When we read about the lives of the saints in the Bible, they were prosperous. Abraham was a very rich man. Job was a prosperous man in the east. Our God is a God who says in Psalm 50:10, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” The word of God declares in Psalm 24:1, “ The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”God owns everything in this earth. He is the creator of the Universe. We serve a great and mighty God.
Some think that we will enjoy the riches only when we get to heaven. That is not the case. Our God wants us to enjoy the riches here in this side of heaven that is right here on the earth. But there is a condition to be prosperous God’s way. We need to be righteous before the Lord. When we align ourselves with the will of God, when we walk in the ways of God and when we live by the word of God, that is when we position ourselves to receive from the Lord. You may be in a position where you are going through challenges in your life. It doesn’t matter. You can be what God wants you to be if you will do what God wants you to do.
First things first
Look at the verse in Proverbs 3: 9, “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Matthew 6:33 say,“But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
Notice the word, “first” in both the scripture portions. First means first. Give God first place in your life! God should become your first choice and not your last chance. If the Lord is not the Lord of all you have, He is not the Lord at all. The Word of God tells us clearly in Deuteronomy 8:18 that in order for us to prosper, we must give the Lord first place in our lives. “But you shall remember the Lord your God: for it is he that gives you the power to get wealth.” First of all we need to remember that it is the Lord who gives us the wealth. We must put God’s interests ahead of ours.
God wants to be the first in our personal life, first in our family life, first in our corporate life, first in our finances, first in our priorities. As we place God first, all His blessings will be added to our lives. Put Him above all things!
God does not want to twist your arms and get your money. He does not want our money. But God loves a cheerful giver. When we give to the Lord, we honor Him. When we give with a smile from your heart, it pleases the Lord. The Lord loves such a person. When we give to the Lord, it is an outward demonstration of our love toward God and His work.
Give and it shall be given
In Luke 6:38, “ Give and it shall 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.” When we give, we activate a powerful principle. It will work for everyone who will put the principle to work. Our God is a God who multiplies the seed that we sow. When we give, God makes sure that we get it back in a much bigger and better way.
Psalm 112 talks about the blessing that comes to a giver. Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, “Cast your bread upon the waters: for you will find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:6 says, “ In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.
Sometimes we may not have a whole lot to give. That is when we must realize that it is the seed that we have. We must not look at the situations around us when we sow. Regardless of the circumstances, we must keep giving. God will see to it that whatever we plant in faith prospers. Do you know why the seed multiplies? It is because of the promise of God. If God said it, He will do it. We must not be discouraged when we sow.
Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”. Prosperity is God’s gift to His people.
Prosperity is promised to the Kingdom builders
Do you know why God gave the children of Israel a lot of wealth? It is because God wanted them to build His tabernacle in the wilderness. Even today, God blesses us in order for us to be a blessing.
God wants His children to be faithful in money matters. Jesus said in Luke 16:11, “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon (material things like money, houses, lands), who will commit to your trust the true riches?
God wants to test our faithfulness before He can entrust us with great riches. Prosperity begins when we build God’s kingdom. God’s ultimate goal is to commit to our trust the true riches. To get there, we need to be faithful in the small things that God has given us.
Look at what the Bible says about the house of God’s children. “The tent of the upright shall flourish” (Proverbs 14:11). “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure” (Proverbs 15:6). God wants his children’s house be filled with good stuff. That is the will of God. God’s word in 3 John 2 says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
May the Lord prosper you in all things and bless you with good health as your soul prospers. Amen.
Replies
This really encouraged me. We have to really trust God and His word.
PUTTING AND KEEPING HIM FIRST IN ALL THINGS....TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED. CONSCIOUSLY STAYING IN HIS PRESENCES
First means just that first. Many people are quick to give God their tithes because they are looking for that hefty return either immediately or at tax time. Yes, you are to pay your tithes, but in the other areas of your life God must come first also. When you start by placing God first in everything then you will prosper in everything. In the past I have not always put him first and I suffered but today and forever more, God is and will continue to be first in every area of my life.
I've always said, when we wonder why we are not rich like some people it's because God wanted to see how we handle our finances with the money we already have, and until we can show God that we can be a good steward over our finances how can he trust us with alot! that means God first at all times even if you only have alittle be a cheerful giver he will still bless you.
I do believe God wants his people to prosper. I believe God wants us to be wise and knowledgeable. I believe he wants us to see his Glory. We are tried and tested. God wants to see if he can trust us with what he has for us. To whom much is given, much is required. To often we want the prize without the test! We do not realize how blessed we truly are even when are Life is not where we want it to be.
Praising God in advance for his many blessings he has already given me!
Me and my friend was talking about this and being discipline with what God gives us.
I do truly believe if we stand and believe on the Word of God, stand on this scripture Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." I agree with Prophetess Shaloria, and Pastor Lashawn, we must definitely keep God first, and allow the spirit of God to lead us, in 3 John 1:2 - Above all God wishes us to prosper and be in health. As we continue moving forward in faith and are lead by the Spirit of the Lord, God will begin to unfold things to us. We also must believe we can have what the Word of God say we can have, never seeking after material things, even the promises of God, more than God himself.
Yes Lord let us be prosperous in our homes, in the cities, and in the fields. I am grateful for our portion God that it is overflowing.