UNDERSTANDING PROSPERITY

By: Dennis Harworth

As I pulled into the driveway to attend a home Bible fellowship, the Christian brother who owned the house stood in front of me with a peering, curious look on his face. As I stepped out of the car, he recognized me and then to my surprise, his expression quickly turned to one of disgust. Before I had a chance to ask him what the look was all about, he made a sneering statement that rocked my religious world. He said, “You must not be very spiritual to drive a car like that!” Even though it was a Volvo, I tried to explain it was a four-year-old used car, but he would not pay any attention to me. For the rest of the evening, I had to defend myself to the others about the car and the reasoning behind my recent purchase. The derogatory remarks somewhat subsided when they found out what a good deal I had gotten. (Everyone likes a good deal). It made sense to a few of them when they heard I did not buy it for its style or status; I bought the car for the safety and dependability for which the company has long been known. For good reason too; a close family member had recently walked away from a head on collision with only a bruise from the seatbelt while driving a similar Volvo.

I left the meeting with my head still spinning as I tried desperately to comprehend how being spiritual had anything to do with the car I drive. Is the look of prosperity a bad thing in God’s eyes? Am I missing it in my spiritual walk when I have material things? I had to find out because the sting from the first statement continued to linger with me. However, it was also the driving force behind the quest for me to find out what God’s Word says about true prosperity.

Although many great books have been written about prosperity, in line with the Word of God; here is a small snapshot of my search for answers to these questions. Hopefully this will also help you to better understand what prosperity really means; that it is God’s will; and how to get it.  

First of all, most people when they think of prosperity, they think of money. Money by itself is not prosperity. The first thing you need to know about money is that money is not the first thing. In the “ladder of success”, money is the very bottom rung of the ladder. It is the lowest form of power on the earth. Money cannot create anything. Money is totally worthless until it is turned into goods and services.  But it is vitally important to know prosperity is so much more than just money. 

So then, what is prosperity? I am so glad you asked! Prosperity means having enough of God’s provision to complete His purpose for your life. It means to have more than you can use. It is the God-given ability through faith to use His power to not only meet and exceed your needs, but also meet the needs of others - spirit, soul, and body. 

2 Corinthians 9:8 from the Amplified Bible tells us a good biblical definition of prosperity: “And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need, be self-sufficient—possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation.”

Throughout the Bible, God clearly shows that it is His will for His covenant people to be wealthy, flourishing, and successful. The same promise God made to Abraham for him to be exceedingly prosperous is the same for you today (Galatians 3:13-14).  The Bible promises if you obey and serve Him, you will spend your days in prosperity, and your years in pleasures (Job 36:11). In fact, your prosperity actually pleases God (Psalm 35:27)! So know it is God’s absolute will for you to enjoy prosperity in every area of your life; spirit, soul, and body. Let’s take a quick look at these three areas:

1. Spiritual prosperity is receiving eternal life, being born again by the incorruptible Word of God (1 Peter 1:23). This entitles you to ALL the rights and privileges as a child of God (John 1:12), and as royalty in the kingdom of God (1 Peter 2:9). It is being in a right standing relationship with Almighty God, the Creator of the universe (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is being a partaker (partner in the Greek) of ALL of His exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4). Plus, God has blessed you with ALL (all means all) spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3).

2.  To prosper in your soul, is to bring peace to your mind, will and emotions. This prosperity comes when you use the knowledge from the Word of God to control your mind, instead of your mind controlling you (2 Corinthians 10:5). You will never experience the richness of the blessings of prosperity (everything that is rightfully yours) unless you are continually being changed by renewing your mind (thoughts, will, and emotions). This transformation is the link connecting God’s best to complete prosperity (spirit, soul, and body), which is proving the good, acceptable and PERFECT WILL of God (Romans 12:2).

3.  Physical prosperity (of the body) is both health and wealth. You cannot have one without the other because Jesus redeemed us from the entire curse of the law—poverty, sickness and death (Deuteronomy 28:15-61). Paul prayed above ALL things (all still means all); that you may prosper and be in health, JUST AS your soul (mind, will, and emotions) prospers (3 John 1:2). Since the Lord your God is the one who gives you power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), it should be apparent that health and wealth belong to every believer.

Now the big question is, “How do you get to be prosperous in your spirit, soul, and body?” It is only by the Word of God. Go back and look up at least the scriptures mentioned in this study. (There are thousands more on this topic). For the Bible says when you meditate on the Word and observe to do according to ALL (there’s that word again) that is written in it, then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8).  So do not listen to ungodly advice or the world’s idea of what prosperity means. Delight yourself by meditating on and obeying God’s Word, day and night (not just once a week at church). You will flourish and everything you put your hand to will prosper (Psalm 1:1-3). Once you understand this, you can begin to operate in the abundance that God has designed for you; then you will truly be UNDERSTANDING PROSPERITY.