By SUNITTA CHILAKA
BELIEVERS and non-believers are concerned about how the gospel is more centered on prosperity than salvation. Preachers, Evangelists, Prophets, Teachers and Ministers are teaching prosperity more such that salvation has been silenced. The Old Testament (OT) has many stories about those who were so prosperous and successful and yet it seems that it was not the center of attraction during that time.
Why has all the attention shifted to prosperity now, do we have to preach what the majority wants hear or to equip the saints.
We all want to prosper, but a lot negative opinions have brought about concerning this subject such that we almost believe that it is a wrong and God does not like it.
There is no virtue in being poor. You can do a lot more good when you’re rich.
Being prosperous means a lot more than amassing material wealth, it involves being able to take care of yourself and help others. Prosperity isn’t defined by the number of cars, houses or properties one may own.
Many have been frustrated in life because they measured themselves by the world’s symbols of prosperity including cars, good food and other things.
They haven’t realised that true prosperity is first and foremost a state of a mind that’s in contact with God.
When you prosper spiritually, mentally, physically and materially you will be able to accomplish all that God has called you to do.
Impact your world positively with the things God has blessed you with, so with these things you will become relevant to others.
You help meet their needs and solve their problems and the Lord will surely reward you for the good you do for others 2 Corinthians 5:10.
This is our mandate as Christians and not written for the Government. A prosperous man finds true joy and excitement in being able to reach out and extend love to others.
It was talked about in the Old Testament (OT), but not more than it is today; reason being many knew how to handle it well and they knew it was by God’s power as he spoke to them individually that they will be prosperous after fulfilling certain tasks.
Now in our time many just want prosperity to come first on a silver platter, this is a problem.
The major issue they had during the Patriarchs and Mosaic dispensations was the worshipping of idols and a lot has been spoken concerning this topic.
In the OT, we learn about men who were so prosperous and we can learn a lot from them.
In Genesis 26:13 Isaac planted in a land where there was a famine and waxed in wealth and the Lord blessed him. To bless also means empower to prosper, so the Lord empowered Isaac to prosper until he became very wealthy. A man naturally thinks that his job or business is the source of his supply. But it isn’t.
The source of our supply is God; the job is merely the channel through which the supply comes.
Jesus, who was a very practical man, gave us some priceless instructions about prosperity.
He said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33. Jesus said: Go into the entire world and preach the Good News to all creation. Mark 16:15.
The emphasis is not on preaching salvation which is so important only but on the Good News, every Christian needs this in their daily lives.
The message we are hearing today has not been diluted, many need to know how to behave when they become prosperous. In the Church, today we have prodigal sons and daughters who are exactly like the one we read in the Bible.
He got his portion and misused it, why?
He did not know how to deal with prosperity.
It cannot be the only sermon ministered every Saturday or Sunday of course, there is a lot of good news to preach about.
As often as possible, Christians need to learn how to manage and multiply what God has given them.
This has made many to turn away from God and have abandoned their wives and children who have been there before it was added to them by God. Prosperity is included in what Jesus termed as “all these things shall be added unto you”.
People are in the habit of turning away from God once they prosper, not only in our generation but it was spoken to the children of Israel also, Deuteronomy 8: 1-19 (you must find time to study it). This is why one must first prosper spiritually before prospering physically.
You don’t have to pray to God to make you prosperous, he has already done it, and your role is to seek first his kingdom and delight in the Lord and meditate on his word day and night. Psalm 1:1-3. Hezekiah is such another great example we can talk about and learn from, 2 Chronicles 31:21
In everything that he (Hezekiah) undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly.
And so he prospered.
God wants to see you live a prosperous life.
He wants your life to be beautiful and exciting and has done everything necessary to that effect. God’s will is for us to prosper in all things and excel in all your endeavours.
The glorious Christian life is not just when you get to heaven, it’s for you to enjoy here as well.
Prosperity is God’s idea for you to enjoy your inheritance in Christ and others will benefit from your prosperity and by so doing, you are contributing to the development of your society.