Biblical Prosperity

Let me encourage you to try an experiment. At your next extended family dinner ask a relative who is prosperous what was the best financial decision they have ever made. This will do two things. It will help you break out of the fear of talking about money and likely you will find out some financial information that will help you. If we ask and observe who is around us, it is likely that the Lord will provide some financial mentors for us. It will feel uncomfortable at first, but you will develop confidence and find who is willing to help you. Most financially prosperous people will take it as a compliment that you want to learn from the wisdom they have. Proverbs connects “not learning” with poverty. We must be willing to learn:

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored…let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance (Proverbs 13:18, 1:5).

Wealth is not evil, so lose your attitude toward wealthy people! This attitude is rooted in envy and jealousy. Envy and jealousy are sin. In his book Breaking the Power of Evil, Rick Joyner says,

One of the biggest open doors that the spirit of poverty has into our lives is through our own unrighteous judgments…I once visited a state that was under one of the most powerful spirits of poverty that I have witnessed in this country. It was remarkable because it is a state of great beauty and natural resources. It had talented and resourceful people, but a spirit of poverty was on almost everyone. Another characteristic that stood out was that almost everyone I met there seemed to uncontrollably scorn and criticize anyone who was prosperous or powerful.

With every pastor of a small church whom I met (and almost all of the churches in this state were very small), the conversation would inevitable turn to criticizing “mega-churches” and “mega-ministries,” which these people obviously thought were the reason for many of their own problems…Many pastors yoke themselves and their congregations to financial poverty by criticizing how other churches or ministries take up offerings or solicit donations. Because of their judgment of others, they then cannot even take up a biblical offering without feeling guilty. They have yoked themselves by their unrighteous judgment.³

Most wealthy people have some financial wisdom we could use. Our judgments against them erect a wall that will keep us from becoming like them. Remember in the U.S., most millionaires still work 50 hours a week and did not inherit their money. They have financial wisdom. Ask prosperous people for advice. Find someone who has victory in a financial area that you are lacking and humbly ask them for help. Jesus said you would be like your teachers, so ask someone to help you with a budget or to go to see the bank manager. It is wise to ask for help.

I want to tell you about a book I believe God directed me to read a few years ago. It really helped me develop a more healthy attitude about money.The title of the book is The Millionaire Next Door. This book basically studied the wealthy in America and examined their life-styles. The main point of the book is that most wealthy people look like (and probably are) the people who are your neighbors. Its research showed that most of the wealthy were married with kids and did not inherit vast sums of money. They still work 50 hours per week, live below their means and wear inexpensive suits.

Their wealth came by working and saving and investing 20% of their income.  In most cases they worked most of their lives to become wealthy and do not drive exotic foreign cars. In fact, the book revealed that most of the people who drive exotic foreign cars are not wealthy at all. In essence, as described by the title of the book, most of the wealthy look and act like our neighbor next door. 1

The statistics from the book helped me because in my mind I had this fixation that to be wealthy meant you had to be showy and vain like many movie stars and professional athletes. I changed my wrong perception of what it “looked like” to be wealthy.  This truth helps us know how to have a healthy attitude toward money. Let’s be free to talk openly and honestly about money.

       On the other hand some Christians have accumulated wealth and yet act as if they have nothing. I don’t believe this is a biblical and healthy approach to money either. Proverbs 13:7 says: One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.  God has a better way. The Bible teaches something different about God’s blessing. We should be neither boastful nor ashamed of the financial blessings from Him.

Let’s just be honest. Money helps us do what we are called to do to expand the kingdom of God. Money is not evil unless we fall in love with it. It is a tool. We can and should learn from others who have financial courage so we can develop it in our lives.

1                    Stanley, Thomas J. The Millionaire Next Door. New York: Pocket, 1996.

In order for us to develop some financial courage we will have to get over the idea that it is not spiritual to talk about money. People afflicted by the spirit of poverty find it difficult to talk about money. A lot of churches struggle to communicate financial needs or even take a biblical offering for a need or vision the church is undertaking. Jesus spoke about money a lot. There are over 3,000 references to money in the Bible. People with a poverty spirit don’t like to talk about money. On the other hand, prosperous people enjoy talking about money.

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today (Deuteronomy 8:18).

So let’s take a closer look at this. You mean God gives us the power and creativity to get wealth, but we are not supposed to talk about it? No…it is OK to talk about money. Certainly we need to keep money in its proper perspective. To prosperous people money is important and interesting. They enjoy talking about and learning about money. They are unashamed to have a good conversation with their children and friends about the ins and outs of money. How are we going to learn about managing money without talking about it?

Don’t shrink back from talking to your children about money. Teach them to earn, tithe, give and save. As insecure parents we mistakenly tell our children we can’t afford something instead of having the courage to say “no” to things they are requesting. The truth is we could afford what they are asking for, but we have decided to spend that money on something else…maybe missions. Just tell them no, they can’t have the item instead of telling them you can’t afford it. This makes it seem like God is a cheapskate.  It will be a good life lesson for them.

What if you win the lottery, so what…you still will have no wisdom to manage money. If you gain something without growing into it, you will find it slipping through your fingers.

Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom? (Proverbs 17:16).

To see this, consider what happens to people who actually have won a lottery and received the amount in one large lump sum. Studies which follow their lives reveal that within ten years they typically are financially broke, have had extramarital affairs, gotten divorced; many have become addicted to drugs and have destroyed most of their relationships with family and friends. Sadly a significant number of them will commit suicide.

I know a businessman who once said, “We will not win the lottery. If you see money falling out of the sky, it is counterfeit; don’t pick it up!” Pastors and church leaders can fall into lottery thinking with their churches. They will set their eye on the “big fish” to build their churches. They become event oriented; thinking that if they can just have the right speaker or music group it will cause the church to grow.  Events don’t grow churches, consistent, diligent work and prayer does. An event will draw a crowd for a week-end but without day-to-day nurture and outreach the crowds will quickly disappear. If you build systematically, God will bring the growth. The answer is not out there somewhere; it is right in front of you with the step forward God wants you to take today.

Other pastors may think if someone in a wheelchair is healed, it will cause their church to grow. This fixation on a spectacular event can immobilize them from doing the things that will make the church grow and maybe eventually see a person in the wheelchair healed. God’s normal way is the way of gradual, sure, systematic growth and maturity.

God’s normal way of growth is the way of gradual, sure, systematic growth and maturity. God’s nature is seed time and harvest. According to Hebrews 6, it is through faith and patience that we receive from God.

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised (Hebrews 6:12). 

Job’s patience was what helped him overcome the hardships he faced when he was attacked by the enemy. Patience is way more than just the ability to not become angry in a difficult situation. Patience is the power that will carry you through the obstacles of life into the seasons of blessing. It is notable that sometimes a wealthy person will lose all of their money, but somehow they seem to earn it all back and more. Amazingly enough this was actually Job’s experience. Let’s examine some more scriptures:

Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow…All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty…The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day…An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end (Proverbs 13:11; 14:23, 4:18, 20:21).

Can you pick up the pattern here? Gather money little by little…hard work brings profit…shining ever brighter until the full light of day…inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed.  Advancement comes to those who diligently apply God’s principles on a consistent, long-term basis. Look for steady progress through diligent, consistent work. God generally advances us gradually so we can concurrently grow the maturity to hold on to what he gives us.

Listen to Russell Conwell’s analysis of getting a large inheritance written many years ago. He considered it to be a curse.

The moment a young man or woman gets more money than he or she has grown to by practical experience, that moment he has gotten a curse. It is no help to a young man or woman to inherit money. Oh, young man, if you have inherited money, don’t regard it as a help. There is no class of people to be pitied so much as the inexperienced sons and daughters of the rich. I pity the rich man’s son.

One of the best things in our life is when a young man has earned his own living, and when he becomes engaged to some lovely young woman, and makes up his mind to have a home of his own. Then with that same love comes also that divine inspiration toward better things, and he begins to save his money. He begins to leave off his bad habits and put money in the bank¹.

If we are sitting around waiting for an inheritance or hoping for an insurance settlement we will not prosper. If our eyes are set on the chance that may come it will keep us from taking today’s step forward. Listen to how the Living Bible translates Habakkuk 2:3:

Slowly, steadily surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled, do not despair for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient, they will not be overdue a single day. 

A prosperous soul will begin wherever it is and work toward advancement. Progress, God’s blessing, raises, promotions and favor are expected, but faithfulness and steady progress are the path to get there.

Do not look for the big break, the miraculous provision, the chance deal, an inheritance or the lottery to get rich quick. In a few words…the desire to get rich quick is really an ungodly lust for financial success without learning how to manage money. If we can get this concept into our minds, we will be far closer actually to learning how God wants to advance us.

Advancement comes to those who diligently apply God’s principles on a consistent, long-term basis. Look for steady progress through diligent, consistent work. God generally advances us gradually so we can concurrently grow the maturity to hold on to what he gives us. It is like a plane taking off—there is a correct trajectory of climbing that won’t stall the plane’s motor and yet gets you in the air before the end of the runway. Eyes set on the “chance that may come” will keep you from taking today’s step forward. Proverbs speaks to the trap of sitting around and waiting for your ship to come in.

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished (Proverbs 28:19-20).

A minister friend of mine calls this get rich quick mentality “lottery thinking.” I have to agree with him, lottery thinking is poverty thinking. The people who spend the most money on lottery tickets are at the bottom of the income scale. When politicians start a lottery to fund a government project, they generally consider it a tax on the poor. The help you need is not a big sum of money dumped in your lap, but rather a kick in the pants to start moving so God can bless your steps of faith.

Recently, I was privileged to hear a wealthy man speaking with some service men and women who were wounded in combat. His subject was possessing courage to take risks. Interestingly, He spoke about financial courage as being different than other kinds of courage. When stating that he had the confidence to take financial risks, he qualified that statement by saying it would be difficult for him to risk his life on a battlefield. He said he did not possess that” kind” of courage. I learned something that day. There are different types of courage.

It is interesting to me that you could have so much courage in one area but not in another. But this is really true. A construction worker can have the courage to balance himself on a six inch I-beam, hundreds of feet above the ground, but at the same time not have the courage to stand up in front of a group of 40 people and give a speech or walk into the bank to meet with the bank manager to talk about financing a project. Likewise, a salesman who has the courage to knock on a dozen doors a day making sales calls might not have the financial courage to buy a single share of stock.

There are different kinds of courage. We need courage in the financial area. With God’s help we can obtain the financial courage and strategy that we need to walk in the prosperity that He has for us. There are specific things we can do to help us become more comfortable in the financial world. We must learn to overcome the misconceptions we have about the financial world and how it functions.

I live in the middle of rich Pennsylvania farmland. There was a farmer in our area who constantly worked his equipment with the throttle wide open. He even drove from the barn to the field as fast as he could.  Another wise, prosperous farmer was heard saying this farmer would never be able to make any money because his equipment simply was not designed to run full throttle and would not last. A few years later, the first farmer had to sell his farm and take another job. One reason he could never get ahead was because his equipment kept wearing out.

Our bodies were not made to be running at full throttle eighteen hours a day, seven days a week. He created a Sabbath principle so we can refresh and renew. He forced the children of Israel to take a year off every seven years. A year to reflect and talk to their neighbors. It forced them to stop producing, detach and think about how they were producing  I wonder if they were better, more productive farmers and tradesmen after the Sabbath year of reflection? I think so.

God has a path of blessing for you to walk in. Let Him do it. Let the Word of God cause faith to rise in your heart to embrace El Shaddai and your expectation of God’s financial provision of more than enough. Expect Him to teach you to prosper. Allow Him to change your beliefs. If your patterns of thinking change, the words that you speak will begin to change. If your words change, your actions will change. And, if your actions change, the outcome will change.

God wants to change our thinking about what to expect. Remember the apostle John’s words to Gauis, “as your soul prospers, you will prosper.” If we perceive and embrace this truth in our hearts, nothing can stop it from flowing out. God wants us to advance, but to do so we must have courage. There are different kinds of courage. We need courage in the financial area. With God’s help we can obtain the financial courage and strategy that we need to walk in the prosperity that He has for us. More on financial courage next week.

It is essential that you believe in yourself. It’s the poverty mindset that says you can’t change. It is the poverty mindset that tells you that you are too old to go back to school and change jobs. If you believe you are worth more per hour, then others will start to believe it and usually over a period of time you will get paid more per hour.

Does this mean that everyone should change jobs? No, if you are in a low-paying employment situation, decide if that is where God wants you to be. Are you content there? If not, you will not prosper there. If the people you are working beside are not accumulating money, neither will you. Be prepared though—changing careers does take time and energy. Think what you would like to do….and think how much it pays.

One of the boards on which I serve is involved with micro-finance in developing countries of the world. Without going into a lot of detail, one of the reasons I love this concept is because it is helping people break out of a poverty mindset where there are no jobs available. Many developing nations have unemployment as high as 80%. There simply are no jobs. Micro-finance helps them to create their own jobs. They are required to write a business plan and learn how loans and interest work because they must pay the money back. The repayment rates run over 90%.  It is helping them to advance.

Is living paycheck to paycheck God’s will? We will take more time on that later, but for now, be convinced that God wants you to advance.    Sometimes when I teach on advancing, people will misunderstand and say, “Oh, I’ll have to get a second job to become more prosperous.” This is not it. God might have a better job for you, but it does not mean working twice or three times as hard. More on that next week.