KEY VERSE: “Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore; he shall be a haven for ships, and his border shall extend toward Sidon.” (Genesis 49:13)

Some Christians are skeptical about the concept of prosperity, while others, who acknowledge its biblical foundation, are afraid of the terminology. I have met believers who say, “Let’s not use the word ‘prosperity’; instead, let’s say ‘development,’ ‘advancement,’ or ‘progress.'” The reason many believers fear the concept or the word “prosperity” is that many preachers have misused it to exploit people, and secular media have widely discussed this issue. In certain circles, both secular and Christian, mentioning prosperity may lead to ridicule or even suspicion.

Despite these challenges, I firmly believe that it is a mistake to shy away from this teaching. The reason is that we did not invent the concept or the terminology—God did. He says in His Word, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.“ (3 John 1:2, NKJV). The Lord uses the word “prosper” more than 100 times in the Bible. As for the concept, it is evident throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. So why does God want His children to prosper so much?

First, prosperity reflects God’s generous nature.

David says, “Let the Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of His servant!“ (Psalm 35:27, Ostervald).

Man is a fallen being, yet he takes pleasure in blessing his children. Once, TG Media traveled to New York for a seminar. One day, we took a taxi, and the driver was Haitian. As we talked with him, he told us, “I left home last night at 8 PM, and I will probably return tonight at 6 PM.“ I thought to myself, “That’s 22 hours straight!” Then he told us that he had been working like that for 20 years.

As we spoke, we noticed that he was very happy and satisfied. So we asked him, “Why do you work so hard?“ He answered, “With this steering wheel, I have provided a good education for all my children. My son is a lawyer, my eldest daughter is a doctor, and my second daughter is in nursing school.“ Then he added, “I am a lucky man.“ As a father, he took pleasure in giving the best to his children.

Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!“ (Matthew 7:11, LSG)

What makes us think we can care for our children better than God can? Anyone who claims such a thing knows very little about prosperity…

PRAYER
Jehovah Shammah, my provider, thank You for creating me without lacking anything. I praise and honor You in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

APPLICATION
Now that you understand God’s intention when He created you, resist any thoughts of lack in your life and declare your identity as God created you—a prosperous Christian.

This text is an excerpt from the book “BUILDING A HOLY NATION: THE ROLE OF TRADE“ written by Pastor Gregory Toussaint.

We invite you to read the next article: “WHAT IS MONEY?“