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 LSG)

Many Christians feel uncomfortable discussing money, but this is a serious mistake. The Bible contains more than 2,000 verses on this subject. Furthermore, the person who taught the most about money in Scripture was neither Solomon, nor Jeremiah, nor Habakkuk, nor Paul—it was Jesus. If God takes this subject seriously, then we must do the same. So, let us deepen our understanding of this topic.

First, money is a symbol. When you visit a doctor, you often see their medical degree hanging on the wall behind their desk. That piece of paper is a symbol of education. If you were to steal their diploma, they would still be able to diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, perform surgeries, and teach anatomy and physiology.

Stealing their diploma would only be a minor inconvenience for them. Their knowledge does not reside in that piece of paper, but in their mind. Similarly, money is a symbol of prosperity. But prosperity does not reside in your safe, your wallet, or your bank account—it resides in your soul.

This is what the Lord says: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2)

Your bank account, your business, your ministry, your house, your car, etc., are all symbols of the prosperity that dwells within your soul. This does not mean that every person who is rich in life is spiritually prosperous. The reality is that Satan can make a person wealthy because Adam handed over the dominion of the world to Satan when he sinned (Genesis 1:26). This is why Satan was able to say to Jesus while tempting Him:

“I will give you all this power and the glory of these kingdoms; for it has been given to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.” (Luke 4:6, LSG)

Since Satan currently rules the world and all its resources, he can make a person rich in his own way—for example, through fraud. However, financial prosperity according to God’s way reflects your spiritual growth.

PRAYER

Father God, help me grow spiritually so that my financial prosperity reflects Your image.

APPLICATION

Prosperity begins in your soul. Does your prosperity reflect the image of God in your life? Pray that every dark source of wealth disappears in the name of Jesus…

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

We invite you to read the next article: “THE RIGHT USE OF MONEY.”