The concept of prosperity within the gospel has often been misunderstood and even criticized. While some interpretations, labeled “prosperity gospel,” have rightly been critiqued for positioning Jesus primarily as a means to financial gain rather than salvation, it is crucial to recognize that God’s will includes the prosperity of His children.
Worldly vs. Godly Prosperity
The world’s system for acquiring wealth often benefits a select few at the expense of the majority. Many spend their lives working multiple jobs, financing lifestyles with loans, and tirelessly pursuing financial security, only to find themselves ensnared in a system that doesn’t truly serve them. We are often tricked into believing this system works for us, but it is ultimately designed to divert our worship from God to money.
Matthew 6:24 states, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and serve the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” If we consistently dedicate more time, energy, and thought to money than to God, we are, in essence, worshipping money. This worldly system subtly encourages idol worship.
1 Timothy 6:10 clarifies, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” It’s not money itself that is evil, but the love of money that leads to ruin when our hearts and minds are solely focused on acquiring it.
The Word of God provides a clear guide to prospering without developing an unhealthy love for money.
Matthew 6:31-33 instructs, “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.”
The key to Kingdom prosperity lies in seeking God first. This involves making a conscious decision to know Him more deeply, develop a relationship with Him, and align with His will through studying His Word, prayer, and communion. As we draw near to God, He reveals Himself and teaches us things we wouldn’t ordinarily know.
Fear is a primary tool of Satan in the worldly system, making us imagine dire futures and driving us to relentlessly pursue money. This fear can prevent us from taking breaks or focusing on anything that doesn’t generate income. However, by prioritizing time for seeking God, even if it means waking up earlier, our spiritual eyes begin to open. God reveals areas where we waste energy and illuminates aspects of our lives that hinder us from receiving His best.
We were created for prosperity, but the world’s oppressive systems have instilled belief systems around money that block our ability to receive it. As we seek God, our focus shifts from money to Him, and our love for Him grows, becoming our life’s guide. During this process, God heals our souls, transforms our perspectives, and provides for our daily needs. We learn to rely on Him, and the fear of lack dissipates. This shift allows us to stop working for money and start following the Spirit’s direction.
Prosperity Through Purpose and Value
God has endowed each of us with unique talents and a divine purpose. The Holy Spirit guides us toward these. As we follow God’s path, prosperity naturally follows, because prosperity follows value. God helps us to become valuable for His Kingdom, using our talents and purpose to add value to the world.
When we seek God and His righteousness, He heals, restores, teaches, and helps us unlock our inherent potential. He provides for our needs, strengthening our faith and revealing that our job is not our ultimate source of provision, but God Himself is.
Developing the Capacity to Receive and Give
There’s a limit to how much money we truly need for living—food, clothing, shelter, travel, and experiences. God desires us to rely on Him for these provisions. As we strengthen our reliance on Him, we develop the capacity to receive more than enough.
God intends to provide for all His children, even those who struggle to receive. When we learn to prioritize God above money, we become individuals He can trust with financial resources. Instead of hoarding money out of a fear for our own future, we become channels through which God provides for others.
God has abundant prosperity for His children, but not all have developed the capacity to receive it. As we follow God, He heals and restores us, expanding our capacity for abundance. He then uses us to provide for others, giving us more than we need and guiding us through the Spirit on how to help.
Many Kingdom assignments, orphaned children, and impoverished families require financial support. God seeks individuals He can bless financially and use for these purposes. However, our focus on securing our own future often leads us to worship money, giving it undue power and making it responsible for our happiness. When God is first, the love of money is replaced by a deep love for Him, and we begin to use our resources in alignment with His will. True love for God and control by money are incompatible.
In conclusion, the principle of money in the Kingdom is straightforward: Seek God first. He will help you develop the capacity to receive abundance. Initially, He will provide for your needs, and as you grow spiritually, letting go of money worship and depending on Him, He will heal anything blocking the talents He’s placed within you. These talents become channels for prosperity, providing not only for your needs but also for the needs of others. This occurs because, by seeking Him, you become someone who does not love money and can readily release it when God calls you to.
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