Blessings – yes! / Prosperity – no?

Most people are fine with the term blessings, but when the word prosperity is used, especially among Christians, many are uncomfortable.  Most of this is because of some out of balance doctrines which have focused primarily on prosperity over seeking first the kingdom of God as Jesus instructed us in Matthew 6:33.

The truth is God desires to bless His covenant children – for the purpose of being a channel of blessing to others.  We are blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2; Hebrews 6:14).  We are called to let everything – every gift – every blessing – every resource – to flow through us to others to be a blessing.  Keeping it in balance, everything goes back to our hearts.  Above all, guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23), for out of it flow all the issues of life, including this prosperity one.  God sees our hearts and He knows those whose hearts are undivided in their devotion to Him.  We live in an extremely materialistic society, and it is one of the idols of our culture we have to guard our hearts from, and none of us do it perfectly – hence, our continuous need for God’s amazing grace in this respect too.  However, many people (Christians and non Christians alike) have incorrect views about blessings and prosperity and what God has actually stated in His Word.  God is generous and He loves to bless His children, just as we desire to bless our own children.  This is the heart of a loving father. The generous heart of our Heavenly Father has been clearly demonstrated to us through the gift of life, creation, and the greatest gift of all – His one and only Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

There are numerous verses in the Bible relating to blessings and prosperity.   As you read just a few of these listed below (without any extra commentary), pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the proper Biblical balance for these promises.  He is our Teacher, and the One who Jesus said would guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

Proverbs 8:17-21

“I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. “Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness. “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver. “I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.”

Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

1 Chronicles 29:12-13
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

Deuteronomy 8:18

But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 28:11-14

The Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deuteronomy 30:15-16

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. ”

King Uzziah prospered as long as he sought The Lord:
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.

Malachi 3:8-12

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.  You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!  Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.  Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Psalm 25:12-15

Who is the man who fears the Lord?He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant. My eyes are continually toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.

Psalm 35:27

Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.”

Psalm 37:11

But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Psalm 68:6

God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 112:1-3

Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth. The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Psalm 112:1-3 NLT

Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever.

Proverbs 13:21

Adversity pursues sinners, but the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.

Matthew 7:9-11

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

Philippians 4:11-12

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

Isaiah 1:19

Those who are willing and obedient will eat the good of the land.

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.