Living Prosperously
In the previous chapter, we learned that God wants to bless us, even financially. God wants to bless our finances, so we have no deficits and live prosperously. Speaking of prosperity, we shouldn't think of a Biblical trick where our bank account is piling up with the money, and nothing is done with it. Of course, it is good to have a savings account and build up savings to have a buffer and save for retirement, but if we want to swim in our money like Scrooge Duck and be stingy, then something is wrong. In the previous chapter, we saw that God blesses us so we can bless others with our blessing. It is similar financially. God blesses us so we can live well and abundantly, but God also blesses us to accomplish good deeds with money. This can happen by supporting your church or a ministry or giving money to the poor, orphans, and others in need. We discover that God gives us prosperity when we bless others.
Promises of Prosperity
The Bible is full of promises of prosperity. In this paragraph, let's read a few Bible verses that reveal that God wants us to prosper.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
This is a remarkable promise from God. When we read it in context, it primarily addresses our financial needs. The Philippians, for instance, gave generously to Paul's ministry, and as a result, God promised to meet all their needs according to His glorious riches. These riches are not limited to money or any earthly measure. God's wealth surpasses all human understanding. He operates on a different economic system unrelated to the world's economy. With God, we can be assured of His provision, even in times of crisis, as we see with Isaac.
There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. (...) Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. (Genesis 26:1-12)
What is impossible with humans is possible with God. A hundredfold harvest during times of famine is rare. Isaac was blessed, and this is how God wants to bless us. David also experienced God's blessing and could say:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)
A shepherd was not unfamiliar to David. As a young man, he had often been the shepherd over a flock of sheep. David experienced that God was his shepherd and that He ensured that David had everything he needed. I lack nothing. The word "lacking" comes from the Hebrew word "ḥāsēr" which means "lacking" or "to have less or too little." David could say, "I lack nothing, I have nothing too little, I have enough." This word appears in Psalm 34.
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:10-11)
Those who seek the LORD have no lack of goods. The Hebrew word for good is "ṭôḇ" which means "good," "goodness," "best," "prosperity," "precious," "wealth," "beautiful," or "favor." What a great promise from God! Paul says the following:
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
God desires to give us all things. Not some things, but all things. Let's look at two more verses about God's blessing.
Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come, all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. (1 Corinthians 3:21-23)
This Bible text teaches us that we have present and future things. We don't possess anything or anyone; we "own" everything. Many believe that we are blessed with God only in the future. "Only when you die is it good and prosperous." Of course, we can never compare our present with our future life. The future will be better in all aspects. Simultaneously, God wants to bless us with the present things. It is essential, however, to realize that we belong to Christ. We have been bought and paid for by Him; therefore, we are His property. Because of this, we don't ask for things that are against the will of God. Let us close this paragraph with what Jesus said.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Jesus came so we could have an abundant life—not a life we lack or a life where we have just enough, but one in abundance.
Living Prosperously
God wishes to bless us with our finances. However, it's important to follow God's rules that will allow us to live well and prosperously. At the beginning of this chapter, we read that we shouldn't love money like Scrooge Duck. Furthermore, we should not rely on our money. The Bible speaks clearly about this, as in the story of the rich young man.
Jesus said to him: If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples: Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:21-24)
Being rich isn't a sin; otherwise, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and many others would have had a severe problem. It is a sin, however, to depend on your money and treat it as your possession. By the way, when this rich young man sold his possessions and donated them to the poor, he got back 100 times more. That is something Jesus says in the same chapter.
So Jesus answered and said: Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30)
Jesus states that we can't serve God and mammon (money) simultaneously. How do you face life? Are you serving your money or God? What are you doing with your money? Is it intended only to take care of yourself and spoil yourself, or is your money God's?
To live prosperously well, the Bible gives several principles. Here are a few essential principles followed in this chapter.
Principle 1: Be a steward. Unfortunately, we are often too self-centered. Everything we use and we've earned for ourselves belongs to us. "This house is mine," "This car is mine," or "This bank account is mine." We view stuff and experience as our possessions. However, the Bible doesn't look at things that way and shows that everything belongs to God.
The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)
Everything belongs to God, so all our possessions belong to God. All we possess isn't ours; it is God's. Does this mean we should offer everything we "have" to others? No. God has given it to us. God has given us understanding and talents through which we earn an income and, therefore, can buy a house, car, and stuff. God has entrusted it to us but wants us to use it properly. God has made us stewards over His property. A steward is a manager of his master's or lord's property. So, we are stewards of God's goods, and God wants us to manage His money well. Then, we can ask, "How does God want us to handle money?"
First, God wants to care for us, which means He wants to bless us with goods and pleasant experiences. Secondly, He blesses us to be a blessing to those around us, especially those less fortunate. Third, He blesses us so we can sow back into His kingdom. This can be by blessing your church or an (itinerant) ministry of God. This is found in the book of Timothy.
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share. (1 Timothy 6:17-18)
Principle 2: Donate money. The second principle is to donate money. You might think: How can I prosper if I donate money? This might sound like an odd principle, but in God's Kingdom, it is a great principle. We encounter this often in the Bible. Jesus and the apostles said that when we give, we receive. If we obey God and give, we can expect a harvest from God. God doesn't give us a harvest because He is obliged to; God wants to give to us because He is a good and loving God.
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38)
This is something we find in the Corinthian letter. This congregation blessed Paul with a financial contribution, and in response, Paul said that God would give them things according to His riches.
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)
When we give, it should be a joyful offering to God, not out of compulsion or reluctance. God desires our gifts to be given with cheerfulness. We can even test God's faithfulness in our giving, as the prophet Malachi reminds us.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this. Says the Lord of hosts: If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)
Principle 3: Seek first God's Kingdom.
But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
It is essential to put God's Kingdom first and involve yourself in the matters of the Kingdom. Seek God first, and God will reward you with all the material things other people want, such as clothing and food. Make God's priorities to be your priorities. Reading the Bible, evangelizing, and spending time in silence can be a general priority. You can also think about God's specific will for your life, such as starting an orphanage or missionary work in India. Focus on God, and God will provide the natural.
Principle 4: Don't be lazy. God wants to provide for you. This doesn't mean we have to quit working, sit on the couch, and wait for a hundred-dollar bill to appear on the doorstep daily to live on. God wants to bless us through our work. The Bible says He gives us the ability to make prosperity. Chapter 8 of Deuteronomy shows that God would bring the people of Israel to the Promised Land, where they wouldn't lack anything. If they obeyed God, there would be massive abundance and food in excess. God warned that they should never forget that this prosperity came from Him and that He was the One who made them rich. Then these two verses follow:
(...) then you say in your heart: My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth. And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. (Deuteronomy 8:17-20)
We must remember two important things when discussing God's blessing on our income. The first is that with our strength, we cannot acquire good wealth; it is the grace of God, and we should never forget this. The second is that God gives us the power to create wealth, so we have to do it ourselves with God's grace. This means that we cannot be lazy but active and use the power God has given us to make our ability. It is a collaboration between God and man. Always try to stick to this principle, even in challenging situations. You may have been turned down at work or cannot work in a company. Nevertheless, try to see if there is anything you can do with the power God has given you. Maybe this is encouraging people (over the phone) with the Word of God or with prayer. It could be making birdhouses and selling them via the Internet. This could also be volunteering or cleaning the local shopping street. After all, God blesses the work of your hands.
The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you. (Deuteronomy 28:8, NAS)
In addition to work, God blesses our stockpiles. In modern times, we must think of savings accounts and other commodities such as real estate. Being rich isn't a sin; it is a blessing from God. On the contrary, ensure that you don't rely on your money, start serving the money, or see the money as your property.
Principle 5: Honor God with the best of your income. It is essential to give our tithes and the best to God. When we do that, God blesses us for this. By providing the best to God, I don't mean a large amount but a sacred gift. Instead of giving God the 'leftovers' of the month that happened to be leftover or the change of products (it isn't wrong to give cash), give God the first part of your salary or income. It is essential, however, to give some to God joyfully and not do so as an obligation. Giving the tithe or first fruits is often portrayed as 'Old Testament' or 'legalistic.' Looking closer, we see that providing first fruits didn't start in the law but began with Abel and Cain.
And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. (Genesis 4:3-5)
Abel gave his first fruits based on faith. Cain gave the leftovers. Abel was blessed, and Cain wasn't. Even our model of faith, Abraham, gave his tithes, not because it was in the law (it didn't exist then), but because it was a principle of God. Abraham didn't offer his tithes to Melchizedek (an image of Jesus) out of necessity or poverty but because he wanted to bless Melchizedek with his love offering. Similarly, we, too, may bless the Lord Jesus and His kingdom with our tithes and first fruits.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High. (...) And Abraham gave him a tithe of all. (Genesis 14:18-20)
Principle 6: Sow in God's Kingdom. The last principle we focus on is that we may sow in God's Kingdom and that God blesses us for this.
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)
Paul compares the process of giving to God's Kingdom to sowing. When a farmer sows, he expects a harvest. A farmer never sows without expecting a harvest; that would be foolish. Paul compares our financial gifts to seeds that we sow, just like the farmer. As we sow, we expect a harvest. If someone sows very little, he will harvest poorly. If someone sows bountifully, he will harvest bountifully. Sow in God's Kingdom, and God will provide bread (our necessities) and more seed to sow again.
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)
At the same time, we need patience. When a farmer sows, he expects a harvest within six months. A farmer must be patient. Suppose the farmer sows, goes for coffee, and returns one hour later. He sees that nothing has changed and says, “See! I shouldn't have sown!” When he says this to others, they say, “That isn’t correct. You must be patient; in six months, it will be harvest time.” This may sound strange, but many say this concerning our financial sowing. They give seeds to God, and within an hour, they lose faith in a harvest. Let us wait patiently for God to provide us with harvest, even if it takes a few days, weeks, months, or years. God does what He promises.
Summary
God wants to bless us financially. It is essential to manage this appropriately. We shouldn't love our money like Scrooge Duck and swim in it. God wants to bless us so we can bless others and God's Kingdom. To live prosperously, the six principles below are fundamental:
Principle 1: Be a steward.
Principle 2: Donate money.
Principle 3: Seek first God's Kingdom.
Principle 4: Don't be lazy.
Principle 5: Honor God with the best of your income.
Principle 6: Sow in God's Kingdom.