Prosperity, Christian style!

PROSPERITY, CHRISTIAN STYLE! 🙂

What father in existence, past or present, doesn’t desire the best for his children? One of the first things the Bible says is that “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them” (Genesis 1:27). In similar fashion to how we want and desire what is best for our children, our heavenly Father too desires what is best for us.

Throughout the course of history, and throughout the Bible, people have been blessed in massive abundance. In fact, we have received the most abundant and prosperous gift in the history of earth in God sending His Holy Son to pave the way for us to be in paradise for eternity with Him. In fact, Jesus Christ “became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9). How is that not the greatest road to prosperity for us as is possible, or that has ever existed?

Are we expected, as Christians, to believe that God desires we should be limited to being blessed spiritually, and that’s it? Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and he was falsely accused of attempted rape thrown into jail for 2+ years. Yet, Genesis 39:5 says that “From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.” The Bible associates blessings on this earth, with abundance, lack of worry, and lack of need, and that those blessings come from God.

In Acts 7:10, Joseph was greatly blessed with authority and access to all that was in the land of Egypt, “and rescued him from all his troubles. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom, so that Pharaoh appointed him governor over all of Egypt and put him in charge of the palace.” Joseph. as Governor, was second only to the King of Egypt in power and might. He thrived and prospered even as 7 years of famine struck the land.

Perhaps you have experienced or entered into a season of difficulty and burden in your own life. Perhaps your own trials have you feeling overwhelmed, whether it is feeling betrayed by a family member as Joseph was betrayed by his brothers. Perhaps you have been out of work and this economy or the recession has hit your family, causing you to feel lowly as you are falling on hard times. But guess what?

God can bless you no matter your circumstance! God can bless you no matter what the economy! Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

We are reminded to, “…remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth”  (Deuteronomy 8:18). “The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.” (Psalms 37:18-19).

There is story after story in the Bible of those who are blessed by God, and those blessings bearing fruit in the way of prosperity. When we put God first, we are blessed! God wishes that we should prosper! “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11).

God wants you to ask so that you can receive (John 16:24). Today, make an effort to ask God for blessings upon your business and your Internet endeavors. He desires for you to prosper. “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33).

It is important to talk with Him about your situation, to ask Him to bless you with fruits from your labor. Solomon was the wealthiest and most prosperous man in the Bible, and also considered the most wise amongst men. Yet, he turned from God and worshiped other gods due to being corrupted by his hundreds of wives. (1Kings 11:4-8). God threatened to take from Solomon what he had been given, “Then he said to Jeroboam, ‘Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and give you ten tribes.’ ” (1Kings 11:31).

So, God desires that you should prosper, but you must put Him first and remain faithful to Him! Many Christians want to grab onto the passage that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1Tim 6:10), and argue that therefore prosperity is evil. Yet, that contradicts much of the Bible. The difference here is that “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Matt 13:22). Money itself is not evil, as money is actually a gift from God. “As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor– this is the gift of God.” (Ecclesastes 5:19).

We must attain our prosperity with integrity and by noble means, and most of all by continuing to put Him first. Do not pursue wealth or prosperity through deceit, or through shortcuts, or through the worries of this life causing you to pursue prosperity through questionable means. God desires that we have that prosperity in our lives and that we honor Him in doing so! By putting Him first, and by talking to Him about our needs, desires, and dreams, and by having that relationship with Him through prayer and conversation, He will bless you. Prosperity is the fruit of that blessing.

Do not let the devil into your heart, putting guilt upon you for desiring what is best for your family. Celebrate and give thanks to Him that He desires “bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out with valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.” (Deuteronomy 8:7-8). God was and is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8).He doesn’t change! God desires that we prosper spiritually, financially, and emotionally, and in every aspect of our lives, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and perpetually.

Please be encouraged in knowing that prosperity is God’s wish and desire for us! He wishes that we take that prosperity and use it to bless others, for a Godly person is a generous person (Deuteronomy 14:22, & Leviticus 27:30). THAT is prosperity and wealth, “Christian style”. 🙂

Today, give thanks to God and for all that He has given! I personally give thanks that you have taken the time to honor and trust me with your money, in being a valued member of theChristiandude.com. Without you, here today, this site is nothing and neither is the effort and countless hours I’ve put into creating it. I honestly believe, well, check that… I honestly know that God has blessed me wildly by putting this site onto my heart about 3 years ago. I ask that you pray for me and the continued evolution of this site as a teaching grounds for Christians and their prosperity, and ask too that you share any prayer requests that you might have in which I could tap into my prayer network to pray for you as well. THANK YOU for being here, and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve. I lift up the Holy, living God, and ask that he may bless you wildly that you may prosper in your endeavors.

So again, THANK YOU, and may God bless you wildly, and in prosperity and abundance! Amen. 🙂