If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge ~ Job 36:11-12.
Introduction
God doesn't ever want His children to be poor; no, not at all. He rather wishes for us to be saved, free, healthy and wealthy (3 John 2). However, we must first lay down our traditional views, and start thinking as God thinks, before we can expect to be imbued with the anointing for supernatural breakthroughs (Jeremiah 29:11).
Money is not the root of evil as some wrongly suppose! It’s what we do with money that’s either good or evil. Money is just a means of exchange for goods and services. In fact, God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants (Psalms 35:27).
Today, many people are showing desperation to get money in one of three ways: steal, beg, or borrow. I am quite sure you won’t want to steal: it distills the curse of the Lord upon the entire household of the thief (Proverbs 3:33; Zechariah 5:3-4).
You won’t like to be a beggar either. Chronic beggars dwell and squeak on social dunghills (1 Samuel 2:8). Besides, living like a compulsive beggar is one of the commonest labels on those who carry in their genes the curse of wickedness (Psalms 109:1-10).
Even borrowing is often discountenanced in the Bible because it can put princes in the class of servants (Proverbs 22:7). The best and the most laudable biblical way to get money is to “earn” it honorably, honestly, legally, earnestly and, especially, through covenant blessings!
Earners are learners, though. Great wisdom is required to produce great wealth; prosperity is a choice, not by chance. Your choices have consequences, and they determine your future.
Meanwhile, many people remain poor, not because of their genders, places of birth or abode, socio-educational backgrounds etcetera, but because they refuse, knowingly or unknowingly, to be delivered by God’s Word.
It’s quite possible to achieve greatness like some great Bible characters (James 5:17). However, we must be ready to do what they did with God’s Word, and live as “kingdom-addicts” like they did.
God is able to make you rich! He owns everything, anyway (1 Samuel 2:7-8; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12). But, if you reject this part of the Gospel, you may not be able to fully reach the goal that God has set for you.
It will require pure faith in God to supernaturally attract the benefits of supernatural provisions, including wealth. Happily, this kind of faith comes with God’s Word, just like wetness comes with water (Romans10:17).
Jesus Christ, True Prosperity and You!
I firmly believe that the greatest goal of every normal Christian is to be like Jesus Christ. Hence, it is both normal and wise for us to investigate how Christ related with prosperity.
Jesus was not poor in the sense that some people imagine. He only became temporarily poor for our sakes in order that we might be enriched and abundantly supplied (2 Corinthians 8:9).
How could Jesus Christ be poor? All things were made by Him (John 1:1; Colossians 1:17)! He’s heavenly Royalty!! Excitingly, you and I belong to this same heavenly Royal Family, and God is ever ready to form our ways unto financial freedom (1 Chronicle 29:23-25).
Unmistakable Signs on the Path To Breakthrough
Every man is rich or poor according to the degree to which he can afford to fulfill the necessities of life, or enjoy the conveniences of human living. Wealth is power. But, a foremost signpost on the way to wealth is diligent labour.
A foreman cannot do the work of four men! Thus, the greater part of any man’s wealth is derived from the quantity of labor which he can command, or afford to purchase. The real price of every thing is the toil and the troubles it takes to acquire it.
All the wealth of nations — gold, silver, etcetera — were originally purchased by labour. Money equals labour! Now, God wants His people to enjoy abundance, hence He commanded us to “arise and work” (1 Chronicles 22:16). To earn more money and to arrive at the port of wealth, you must work more diligently (Genesis 2:5; 3:23).
Laziness is the undoing of many poor people today (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Sitting idle and refusing to work can only lead to weeping (Psalms 137:1). You must arise and work on God’s plan and vision for your life. You are what you do particularly, not what you say you'll do!
There’s great dignity in diligent labour, physical or spiritual (Proverbs 14:23; Hebrews 6:10; 1Corinthians 15:58). However, by all means, please avoid foolish labour: it wearies destinies (Ecclesiastes 10:15).
Another quintessential signpost on your path to breakthrough is your love for God (Psalms 112:1-10; John 4:38). Our rational love for God is very foundational to provoking our atmosphere for wealth advantages.
This was the foremost secret of Solomon’s dizzying wealth (1 Kings 3:3-5). Peter too. All his labour to catch fishes at some points only yielded frustrations until he encountered the undercurrents of God’s favour through Jesus Christ (Luke 5:1-7). Thereafter, it was a net-breaking and boat-sinking draught!
With God’s input, any man could actually command more earnings with less labour. Why? The quantity of goods which any particular quantity of earning or labour can purchase or command always depends on certain supra-natural factors, which only God can truly control: the weather and the fertility index of the “soil” at the time of the transaction (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
When you trade in the secrets of loving God and drawing His assistance, prosperity will no longer remain a mystery to you. For the avoidance of doubt, genuine love for God shows itself in our kingdom services, kingdom addiction and zeal for the things of God (Psalms 102:14).
Now, a great pillar in the school of prosperity is kingdom promotion through giving. Givers gain (Luke 6:38; Proverbs 3:9-10). Your seed truly leaves your hand, but it never leaves your life. He who plants a seed becomes a partner with God (Genesis 8:22). No one, for instance, can easily forget the sacrifice of Abraham, and the stupendous blessings he attracted (Genesis 22:15-18).
You must become seed conscious if you must be harvest assured. There can’t be any desirable harvest from an unplanted field. Plan your giving (Proverbs 24:3). Be sacrificial in your freewill offerings (Matthew 5:23; Exodus 35:4-5). Give to your “prophet” (Matthew 10:4; 2 Kings 4:8-17). And, “distribute” to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:17; Proverbs 28:27; 1 Timothy 6:18).
Meanwhile, in your covenant walks with God, it’s your attitude that determines your altitude. God looks at your heart (Exodus 35:5). He accepts only offerings that are willingly and cheerfully given (1Corinthians 9:17; 2 Corinthians 9:7).
Finally, the crowning signpost to prosperity breakthrough is implicit obedience to God and His commandments (Job 36:11; Isaiah 1:19). When you love God and keep His Word, you will naturally attract His mercy and the power of His presence (Exodus 20:6; John 14:23).
Friends and brethren in Christ, always remember that God’s blessings are command-driven. When He instructs you on a line of good works, He is actually thinking of your anticipated harvests.
As you boldly obey Him, He will bless you with an unending flow of His goodness, and stagnation will be expelled from your life space. You won’t miss this, in Jesus Name. Amen. Happy Sunday!
** Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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