re broke?
We live in a world in which money is a necessary tool for furthering the cause of the Kingdom.
“Money is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.” - Mark Hankins
“Our motivation for accumulation is distribution.” - George Pearsons
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
In order to do something with it, we have to have some of it. The good news is that God wants to get it into your hands. The better news is that He WILL get it into your hands when you demonstrate faithfulness in stewardship of the resources He gives you.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
If you desire to have more so that you can give more, God will get it to you. The catch is that you have to be faithful in giving with what you have now.
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
The reason that John desires for the prosperity of the Church to be a reflection of the prosperity of their souls is because a prosperous and healthy soul is the catalyst from which a prosperous life begins.
If you believe you can’t afford to give, I’d challenge you and say that you can’t afford NOT to give…unless you have no desire to increase in what God gives you to steward.
God needs a Church full of prosperous people, not just financially successful people. Prosperous people live to give, not to receive. All the money in the world won’t make you prosperous if your soul is bankrupt.
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
The Passion Translation puts it this way...”Generosity brings prosperity.”
Prosperity is the result of a lifestyle of generosity. I’m often asked if I’m one of those “prosperity preachers.” My answer is that I’m a “generosity preacher,” which makes prosperity a biblical byproduct.
If you want to be prosperous, the formula is simple. Start being generous.
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
If you measure money in how much you HAVE to give, it will be given back to you accordingly. If you measure money in how much you GET to give, it will be given back to you in a good measure and running over.
The world is filled with schemes that insist you’ll get rich quick, but the Bible is filled with the promise that you can be prosperous forever.
My challenge to you is this: commit to living a life of generosity and watch as God turns it into a life of prosperity. God even challenges the priests in Malachi 3 to test Him in this.
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
Does this mean that all you have to do is give ten percent? I’d say that’s a good place to start.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Ask God what He would have you give and then don’t allow your financial circumstances to sway you. If money is a tool, it won’t be hard for you to part with it. If it’s an idol in your life, you’ll find yourself making excuses about why you can’t give this month…and they’ll be good excuses. Life got real. Gas got expensive.
Start with something. If managing your money is tough, find someone who’s doing it well and ask for help. Make a goal out of giving as much as you can and then push yourself further.
If the measure of your giving determines the measure of your return, maybe you’re setting your goals backwards. How many people have you heard talk about how much money they want to make? “I’m going to graduate in four years, get a job making six figures right out of college, buy a house, invest in Bitcoin...” Whatever. What if our financial goals started with how much we want to give? “I want to give $10,000 to my church this year and then find at least two other fields of good ground where I can sow.?
Here’s my challenge…get busy giving. If you’ll give God the next six months of faithfully giving and actively choosing to live a generous life, His Word promises that He will continue to put seed in your hands. You’ll have more than enough and then some. People will be lining up to bless you, because you’ve proven to be someone who believes it’s better to give than to receive.
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Six months. What can God do through you in six months? You should be the next one up here testifying of the goodness of God. Sharing how He’s provided more than enough for you and encouraging the next person sitting in your seat to give God everything and watch Him give everything back. Here’s some good news for you…He has a lot more to give.
