Introduction
Prosperity! When you hear this word, what thoughts or images come immediately to mind? What feelings are evoked? Do you think in terms of dollars? If so, how many dollars? (How much money connotes prosperity to you?) Do you think in terms of material things? Does prosperity mean to you home(s), cars, furnishings, vacation resort property, etc.? Do you think in terms of a specific job and/or career? If so, what is it, and what type of security and benefits does it provide?
The Bible does speak to material wealth in many passages as blessings from God, e.g. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Solomon, and others. The Bible also speaks of success and prominence of position, e.g. Abraham, Melchizedek, Joseph, Gideon, Deborah, Samuel, David and Solomon, and others. However, when I use the phrase, “True Biblical Prosperity,” I am referring more specifically to the spiritual intangibles, e.g. salvation, deliverance, healing, peace, joy, contentment, et. al.
The lyrics of a beautiful song, “How Rich I Am,” come to my mind often:
How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day ~
How rich, how very rich I am.
All things have changed,
My eyes once blind, but now I see,
And the whole wide world is now a symphony,
How rich, how very rich I am.
There are more stanzas to the song, but I believe that we understand the point I wish to emphasize: true Biblical prosperity has to do with what Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-22.
We are not to lay up for ourselves treasures here on earth where they can decay and rust and be stolen; rather, we are to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven where they will never decay or rust and where they cannot be stolen, because our hearts are centered upon those things we truly treasure!
In verse 33 Jesus also exhorts / commands us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. If we do so, He promises that all of the material things that we need will be given to us. In addition, Paul serves as an excellent role model for us when we shares with his Philippian disciples that he has learned the secret of being truly content in this life no matter what his physical circumstances may be (4:11-12).
In order for us to be recipients of, and to experience the riches of, the prosperity of the spirit that the Father has for us, we must be “vessels” that can receive and hold such riches. The “Beatitudes” Jesus enumerated in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3 ff) reveal the truths that will set us free and allow our hearts to be open to receive the blessings the Father desires to lavish upon us!
(to be continued . . . .)
Prosperity! When you hear this word, what thoughts or images come immediately to mind? What feelings are evoked? Do you think in terms of dollars? If so, how many dollars? (How much money connotes prosperity to you?) Do you think in terms of material things? Does prosperity mean to you home(s), cars, furnishings, vacation resort property, etc.? Do you think in terms of a specific job and/or career? If so, what is it, and what type of security and benefits does it provide?
The Bible does speak to material wealth in many passages as blessings from God, e.g. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Solomon, and others. The Bible also speaks of success and prominence of position, e.g. Abraham, Melchizedek, Joseph, Gideon, Deborah, Samuel, David and Solomon, and others. However, when I use the phrase, “True Biblical Prosperity,” I am referring more specifically to the spiritual intangibles, e.g. salvation, deliverance, healing, peace, joy, contentment, et. al.
The lyrics of a beautiful song, “How Rich I Am,” come to my mind often:
How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day ~
How rich, how very rich I am.
All things have changed,
My eyes once blind, but now I see,
And the whole wide world is now a symphony,
How rich, how very rich I am.
There are more stanzas to the song, but I believe that we understand the point I wish to emphasize: true Biblical prosperity has to do with what Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-22.
We are not to lay up for ourselves treasures here on earth where they can decay and rust and be stolen; rather, we are to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven where they will never decay or rust and where they cannot be stolen, because our hearts are centered upon those things we truly treasure!
In verse 33 Jesus also exhorts / commands us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. If we do so, He promises that all of the material things that we need will be given to us. In addition, Paul serves as an excellent role model for us when we shares with his Philippian disciples that he has learned the secret of being truly content in this life no matter what his physical circumstances may be (4:11-12).
In order for us to be recipients of, and to experience the riches of, the prosperity of the spirit that the Father has for us, we must be “vessels” that can receive and hold such riches. The “Beatitudes” Jesus enumerated in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3 ff) reveal the truths that will set us free and allow our hearts to be open to receive the blessings the Father desires to lavish upon us!
(to be continued . . . .)
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