Provision, Money and “Prosperity”
This article is a balanced biblical look at money & provision. The Bible distinguishes that poverty is a curse and prosperity is a blessing (Deuteronomy 28). Poverty is not having enough to make it while prosperity is the opposite. It’s God’s will to provide for you so that you can effectively fulfill your assignment & call, whatever they may be (Philippians 4:19). The individual has a part to play in this, of course. For instance, you can’t be lazy and prosper (Proverbs 13:14) and we are called to “grow in the grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 & Luke 6:38); in other words, you can’t be ungenerous and expect financial blessing (Proverbs 11:24-25). God is your helper, not your do-everything-for-you-so-you-don’t-have-to-do-anything-at-all-er (Psalm 54:4).
As far as money goes, Christ emphasized that you cannot serve God and Mammon (Matthew 6:24) while Paul said that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Please notice that money itself isn’t evil, but rather the love of money. Nor is money the root of all evil, but rather the root of “all kinds of evil.” For instance, money isn’t the root of sexual immorality, but rather lust. Needless to say, we want to make sure that we’re loving God & serving the LORD and not money. This is a given. But this doesn’t negate the importance of finances/provision in your life. For instance, you can’t help provide for others if you aren’t first provided for yourself. In other words, you can’t bless others materially unless you are first blessed materially.
The Bible has a Lot to Say about Money
Some believers freak out when the topic of money is brought up in a Christian teaching because of hang-ups. Yet the Bible actually has a lot to say on the subject. One in five verses address the issue of wealth one way or another, whether finances, property, possessions, inheritance or otherwise. One third of Christ’s parables address the topic. It’s only right that Christians have a balanced understanding of what the Holy Scriptures say on wealth and provision otherwise we’ll develop an erroneous perspective stemming from the world or religion:
- The world basically teaches that money is god and worships wealth. Thus peoples’ worth is evaluated on how much money & possessions they have. It’s a worldly viewpoint (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).
- Religion – including counterfeit Christianity – teaches two lies: That poverty is godly wherein ministers of certain sects take a vow of poverty or the opposite extreme that Christianity is about being as filthy rich as possible and poor people should be regarded as if they have the plague.
Concerning taking a “vow of poverty,” Deuteronomy 28 makes it clear that poverty is a curse along with other curses, like mental illness, physical sickness & disease, defeat to enemies and premature death. So taking a vow of poverty is as absurd as taking a vow of sickness & disease or a vow of premature death.
As for the other religious lie, that Christianity is all about being as financially prosperous as possible and anyone who isn’t is (supposedly) cursed of God, Christ rebuked the believers at the Laodicean assembly thusly:
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.’
Revelation 3:17
Wow, what a reprimand! This shows that it’s possible for believers to be financially wealthy but thoroughly impoverished in regards to more important things in God’s eyes, which can be observed in the proverb: “better to be poor than a liar” (Proverbs 19:22). Think about what this verse is saying: According to God’s Word, it is better — superior — to be an honest poor person than a financially rich liar.
In regards to the worldly lie that money is god and wealth should be pursued above all else, Christ said that there was no human greater than John the Baptist up to that time (Matthew 11:11), but John dwelled in the lonely desert with clothes made of camel hair, living on locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4).
The reason this article is important is because believers overcome this world through faith (1 John 5:4) – which includes overcoming any CURSES the enemy throws at us, like disease, defeat and poverty – and faith comes through hearing what God’s Word says on any given topic (Romans 10:17). We are to fight the good fight of faith to overcome the curses of the enemy (1 Timothy 6:12) and this explains why Christ regularly said things like “According to your faith be it done to you” (Matthew 9:29). Needless to say, it’s important to increase our knowledge and build-up our faith in regard to God’s provision and money in general.
Please don’t stumble over the word “prosperity.” Prosperity is relative to your God-given mission and environment. Joseph, for instance, was a slave in Potiphar’s house and a prisoner in Egypt, but the Bible says he prospered in both environments despite the obvious limitations thereof (Genesis 39:2-6 & 39:20-23). Speaking of which…
Financial Blessing is determined by Season, Calling & Environmental Context
Financial provision is the blessing that tends to upset some Christians, as if they want to fight for their right to be impoverished. While there have been problems with dubious ministers who essentially make Christianity out to be a get-rich-quick scheme or have used the gospel as a means to get rich (1 Timothy 6:9), we shouldn’t throw out God’s conditional promises of financial provision with the proverbial bathwater. Disregarding the false teachings of greed-loving “ministers” (who are as rare as the dodo bird), the problem some believers have with the concept of financial provision begins with an erroneous image of what it means to be financially blessed of God in a fallen world. Moreover, their criticisms do not take into account issues like the season the believer’s in, divine purpose or environmental context. Let’s look at each of these:
An erroneous image of financial blessing in a fallen world
Someone wrote to rebuke me in response to one of our teaching videos where he mistook my references to “living the good life,” which came from the Amplified version of Ephesians 2:10. He evidently envisioned “living the good life” to mean living like Hugh Hefner, as if true prosperity is all about owning a huge mansion and sipping cocktails while lounging at an in-ground pool with myriad half-naked women prancing about, etc. (I’m not saying, by the way, that a believer can’t own a mansion or have an in-ground pool). For one thing, this is a one-dimensional and decidedly worldly image of “prosperity.”
Secondly, the video itself defined the “good life” as being hooked-up with God’s will and fulfilling the objectives the Spirit gives you, whatever they may be, which includes acquiring the resources to carry out these objectives. An objective or purpose like this could be any number of things, including moving to an undeveloped area and ministering (e.g. missionaries). God’s objectives — His courses — for each believer are exciting and good because they’re in line with your Creator’s will who knows you inside & out and therefore how you’re “wired.” Living in accordance with the LORD’s purposes is “the good life,” regardless of what that purpose is. There will be hardships and persecutions, of course, but God knows what you can handle and can’t handle and will provide the grace to get through as you wisely fight the good fight of faith. Watch the video for details.
The Season You’re In
You might be in God’s perfect will and yet the season you’re in will determine your prosperity to an extent. For instance, prosperity at 18 years-of-age is different than prosperity at 65. Consider, again, the example of Joseph, who was a type of Christ: He was unjustly sold into slavery by his jealous brothers when he was 17 and became a slave, and then a prisoner, before eventually living in the palaces of Egypt many years later as second-in-command of the nation (Genesis 41:41-43). This journey entailed about 13 years. When he was a slave in Potiphar’s house the LORD blessed Joseph and he “prospered” in that context, but he was still a slave (Genesis 39:2-6). Obviously, there are limitations to how much you can prosper as a slave. Likewise Joseph “prospered” while an inmate in prison, but he was still a prisoner (39:20-23). You see? The season you are in determines the extent of your prosperity.
Your Divine Purpose
Your God-given calling will also determine the scope of your prosperity. This is similar to the previous one: Joseph was called to be a slave for a season, and then a prisoner, before becoming second-in-command of Egypt. He prospered as a slave and a prisoner, but this divine direction certainly limited his prosperity during those times. Why would God possibly call Joseph to be a slave and prisoner for so many years? Because Joseph was being groomed to be second-in-command of one of the most powerful nations on Earth at the time. The way up is down. People are more apt to be quality leaders if they have personally experienced humiliating circumstances, unjust suffering and corrupt non-leadership.
Your Environmental Context
A brother-in-the-Lord I know came from the more modest sections of Youngstown, Ohio, and as he became increasingly successful his fiancé wanted him to move to a better area before marrying. Yet he insisted that he was called to stay in that community to reach the people there. The LORD heavily put them on his heart. Whether he knew it or not, this corresponded to Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthian believers: Generally speaking, they should remain in the situation they were in when they were called in order to reach the people thereof, as directed by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 7:17-24). After all, who better to reach a group of people than those from that community and culture? This was a general instruction and not an ironclad law. Obviously if a person is led of the Spirit to move outside of such a context then that’s what he or she should do (Galatians 5:18 & Romans 8:14).
The brother who felt led to stay in a modest area of Youngstown would indeed prosper there, but it would be a different expression of prosperity than if he were called to, say, the wealthy side of Hollywood or the jungles of the Amazon. What if your environmental context is a communistic country where the ruling elite ensure that everyone stays at an equally modest level (except for them, of course)?
Obviously, there’s some overlap between the season you’re in, your divine calling and your geographical setting.
In any case, when you grasp these things, it helps set you free of envy and facilitates contentment in your God-given assignment.
What is “Prosperity” Anyway?
This all brings us to the definition of prosperity. What exactly is prosperity for the believer? It’s having enough resources for your needs and righteous desires in order to fulfill your God-given calling, which depends on the season you’re in, your specific assignment and the environment to which you’re called. Righteous desires are, of course, not the same as unrighteous desires, like greed, hedonism and pomposity.
With this understanding, someone could be living below the so-called “poverty threshold” of his or her area/nation and still be prosperous in the Lord. In other words, the secular “poverty threshold” is irrelevant and meaningless to the believer and his/her purpose or call. Simply put, the “poverty threshold” does not exist to the spiritually-regenerated believer in covenant with the Most High God. It does not define your prosperity in the Lord. Are you following? So throw it out.
People who lust after material things for the purpose of being greater than so-and-so (the proverbial Jones) and looking down on others are walking in eye-rolling carnality. Yet there’s nothing wrong with having a spirit-of-excellence and wanting what you have to reflect the glory of God. I Praise the LORD for my neighbors who maintain a great home & yard rather than let things get rundown.
Nor is merely being rich evil, as Abraham, Job, Solomon and David were (or became) quite wealthy.
When Paul instructed the young pastor Timothy on rich people in the congregation he didn’t tell Timothy to rebuke them for being wealthy, he simply exhorted Timothy to tell them not to be arrogant, but to put their hope in God rather than their riches and “to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18). Why did Timothy have to tell them not to be arrogant? Because the attainment of material wealth tends to feed the fleshly ego and tempts people to look down on those with less. This is a form of greed, which Christ blatantly condemned (Luke 12:15); so is putting on airs to impress others. Needless to say, if you’re wealthy don’t let it go to your head. Instead, develop the spirit of a giver; giving is the antidote to greed (Romans 12:8). Yet don’t become arrogant of your giving and look down on those you presume don’t give as much and condemn them as not truly saved or what have you.
Again, it’s not money that’s the root of all kinds of evil, but rather the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10). It’s fine to have money; it’s just not fine for money to have you. Speaking of which…
“Do Not Wear Yourself Out to Get Rich”
When I was in my early 20s I was working for a small company wherein the supervisor suddenly quit and I was offered his job. I was excited because the position offered an impressive salary. I took the job but suddenly found myself running around like a headless chicken and no longer had the time to spend with studying the Scriptures or prayer/meditation, things that were dear to my heart. After a few weeks I went to the remote corner of a dark stockroom and literally wept. I had inadvertently made money my god and was pursuing it at the expense of more important things.
This brings to mind this wise Scripture:
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Proverbs 23:4 (BSB)
This corresponds to what Christ said about how the deceitfulness of wealth — including the obsessive pursuit of it — can “choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). This is what happened to me on this occasion.
Needless to say, we have to be careful not to fall into the mindset of the world where everything revolves around how much you make and the respect/privileges thereof. The world says that if you make under a certain figure you’re in “poverty” and if you make over a certain figure you’re “prosperous,” but this is irrelevant to true prosperity. Again, the Scriptures say that Joseph was prosperous as a slave in Potiphar’s house and when he was in prison (Genesis 39:2-6) & 39:20-23). Chew on that.
What to do When You are Hit with a Financial Attack
Paul pointed out in Philippians 4:12-13 that he knew what it was like to be in need and also to have plenty; he knew what it was like to be hungry and to be well fed. He also testified to his brushes with financial attack in 2 Corinthians 6:10. So we know Paul went through challenging experiences where physical resources were seriously limited. Yet, in the Philippians passage he shared his secret of being content in any situation, whether living in plenty or in want: He said he could do all things through the Lord Jesus Christ who strengthened him. In other words, he stood in faith. He didn’t give-in to worry or despair in times of need and defeatedly cry “God has forsaken us—we’re not gonna make it!” Likewise, in the Corinthians passage he admitted to having nothing, but countered it with an expression of faith, “yet possessing everything.” Consequently, he always made it through times of lack with a peaceful contentment. He fully understood that blessings come via faith & patience in our covenant, and faith works in love (Hebrews 6:12 & Galatians 5:6). Jehovah Jireh — which literally means “the LORD Provides” — always eventually provided and Paul fulfilled his many God-given missionary assignments.
Late in his life, when Paul was in custody in Caesarea, Governor Felix frequently went to him hoping Paul would offer him a bribe (Acts 24:26). This indicates that even under house arrest Paul was financially blessed since wealthy politicians don’t try to milk people who are impoverished and have no money.
A good example from the life of Christ would be when, out of nowhere, tax collectors required Peter and Jesus to pay the annual Temple tax, which amounted to about $500 each (Matthew 17:24-27). Christ wasn’t taken off guard and, interestingly, didn’t even ask Judas to take the money from their ministry earnings. He had faith that God provides the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18) and knew precisely where to get the amount they needed by the Spirit. Hence, the LORD provided.
Christ, Job and Paul are our examples. When any of the five general curses of the Law show up in your life, including an attack on your resources, it means you are under satanic attack.
When this happens, the first thing you need to do is determine if the assault is a Self-Inflicted Trial (SIT), a Discipline-Intended Trial (DIT) or a Maturity-Intended Trial (MIT). Here’s an explanation of each:
- SITs are obvious; the result of one’s own folly, like suffering poverty because the individual is lazy and refuses to work (2 Thessalonians 3:10, Proverbs 10:4 & Proverbs 12:11). In such cases the person’s travails are not due to some satanic plot, but simply his/her foolish choices. The answer to SITs is learning wisdom.
- A DIT means the curse is hitting you due to disobedience, whether a sin of commission or a sin of omission. If this is the case, immediately ’fess up and God will dismiss the charge (1 John 1:8-9); then take up your weapons and fight the good fight of faith until the curse departs.
- An MIT means that the curse is striking you for righteousness’ sake and the LORD is allowing the enemy to assault you in order to test your character and, once your character is proven, turn the negative situation around to your good (Romans 8:28). That’s the genius of MITs: God takes something in which the enemy intends to destroy you with—or, at least, hinder you—and ultimately turns it around to your good, making you “strong, firm and steadfast” “after you have suffered for a little while” (1 Peter 5:8-10). Of course, this is providing you fulfill your role by fighting the good fight of faith and enduring. (Remember: the LORD is your “helper,” not your do-everything-for-you-so-you-don’t-have-to-do-anything-at-all-er). This is precisely what happened with Joseph and Job (Genesis 50:20 & Job 42:10).
The reason this data is essential is so that you know with certainty when you’re under satanic attack. After all, what good is the armor & arms of God if you can’t even recognize when you’re being assaulted?
This material is also essential so you don’t mistake a satanic attack for “God’s will.” For instance, a genuine Christian woman was diagnosed with life-threatening cancer and concluded that, whether she lived or died from the cancer, it was God’s will. No, it’s Satan’s will to take out fruit-bearing believers prematurely.
The obvious problem with this woman’s type of fatalistic reasoning is that, if you think something’s God’s will — including a financial attack — you won’t fight it. You’ll accept it and suffer the consequences. But if you recognize something as a satanic attack you’ll fight it tenaciously.
Needless to say, don’t accept any curse of the Law on the mistaken grounds that it’s “God’s will”! If a curse shows up in your life due to your own folly or rebellion, you’re evidently undergoing an SIT or DIT; simply repent and proceed to fight the good fight of faith. The curse will depart as you persevere in faith; the enemy will literally flee from you (James 4:7).
If, however, you’re walking blamelessly before the LORD, keeping with repentance, you’re obviously undergoing an MIT. Don’t embrace the curse as “God’s will.” Tenaciously fight the good fight of faith and don’t give up. The curse will eventually depart and the LORD will turn around the negative situation for your good.
For important details on spiritual warfare — fighting the good fight of faith — see this article.
For scriptural details on God’s provision and “prosperity,” check out this audio sermon, which was designed to increase the believer’s faith in receiving provision (as it is said, “Where God guides, God provides”) just keep in mind the points of this article for scriptural balance; the video conveniently cites all the key passages:
Related Topics:
The Gist on Giving and “Tithing”
Giving and “Tithing” — What’s the Bible say?
Spiritual Warfare — Do You know What You’re Fighting For?
Spiritual Warfare — The Basics
Greed — What is it? Why is it Bad?
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