Biblical view of prosperity

The world’s view of prosperity is limited to financial and material success whereas the kind of prosperity taught in the Bible covers the entire spectrum of human existence. Biblical prosperity is more desirable as it secures balanced success for the total person; spirit, soul and body are all prospered. True prosperity includes temporal blessings in this life and comfort in eternal life. Our key note scripture above talks of total or comprehensive prosperity that includes mental, physical, spiritual, financial, material, emotional, relational and business success. This total prosperity is clearly suggested by the phrase, “In all respects you may prosper”. God’s kind of prosperity starts with developing good spiritual qualities which form the character base upon which physical and financial success will build. Good health has been specifically mentioned because without good physical health working is greatly affected and subsequently financial and business success will be low. The Bible makes it clear that good health is crucial if one is to enjoy every other success in life. So any pursuit of riches that negatively affects physical health is deceitful and scripturally unsupported. The phrase “Just as your soul prospers” refers to spiritual prosperity and is the key to all Godly and desirable prosperity.
Actually, according to this key verse of scripture spiritual prosperity is a prerequisite qualification for all other kinds of Christian prosperity. Financial and material prosperity is dependent on spiritual prosperity in the Kingdom of God. Biblical prosperity is not really about money or possessions. It is about having no lack. Elijah and Elisha did not have visible signs of material prosperity like Abraham and Solomon but they were sufficiently provided for. So the first and foremost step towards prosperity is the building of a good and sound relationship with God. It was Abraham’s relationship with God that prospered him in all respects of life even though he began in poverty. David, Solomon and Hezekiah proved that surely true prosperity begins and continues with a sound relationship with God.
When one is closely related to God through faithful study of the word, earnest prayer and good fellowship with other believers he or she will never lack any good thing. This is the reason Christians who are not academically qualified will still enjoy some measure of success in life.
However, being truly born again is not enough, according to scriptures, for one to enjoy total prosperity. More is required. Things like giving towards God’s work and giving alms to the poor catapult us to higher levels of success because God opens windows of opportunities for prosperity to givers. This is why the key word in Christian prosperity is giving.
According to Luke 6:38 and Proverbs 11:24-26 whatever you give as a child of God will come back to you multiplied and that is prosperity. Simply give according to your ability and ensure that you sow in the right places and you will know the miracle of giving.
Moreover, the ingredients of hard work, wisdom, knowledge and understanding in making, multiplying and managing money are required if a Christian is to enjoy great financial and material prosperity. The Bible says, “He that tilleth his hand shall be satisfied with bread” (Proverbs 12:11). It is important to learn that the secret of Bible prosperity is to be content with your level of success per given time. Instead of coveting just be content with what you have while working hard and waiting for God to promote you to the next level. Christian prosperity is not to be pursued frantically but to be received because Matthew 6:33 admonishes us to seek God first and everything else will be added unto us.
Matthew 6:33 admonishes us to seek God first and receive everything else. The finest model of Christian prosperity is Abraham, whose consecration to God earned him every luxury and abundant blessing of earthly life.
And the finest example of wordly prosperity is the rich fool who had much financial and material prosperity but spiritually bankrupt because he completely left God out of his financial reckoning and calculations. Ultimately he lost his life at a time when he was not prepared to face His creator. Proverbs 11:4 says, “Wealth is worthless on the judgment day, only righteousness counts them”.
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