Understanding the gospel of prosperity

 The good news of prosperity is gaining the ascendancy as it is frequently and widely preached across denominations and national boundaries. Nothing is stirring the motivational embers with more power than the gospel of prosperity.
However, half-truths about the gospel of prosperity have produced lop-sided Christians who are not biblically balanced, and this has attracted much skepticism from both within and without the church. It is against this backdrop of increasing skepticism on the gospel of prosperity that I have undertaken to answer questions arising in the hearts of many people pertaining to the legitimacy and necessity of the gospel of prosperity.
The generally suggested view of this gospel of prosperity today is the preaching or teaching on success in finances and material wealth by men or women of God. And the key to such prosperity is presented as giving of tithes and offerings to the church. It is believed that the more you give is the more you receive and that when you give towards God’s work you will provoke some supernatural power that will bless you with finances and material things in return.
Obviously such good news about becoming rich in finances and material wealth through giving to God attracts the poor and the needy. It appeals most to those who lack finances and good things in life, unfortunately it appeals to almost everyone because the majority of people are in lack today. This is one of the reasons why most people want to hear about prosperity. And those who are already stable financially also want to hear more about prosperity so they can get even richer.
The human appetite for more is insatiable both in church and in the world. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in the corporate world has a counterpart in the spiritual world. Everyone wants to grow from strength to strength, glory to glory and from less to more and to abundance. The growing skepticism is not really against the necessity of the gospel of prosperity to those who are poor and in needy because prosperity is part and parcel of the gospel. This is supported by many scriptures in the Bible for instance 3 John 2 says, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health just as your soul prospers.”
The skepticism is rather about the legitimacy or genuineness of the methods or ways proposed to bring prosperity to those who seek it. In simple terms, the questions being asked are: Is it true that God will prosper people who are just giving in the offering plate but not working hard with their hands? Will people who are not walking righteously get God’s blessings even if they give much to the work of God? Is it possible for everyone to get rich as preached by the pastors when the Bible says that the poor will always be there? Can someone sow a financial seed and reap good health or marriage as a harvest? Are things like good cars, nice houses and so on true signs of prosperity or is prosperity limited to finances and material wealth?
These are genuine questions posed by both unbelievers and well-meaning but ignorant Christians. In attempting to answer these critical questions it is important to address the issue of preaching and teaching half-truths.
Pastors should balance their messages and not blow some themes or doctrines out of proportion at the expense of others. If someone always hears about giving in order to prosper every Sunday without mention of other things like hard work, holiness, wisdom and knowledge it surely becomes questionable. According to Acts 20:20 ministers of the gospel must teach the whole counsel of God. This simply means every aspect of life should be touched on as given in the scriptures.
However, on the other hand if someone does not consistently attend church services, or is an outright unbeliever, and yet questions the legitimacy of gospel messages from an observer’s point of view, there is a problem because he or she has half-truths. Instead of criticising or complaining that person should seek to be taught true knowledge first by a knowledgeable person the biblical view of prosperity. This I shall do in the ensuing articles.
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