I recently received an email from a reader asking me about some prosperity verses. I decided to dig in and do a bit more thorough study about it. I noticed a couple things that I hadn’t before about Biblical prosperity.
The prosperity debate
I know this issue seems to be a hot topic for debate among Christians, so I am going to try to just present what I have found in the Word. We all have our opinions and the Bible says that we all only know in part, so none of use have it completely figured out. We never will. But, the Bible is the truth, so I prefer to lean on that rather than my own opinion.
Let me also say that the verses below may or may not be talking about financial prosperity. There are many ways that God can prosper us. If you are on your death-bed suffering from a terrible disease, you probably aren’t too concerned about financial prosperity.
However, there are scriptures to support that God wants to prosper us in all areas of our life. Our walk with Him, our relationships, our health, our finances and every other area of our lives. God doesn’t want to be confined to just a few areas of our lives, He wants to be involved in all of it. Every father wants to see his children prosper and succeed. How much more does our Father in heaven?
Okay, on to the the scriptures, I just shared my opinion like I said I wouldn’t 
.
Prosperity comes as a result of meditating and obeying on the Word
As I was studying this, this was the first common thread that I noticed.
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
then again…
Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
and again…
1 Chronicles 22:13
Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.
Prosperity comes from seeking God
2 Chronicles 26:5
He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God prospered him.
and another…
2 Chronicles 31:21
Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.
- side note, I think it is really interesting that this verse specifically mentions that he also did it with, “all of his heart.” There are quite a few proverbs that talk about the importance and necessity of working hard at everything you do.
And one of my favorite verses about seeking God…
Matthew 6:31-33
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Revelations about Biblical prosperity
These were just a couple of the patterns that I found in the Word about prosperity as I started to dig in. I know there is a lot more revelation to be gotten about the subject that I haven’t gotten yet. Anyone have any they want to share?
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Wow! Bob – more please!
Thanks for the post, Bob! If we really dig in to God’s word and diligently seek Him, He will bless us. Verse 11 below really tells me that God desires to bless His people.
Matthew 7
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
@Tristan
thanks for sharing – that is a great verse as well!
What a great post. My husband and I have been discussing this for the last couple of days and getting someone else’s opinion is always helpful.
I tend to think that God will prosper us, but it may not be in ways that we think. He may never make us rich in the world’s eyes, but he can make it so that we can pay all our bills, live debt-free, etc. But most of all, He makes it possible for us to live in a way that is contrary to the world and still live well. As long as we seek Him and do His will we will be blessed (even if at the time we don’t consider it a blessing).
These verses are great, at least for those of us in USA and Western Europe, but I can’t help but wonder how the believers among the Karin peoples of Burma should interpret these verses? With the cyclone that killed so many, and a government that does so little for them already… Yet the church there is growing by leaps and bounds as it is throughout the third world, and I promise you that it has nothing to do with promises of safety or sufficiency. In most of the third world, belief in Christ exposes you to persecution and reduces your safety…
With all due respect to those who are quoting single verses, I would encourage you to look back at the passages they come from and read them from within the context they were written, keeping in mind to whom they were originally written. Philippians 4:13 say that “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” (I added the caps for emphasis.) Does this mean that I can fly to the moon and back under the power of the holy spirit only? I think not. Paul was speaking to the sufficiency of Christ in being able to provide for his needs, and that he could do all that Christ was calling him to do, because Christ would equip him for his purpose. One must be careful not to take God’s word and pull things out of context.
A friend once went into a “Christian Health Food” store. Inside, prominently displayed on the wall was a verse that said (and I paraphrase) Eat not … drink not … (the ellipses replace the stated items) Upon arriving at home, he looked up the quoted verse and it said “Let us not say ‘Eat not … drink not…’
Sorry for my long 2cents.
@Atomic
I completely agree that scriptures can be mis-interpreted when out of context and that scripture should be judged with other scriptures… Which ones do you think are out of context?
Thanks dear for the message. I was searching for “What the Bible really says about prosperity” and you have answered it. I have a questions. Is it okay to invest stocks?
What is your name? buddy. Thanks/Ravi
Personally, I do not see anything wrong with investing in stocks in general. But you have to remember that when you buy stock in a company, you are buying ownership in part of that company. It is part of our duty as stewards to be aware of the actions of the companies that we invest in and ensure that we are not growing the money that God has entrusted us with through immoral means. Think of it this way. How would you feel if you found out that your church was taking the money you tithed, and instead of giving it to the poor, bought part of a pornography studio or abortion clinic as an investment to grow that money so that there would be more to give to the poor? It’s important that we do our research and don’t use companies that support anti-christian lifestyles to grow the money that God has entrusted us with. It is part of our duties as stewards. You can find out what many companies support and promote at http://www.MoralMoney.com. I’ll be honest and let you know that this is my website but as far as I know its the only free source of this information.
Mark,
thanks for answering this –
Ravi, I am sorry I missed your comment, they come in a feed and if I get too many too fast, they fall off the screen and I miss them… sorry…
also, Mark I completely agree with you – I always think about it as – would I start this business myself? If the answer is no, then I don’t feel good about buying the stock…
The passage about worry and all these things will be added unto you needs to be put into it’s proper context.
It is talking about what you need to survive. Not propserity or wealth.
Also in the Old Testament we find God “promised” material blessings.
In the NT we find Jesus first sermon. He promises his true followers what? Persecution. To emphasise this he mentions it twice. (Sermon on the Mt. Matthew 5-7)
3 John verse 2 – “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”