Would you like to be more prosperous? I think most of us would.  It’s in us to want to exceed and to excel; and why not, we are created in the image of an excellent God.

Perhaps before we go any further we need to define prosperity. It might mean different things to different people. To some it might just mean having enough to actually get from one pay check to the next with “some” money left over, or to just have enough to feed and clothe the children. To others it might mean to have enough to for a home or a summer-vacation home, or owning a nice car.  Still others might define it as being very successful in the business world. None of these are wrong, they are just different.  The dictionary defines prosperity: to achieve economic success, a thriving condition.  To me this means having more than what a person just absolutely needs; it means having some extra, having more than enough then what is just needed for bills, etc.

Most of us have heard or were taught that money is evil. Ever hear of that teaching? Of course those teachings always pointed out the “bad” usages of money. The truth is, MONEY IS A TOOL, nothing more nothing less. It can be used for good and for bad.  When we really think about this fallacy we realize that money isn’t of any value except what we put on it.  How it’s used is the important thing. It’s only a piece of paper or a mineral or coin, or a number on paper and it can NOT think for itself. The people who handle it make the decision for what it is used for.

So the FIRST TRUTH I want to talk about is the fact that the Bible DOES NOT call money evil. It says the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). That’s the difference. It involves the condition of our heart, and the condition of our heart determines the usage of the money in our lives.  If wanting money is based on greed or wanting social status, or to accumulate worldly possessions, then we have a wrong heart attitude about prosperity.  The main reason for acquiring money should be to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Now that’s not to say we shouldn’t desire to have nice things, we can; God has pleasure in our prosperity (Psalm 35:27); we just need to keep our desires balanced with the real reason.

This brings us to the SECOND TRUTH; and that is, we are called to be good stewards of the money or prosperity we are blessed with.  This responsibility is not dependent on the amount of money we have or don’t have.  In other words no matter whether the amount is large or a not-so-large, we are to use it wisely, and godly, for all of us will have to give God an account for how we used it.  There will always be a difference in the salaries of what people earn.  It may not always seem right but that is how it is.  Different jobs or vocations pay different amounts.  What we need to do is learn to manage appropriately what we have.  Luke 16:10 states that, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much”.   So make no mistake about it; it DOES matter whether we are diligent and faithful even in small tasks and responsibilities.  No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).  We cannot serve our own greedy heart and serve God at the same time.  Romans 14:12 tells us that everyone shall give account of himself to God.

This week I’d for us to spend time meditating on these Scriptures.

Psalm 34:27 – Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.   Get it into your heart that God delights in your prosperity.  Get excited about the fact that it’s okay to have extra finances. Ask God how He would like you to manage your finances.

Luke 16:10 – He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.   Spend time in the presence of God asking Him to reveal to you any discrepancy in your faithfulness.  If there is, repent, and make the needed corrections.  Consider setting up a budget if you haven’t already to help you be a faithful steward.

NEXT WEEK we will see what the Bible says about increasing our finances. 

Have a great week.