As most of you know I am on a mission to reclaim the word prosper. When the word prosperity is mentioned in Christian circles, most eyes will roll and we immediately tune out the person speaking. Even now most of you are waiting for me to ask for money. Prosperity has become associated with get rich quick schemes and tele-evangelist selling favor, holy water, and holy cloths in the name of the gospel.
But my prayer is that those images are erased and we can see the heart of God and understand how much He longs to bless his people. So let me tell you what prosperity is NOT. It is NOT every Christian being a millionaire, driving expensive cars and living in mansions. There is NOT a direct correlation between your spirituality and your bank account. Favor and blessing CANNOT be purchased over TV or at a conference.
So what is prosperity? In Luke 19:9, Jesus says to Nicodemus “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost. The word used for salvation is soteria which means forgiveness, healing, prosperity, deliverance, safety, rescue, liberation, and restoration. When Jesus comes into your life He brings prosperity. Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.” Is that not prosperity?
When Jesus entered the scene 2000 years ago, the Jewish people were oppressed. They were oppressed financially by the Roman government’s unfair tax system, the were oppressed by the enemy with sickness and disease. They were oppressed spiritually by spiritual leaders and the abundant laws that put an obstacle between them and God. Jesus came to set them free of all oppression. He came that they might have an abundant life in all of these areas.
When God delivers His people, it’s always to something better. When he delivered His people out of Egypt, He promised: For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. (Deuteronomy 8:7-9 NIV)
And when He delivered you from the bondage of sin, He promised: And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)
True prosperity is the freedom to believe God will provide all resources needed to do that which He has called you to do. True prosperity is the freedom to be generous knowing
God’s resources are unlimited. True prosperity has less to do with your bank account and more to do with your heart. True prosperity comes when you prosper in your emotions and your relationships. True prosperity is living an abundant life.
