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Some thoughts on biblical prosperity


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#1 Julie Daube

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Posted 04 November 2015 - 01:38 PM

"Prosperity" seems to have become a dirty word in some Christian circles, in large part due to extremes among what I consider to be false prosperity teachers, as opposed to biblical prosperity teachers. Some believers have become so offended by those who have misrepresented the Bible's teaching on this subject that they don't understand what true prosperity is. 

 

A big part of biblical prosperity is walking into your destiny and being able to do what God calls you to do when you’re called to do it. It has nothing to do with driving a Cadillac, though it could very well involve having a reliable, long-lasting vehicle with which to do the Lord's work. It may not mean living in a mansion, but it could mean having an inviting, spacious home in which to minister His hospitality, host neighborhood Bible studies, or take in people in need.

 

True prosperity is about being free to live out God's calling on our lives and being a conduit of His blessings to others.  

 

"The Lord delights in the prosperity of His servant" (Psalm 35:27)


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#2 ADVRider

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Posted 06 November 2015 - 07:46 AM

Julie,

 

Gave this a little thought last night, and what came to me was this. I think part of the problem people have with prosperity teaching is, yes, the abuses they have seen. Some of these are glaring. But it occurred to me a more subtle issue is the idea that individual Christians begin to determine what their needs are, instead of letting God do that. They often subconsciously feel they know better than the Provider Himself as to how, why and when their need should be met. Basically, they define what prosperity is for themselves.

 

Like you, I fully believe God will meet all our needs and if that is prosperity, then I agree it's biblical. I also don't think God has a problem with us telling Him what we think our needs are. But when we begin to tell ourselves and others prosperity looks a certain way or means certain things will happen, then we are in danger of falling into self-deception. There are those cases where a person cannot believe God will bless them at all with anything, but I believe the greater danger is the many who believe God is their Santa Claus. That said, I will add that in my experience, the Father often will delight in giving one of His Children a lavish gift just because He loves them. That has happened to me. So it's not about the thing that is given as much as it is about the heart condition of the one to whom it is given; will they idolize the gift or love the Giver?


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#3 Julie Daube

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Posted 06 November 2015 - 07:29 PM

ADVRider, I totally get your point about idolizing the gift versus loving the Giver. This was something I struggled with during my dating years before I met my husband (showing we can idolize people and not just material things). But in all honesty, from my own experience and my interactions with fellow believers, I feel that there are more Christians who struggle with believing that God will bless them, heal them and provide for them than there are those who see God as their Santa Clause (I actually can't think of a single believer I've known who sees God that way). I have just seen too many believers beating themselves up, thinking of themselves as worms and saying they don't deserve to be healed, blessed, and prospered (as if we can ever "deserve" any of those things) because they've messed up too many times. Again, this is just my experience so maybe there are more Christians out there who do see God as Santa Clause. But it seems to me that far too many Christians view God as an ogre just itching to strike them down every time they fail to measure up. This is how I used to view Him until God gave me a revelation of His unmertiated favor and grace that completely changed my life.

 

And I agree with you that a big problem with the false prosperity movement is when believers define what prosperity is for themselves, That's pretty much what I mean when I said prosperity has nothing to do with driving a Cadillac (I was thinking of a saying I've heard that goes "King's kids drive Cadillacs). This doesn't mean that Christians shouldn't drive luxury cars - it just means we shouldn't define prosperity that way. Prosperity can also mean experiencing God's provision and blessings amid extremely difficult times, which was my experience during the past year when my car died, my mother-in-law died, and my dad died all within a two-month period. Amazingly, my husband and I experienced incredible favor and blessings during that same timeframe. God continually met our needs throughout that time, even going beyond that and blessing us with an abundance. And He did that again just last week when we went on a vacation with very little funds (we were visiting family) and wondered where the provision would come from. Throughout the trip, God showered us with His blessings and provision, which was more than we could have asked for or imagined. I cannot praise Him and thank Him enough!    


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#4 Charles Miles

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Posted 10 November 2015 - 08:54 PM

Julie and ADV, I can see where people take positions on the prosperity teachings, and I do agree that it does depend upon one`s definition of prosperity. I see many people(Christians) who believe God is around only to punish and threaten His people. They cower and "pull away" from God for that reason, and that just seems like a shame. On the other hand, there are some who are angry because they are not wealthy and believe God has not kept some promise they thought He made to them.
When I was a youngster, my father worked and made a salary which he brought home and used to support the family. I generally had the things I needed and I could get a job to earn more, if I had time. I know I am a child of God and He loves me more than even my earthly father did, and my earthly father worked hard to provide for his children. We didn`t have the very best things provided for us but we had what we needed....because my father saw to it that we did! How much better will our heavenly Father provide for us? How much better does He know the things we actually need? Would I like to be fabulously wealthy? you bet! But I am already a wealthy man...I have the love of the God of the universe. God himself actually knows my name! I have His permission to come before Him with my petitions. He tells me that I am His child and I will inherit His kingdom. I have been given peace. He even sent His Son to pay a debt for me that I could not repay....no matter how much I tried. These things that I have do not cost me anything but they did cost God. There is simply no way to place a price on these things that He has given me, but they are so precious, so wonderful, so eternal. Am I prosperous? I should think so.

I am blessed, but getting better,

Charlie
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#5 Julie Daube

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Posted 12 November 2015 - 08:30 AM

Julie and ADV, I can see where people take positions on the prosperity teachings, and I do agree that it does depend upon one`s definition of prosperity. I see many people(Christians) who believe God is around only to punish and threaten His people. They cower and "pull away" from God for that reason, and that just seems like a shame. On the other hand, there are some who are angry because they are not wealthy and believe God has not kept some promise they thought He made to them.
When I was a youngster, my father worked and made a salary which he brought home and used to support the family. I generally had the things I needed and I could get a job to earn more, if I had time. I know I am a child of God and He loves me more than even my earthly father did, and my earthly father worked hard to provide for his children. We didn`t have the very best things provided for us but we had what we needed....because my father saw to it that we did! How much better will our heavenly Father provide for us? How much better does He know the things we actually need? Would I like to be fabulously wealthy? you bet! But I am already a wealthy man...I have the love of the God of the universe. God himself actually knows my name! I have His permission to come before Him with my petitions. He tells me that I am His child and I will inherit His kingdom. I have been given peace. He even sent His Son to pay a debt for me that I could not repay....no matter how much I tried. These things that I have do not cost me anything but they did cost God. There is simply no way to place a price on these things that He has given me, but they are so precious, so wonderful, so eternal. Am I prosperous? I should think so.

I am blessed, but getting better,

Charlie

 

Wow, Charlie, what a wonderful description of true prosperity! Thank you for sharing from your heart. I couldn't have said it any better.



#6 robo328

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Posted 28 November 2015 - 07:11 AM

Prosperity can also mean a calling, an ability to instruct, teach His Word. After following Christ, and studying The Word for approx. 5 years or so, I had several opportunities to lead groups, or "teach" if you will- I turned them all down. If you knew me personally, I am the last person you would pick to teach a class- I'm introverted, and used to feel like I'm having a heart attack, whenever I spoke in public, regardless the subject.

 

However, God kept bringing me back to this same impasse, and since then, for the last 20 years or so, I have been either leading Children's Church(when my kids were small), Adult Sunday School, adult small group, or even a lunchtime Bible Study group, in one capacity or another.

 

He has given me an ability to recall Scripture, to apply it to life today, and be able to "put it into shoe leather"  as the late J. Vernon McGee used to say. Has He made me financially wealthy? If you take what Paul said, that "If we have food and clothing, we shall be content(1Tim 6:8)" then, I guess He has. 

 

I try not to equate prosperity, with the latest Wal Mart, Automobile, or Smart phone ad. That seems more and more difficult these days. 


"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength" -Isaiah 30:15