BIBLE RECIPE FOR JOYFUL PROSPERITY
Definition:
Secular: the condition of being successful or thriving; esp: economic
well-being.
Biblical: Psalm 1; esp: Psalm 1:1-3.
I. The Bible teaches
four (4) basic facts concerning Joyful Prosperity.
A. The fact of
ownership: The sovereign God is the creator /owner of all creation, Exodus
20:11; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 44:24; Acts 14:15; Revelation 10:6,
B. The fact of
stewardship: the sovereign God uses humans as stewards, Jeremiah 27:5; Matthew
25:14; Deuteronomy 8:18; Ecclesiastes 5:19;
C. The fact of
accountability: the sovereign God holds humans accountable for their
stewardship,
1. For lack of use,
Matthew 25: 24-30,
2. For purpose of
use, 2 Corinthians 5:8, 13,
3. For attitude in
use, 2 Corinthians 5: 11-16; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3,
4. For result of
use, Matthew 25: 16,17, 21,23, 27.
D. The fact of
recompense: the sovereign God will recompense humans for their stewardship,
1. Through the law
of Sowing and Reaping, Galatians 6:8; 2 Corinthians 9:6,
2. By reward or
loss, 1 Corinthians 3:14,15; 2 Corinthians 5:10
II. The Bible gives
both positive and negative directions to the human steward
A. Positive
Instruction,
1. Attitudes and
actions of Faithful Stewards,
a. Be
faithful, 1 Corinthians 4:1,
b.
Develop godly contentment, 1 Timothy 6:6,8,
c. Don’t
go into debt, Romans 13:8,
d. Don’t
co-sign another’s debt, Proverbs 6:1-3.
e. Pay
proper taxes, Romans 13:7,
f. Be a
giver to others’ needs, Romans 12:13,
g. Be a
God-serving worker, Colossians 3:22-25,
h. Be a
fair employer, Colossians 4:1; James 5:1-6,
I. Give
joyfully as God leads, 2 Corinthians 9:7,
j. Give
of yourself, 2 Corinthians 8:5,
k. Be an
obedient tither, Malachi 3" 10-12,
B. Negative
Instructions,
1. Attitudes and
actions of Unfaithful Stewards,
a. Love
money, 1 Timothy 6:9,10,
b.
Forget God, Deuteronomy 6:12; 8:12-14,
c. Allow
the Word to be choked by care, Matthew 12:22
d.
Develop covetous attitude, Luke 12:15,
e.
Develops pride, 1 Timothy 6:4, Ezekiel 28:5
f.
Oppress others, James 2:6,
g. Live
for pleasure, James 5: 5,
h. Lazy,
Proverbs 6:9-11;19:24;28:19,
I.
Unfaithful to responsibility, Matthew 25:25-30
III. The Bible
teaches great truths about Joyful Prosperity
A. God’s gives the
power to get wealth, Deuteronomy 8:18,
B. Joy of using
wealth for God’s glory, 1 Timothy 6:17-19,
C. Producing praise
to God in others, 2 Corinthians 9: 9-15,
IV. The Bible contains a text-book (Proverbs) about character and conduct
which cautions those who wish to succeed in business and finance.
A. The character of
the man who succeeds in business and finance:
1.
Righteousness 11:4-6; 18:28; 12:12; 13:21; 15:6,
2. Integrity
(Honesty) 2:7; 10:2-2; 11:1; 13:11; 15:27; 16:8; 17:23; 19:1,22;
20:10,
3. Wisdom
2:1-9; 3:13-16; 8:10,11; 8:18-21; 16:16; 24:3,4,
4.
Generosity 3:27,28; 11:24-26; 14:31; 18:16; 19:17; 22:9,16,22; 28:27,
5. Morally
pure 5:10; 31:11,
6. Diligent
6:6-11; 10:4,26; 12:11,24; 12:27; 13:4,23; 14:23; 16:26; 18:9; 20:4,
7. Cautious
(Discerning) 6:12-15; 14:4; 19:4-7; 22:24-25,
8. Humble
12:9; 13:7; 16:19; 22:2,4,
9.
Disciplined, 13:18; 20:21; 21:5,17; 22:29,
10. Content
28:19-22; 30:8
B. The conduct of
the man who succeeds in business and finance
1. Practices
Biblical Stewardship 3:9,10,
2. Uses
wealth properly 10:16,16; 14:20; 18:23; 19:10,
3. Seeks the
Lord’s blessing (Not world’s) 10:22,
4. Seeks the
best for his home 11:29; 15:16; 17:1,
5. Seeks
wise counsel 13:21; 15:22,
6. Looks to
future 13:22; 19:14,
7. Seeks a
“good name” 22:1,2
8. Seeks to
associate with faithful men 25:19,
9. Seeks
best for employer 27:18.
C. Cautions for the
man who succeeds in business and finance:
1. Refrain
from the enticements of unrighteous men 1:10-19; 3:31,32; 23:20,21;
29:24,
2. Avoid
co-signing and partnerships 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 22:26,27,
3. Stay at
home - or take wife with you 7:19,20,
4. Do not
trust in riches 18:11,
5. Do not
focus life on gaining wealth 23:4,5; 27:24; 30:15,
6. Do not
increase wealth by extortion 28:8,
7. Do not
plan on wealth from Parents 28:24.
V. The Bible
contains a series of challenges to those who desire to meet the biblical
requirements for joyful prosperity
YOU CAN CHOOSE GOD’S
PROSPERITY!
Fact One: God’s
Prosperity Makes Requirements
Fact Two: God
Desires Prosperity For His Obedient Children
Fact Three: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Basic Level Choice
Fact Four: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Blessing Level Choice
Fact Five: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Bounty Level Choice
FACT ONE
EXPLAINED:
God’s Prosperity Makes Requirements.
Honesty requires
admitting that choosing prosperity from God does make requirements. This fact
should not produce surprise. Doesn’t every worthy objective demand meeting
appropriate requirements?
Consider education!
Citizens must pay taxes. Teachers must devote living service. Students must
expend time and energy.. Choosing education makes drastic requirements.
Consider domestic
happiness! Successful marriage requires exclusive COMMITMENT to one person.
Successful parenting requires personal sacrifice, life-style adjustments, and
increased responsibilities. Building a home involves requirements that only
parents and children can know.
Consider personal
soul-salvation. Preachers proclaim correctly that salvation is the gift of
God. The believer in Jesus Christ does receive unearned, undeserved benefits.
Truly salvation is God’s free gift to the lost. But, is salvation without
requirements? Think of the price that Jesus paid! And do not forget the
COMMITMENT element in the believer’s trusting faith. Personal soul-salvation
makes and continues to make character and conduct requirements.
Choosing prosperity
from God, therefore, is like other worthy objectives in that it makes
requirements. In many aspects, however, prosperity from God differs from many
other worthy objectives in that it gives unique satisfactions.. Secular
prosperity consists almost solely in the material: how much and how many.
Notice that no matter how much or how many there is never enough in secular
prosperity to satisfy! Secular prosperity always falls short of satisfying the
human spirit. Jesus explained the reason when he said, Take heed and beware
of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the
things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15). True and satisfying prosperity
must go beyond the secular and satisfy the inner person. Only prosperity from
God can attain this personal and spiritual objective.
This true and
satisfying prosperity from God, which consists of material and spiritual
blessings, is attainable for every Christian . But the Christian must make the
choice and accept the challenge to meet the requirements. Think of it! What a
potential for real happiness! Ask some questions:
Will God’s
prosperity enable me to pay my bills? Yes!
Will God’s
prosperity enable me to supply my basic needs? Yes!
Will God’s
prosperity supply my real wants? Yes!
Will God’s
prosperity enable my family to live well? Yes!
Will God’s
prosperity enable me to help the poor? Yes!
Will God’s
prosperity enable me to support the church? Yes!
Frankly, this sounds
too good to be true, but it is a TESTED truth. Many older and some younger
Christians can give testimony to God’s Prosperity. You can test and prove its
validity in your own life. You can chose God’s prosperity but you MUST meet
the Requirements..
This opportunity
rests upon the biblical revelation that God wants to prosper His obedient
people. And the Almighty God is certainly able to prosper anyone if that is
His desire. Isn’t it true that God owns everything? As the Owner, God
has the right to grant supervision and management according to His decision.
As the Owner God has the right to judge how His property is administered.
Sometimes Christians need to refresh their memories about God’s ownership:
SOME REMINDERS!
The earth is
the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods”
Psalm
24:1,2.
Behold, the
heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, and
all that therein is.
Deuteronomy 10:14.
The silver is
mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
Haggai 2:8.
For by him
were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible
and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
Colossians 1:16.
I know all the
fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were
hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness
thereof. Psalm 50:11,12.
The Truth is
unmistakably clear: Everything belongs to God!
As the Owner, God
can allow or confer PROSPERITY according to His own plan and will. As the
Owner, God has the right and the power to establish requirements for attaining
His prosperity. To obtain God’s Prosperity even the most obedient Christian
must meet these God-given requirements.
This raises the next
crucial question: Does God desire to prosper His obedient people? Does our
heavenly Father desire an abundant life for His children? What is God’s
revealed will or challenge about conferring PROSPERITY
WILL
YOU CHOSE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE?
YOU CAN CHOOSE GOD’S
PROSPERITY!
Fact One: God’s
Prosperity Makes Requirements
Fact Two: God
Desires Prosperity For His Obedient Children
Fact Three: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Basic Level Choice
Fact Four: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Blessing Level Choice
Fact Five: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Bounty Level Choice
FACT TWO
EXPLAINED:
God Desires Prosperity For His Obedient Children
In most humanly
devised religions, the worshiper is seeking continually to appease an angry
God. In the concept of deity, as in many others, the Christian faith is
unique. The Christian faith rests upon the fact that God loves mankind. This
basic truth colors all aspects of Christian theology. The two best known Bible
verses declare this wonderful and unique truth about the Christian’s God.
John 3:16
declares, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 John 4: 8
declares, ... for God is love.
In
fact, the very essence of God’s love is in GIVING. And the GIVING is totally
undeserved by the receivers. The climax of God’s GIVING reveals the divine
nature in God’s sacrificial love for mankind. This divine love bestowed the
undeserved gift of eternal salvation to all who would receive the Savior. But,
thank God, this divine love seeks to bestow benefits that go far beyond the
spiritual gift of salvation.. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, If
ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much
more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask
him? The Apostle Paul testified to the Romans that God’s love offers more
than spiritual salvation, saying,
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him
up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.
With this attribute
of God’s nature so definitely stated, there can be but one answer to the
question: Does God desire to prosper His obedient people? The answer can only
be affirmative! The answer is a resounding, YES! And that is exactly what the
Bible teaches repeatedly.
In the Bible record
God SAYS that He desires to prosper His obedient people.
Consider three
biblical promises chosen from a multitude:
Psalm 1:3
states of the man who is obedient to God:
Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psalm 35:27
declares Let
the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Deuteronomy
28:8 states a Covenant promise to His people on the basis of their obedience:
The Lord
shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouse, and in all that thou
settest thine hand unto;...
God repeatedly
states in unequivocal promises that He desires to prosper those who are
obedient to his requirements. God challenges the believing Christian to trust
and to test the validity of His straight-forward promises.
In the Bible record
God not only SAYS that He desires to prosper His obedient people but God also
ACTS to accomplish this promised prosperity. The Bible teaches that God is no
respecter of persons and that what He has done for other He will do for
you..So God’s past ACTS challenge the Christian believer to test God’s Plan
for Prosperity.
Consider these Bible
examples taken from a multitude that demonstrate that God ACTS to prosper His
obedient people.
Genesis 13:2,
God made Abraham prosperous:
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and
in gold.
Genesis 30:43,
God made Jacob prosperous:
And the man increased exceedingly, and had much
cattle, and maid servants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.
2 Samuel 7:9,
God made David prosperous:
I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and
have cut off thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name,
like unto the great men that are in the earth.
1 Kings 10:7,
God made Solomon prosperous: the Queen of Sheba stated:
they wisdom and thy prosperity
exceedeth the fame which I have heard.
2 Chronicles
31:21, God made Hezekiah prosperous:
And in every work that he began in the service of
the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he
did it with all his heart and prospered.
The FACT that God
really DESIRES to prosper His obedient people puts money matters upon an
entirely different base. God is not trying to GET what His obedient people
need for themselves. God is trying to challenge His obedient people to meet
reasonable requirements. God is giving His obedient people the opportunity to
chose the prosperity that God wants to GIVE them ..
The Bible describes
three levels of God’s prosperity. Each level has specific and clearly stated
requirements. God’s obedient people have the opportunity to chose the level
they prefer and the responsibility to meet the requirements explained in the
Bible for that level.
Here is God’s
challenge! Christians may chose.
Christians may chose
to continue on the natural level of seeking prosperity by personal ability.
Some will prosper; some will fail. Choosing to remain at this independent
level does not jeopardize their salvation though it minimizes their spiritual
fellowship and growth. On the other hand Christian may accept God’s challenge.
Christians may chose any level they desire but the level determines the
requirements and the benefits.
WHAT LEVEL OF
PROSPERITY DO YOU CHOSE?
YOU CAN CHOOSE GOD’S
PROSPERITY!
Fact One: God’s
Prosperity Makes Requirements
Fact Two: God
Desires Prosperity For His Obedient Children
Fact Three: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Basic Level Choice
Fact Four: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Blessing Level Choice
Fact Five: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Bounty Level Choice
FACT THREE
EXPLAINED: A Basic Level Choice
In the Sermon on the
Mount, Jesus taught the Christian’s proper attitude about the basic needs for
human life: food and drink, clothing and physical well-being. His approach ,
trusting in the heavenly Father’s supply, differs greatly from the secular
mind-set, trusting in personal abilities to supply..
Secular thinking
views life as a constant struggle for simple existence. To obtain food and
drink demands primary attention. Every generation has proved the truth of
God’s statement to Adam, “In the seat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” Each
generation emphasizes the truth that there are no free lunches. Putting food
and drink at the top of the budget simply makes good sense to the secular
mind. Any other arrangement of the budget appears unrealistic, if not
foolhardy. Many Christians will defend this position as necessary in the
practical world.
Jesus
approached the problem of basic needs from a totally different perspective.
Jesus pointed to the birds of the air, saying, Behold the fowls of the air:
for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them, Are ye not much better then they?
Pointing to God’s provision, He taught a truth that is easy to ignore unless a
person really believes that God loves His people. Jesus reminded them,
... your heavenly
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
The secular mind
focuses on the necessity to struggle for the admitted needs; Jesus focused
upon the heavenly Father’s willingness and ability to supply the admitted
needs. What, then is the basis difference? Both the secular mind and Jesus
admit the needs. What is the difference?
The first difference
is in the objective! Both groups seek but what each seeks is different. The
secular mind says that you must seek first to obtain the basic needs of
existence. Your needs are supplied by the efficiency of your effort. Getting
what you need must be the primary secular objective. Man can have supply but
only because he successfully sought it. Jesus taught a different objective:
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. Seeking what God
wants is the Jesus objective. The seeker’s heavenly Father GIVES the supply.
The Christian’s needs are met not because he successfully sought for them but
because he sought God’s objective and, therefore, received God’s supply as a
child from its father. The secular objective is the supply of basic needs. The
Jesus objective is God’s kingdom and righteousness.
Jesus did not
advocate passivity. Jesus emphasized active seeking. But the Christian’s
search objective has changed. The Christian’s search gives priority to the
kingdom of God and His righteousness rather than to the basic needs. Jesus did
not advocate laziness. The search for God’s kingdom and righteousness is not
in a vacuum but in normal life. God does not supply the idle hand but rather
provides the strength and opportunity for receiving God’s supply through
normal activity.
The Christian’s
dependence has changed. The Christian no longer depends upon his self ability
and successful seeking but rather upon trust in the Father’s ability and
willingness to supply his basic needs. Trust in the Father has replaced worry
about circumstances. The secular world offers no security for the supply of
basic needs. Economic conditions, sickness, and other uncertainties plague the
secular mind. Only the Jesus way gives security concerning the basic needs of
life.
The Promise: all
these things shall be added unto you.
The Requirement:
seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
This security is the
precious possession of those who meet the requirement for God’s prosperity at
the Basic level.. All other ways are INSECURE!
DO YOU ENJOY THE
SECURITY OF GOD’S BASIC LEVEL PROSPERITY? . .
YOU CAN CHOOSE GOD’S
PROSPERITY!
Fact One: God’s
Prosperity Makes Requirements
Fact Two: God
Desires Prosperity For His Obedient Children
Fact Three: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Basic Level
Fact Four: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Blessing Level
Fact Five: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Bounty Level
FACT FOUR
EXPLAINED: A Blessing Level Choice
The Blessing Level
of God’s Prosperity exceeds the supply of basic necessities offering the
promise of far greater provision. Many have aspired to this higher level.
Without exception those who have experienced this level of God’s prosperity
will testify that , having met the requirement, they now enjoy the enlarged
benefits. The attest to the validity of the promised benefits which include
physical, financial, and spiritual increase and personal satisfaction.
The Bible specifies
both the requirement and the benefits: God’s Word declares, I will open you
the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be
room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and
he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast
her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all
nations shall call you blessed; for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the
Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:10-12.
Many famous business
leaders have proved that God does what He promises: John Wanamaker and J.C.
Penny as merchants, Henry P, Crowell of Quaker Oats, and R. G. LeTourneau in
heavy equipment, are some of the most noteworthy. While the rich and famous
examples have value, the real test is in the experience of ordinary
Christians. After a ministry of more than forty years in one community,
several facts have impressed me about this Blessing Level of God’s Prosperity.
1. No person who has
faithfully tithed over at least one year has ever stated to me that God has
failed to keep this specific covenant promise.
One prosperous
business owner stated in my presence and to the officers of a large
Jacksonville bank that he had never had any financial resources until he put
God to the test about tithing. . .
2. In every case
that I can remember God has increased the financial worth and the personal
well-being of every family that I have known that has faithfully tithed .
Two examples are
typical cases. (a). Our church had paid the rent and helped with the groceries
for one family for more than a year. One Sunday the father came to me and
said, “For the first time I saw that you were not urging the people to tithe
in order to support the church but in order for God to be able to bless the
obedient tither. I am going trust God and begin tithing this week.” We never
had to pay rent or buy groceries for that family again. God supplied and
prospered them. (b) A second family eked out a meager living on a small dairy.
They began to tithe faithfully and began to prosper. When they retired, the
sale of their holdings brought millions.
3. With few
exceptions the families that faithfully tithed have enjoyed marital happiness
and have seen their children become useful citizens.
4. In more than
fifty years of ministry I have never had a single person to complain that God
has failed to bless them in multiple ways since they have put Him to the test
by tithing.
This Blessing Level
of God’s Prosperity stands available to all who will meet the requirement.
Isn’t it strange that some gladly buy a chance on the lottery but fear to test
the promise of Almighty God?
Here is God’s
challenge to faith! Here is God’s offer of Blessing!
The
requirement: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine
house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hoses...
The promise:...if
I will not open you the windows of heave, and pour you out a blessing, that
there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10.
Obviously the
argument that some make about law and grace actually misses the point. The
issue is faith and opportunity! Tithing indicates that the Christian places
himself in the position of subjecting his earnings so that he gives priority
to God’s work. The Christian thereby places himself in a TRUST position where
the God who wants to prosper his faithful people can do so. Because the
Christian has put God’s work in the proper priority God is justified in
granting Blessing Prosperity!.
The one who buys a
lottery ticket expresses faith in CHANCE; the Christian who tithes expresses
faith in God to fulfill His promise.
WILL YOU CHOSE THE
BLESSING LEVEL OF GOD’S PROSPERITY?
YOU CAN CHOOSE GOD’S
PROSPERITY!
Fact One: God’s
Prosperity Makes Requirements
Fact Two: God
Desires Prosperity For His Obedient Children
Fact Three: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Basic Level
Fact Four: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Blessing Level
Fact Five: God’s
Prosperity Offers A Bounty Level
FACT FIVE
EXPLAINED: A Bounty Level Choice
Few if any chose the
Bounty level of God’s Prosperity unless they have proved the validity of the
Basic and the Blessing levels. Each level requires Faith but the Bounty level
challenges Faith to increasing outreach. The Basic level requires faith in
God’s care; the Blessing level requires faith in God’s fidelity; the Bounty
level requires faith in God’s law of sowing and reaping.
As surely as God has
locked the universe into relationships by the law of Gravitation, so surely
has God established the law of Sowing and Reaping. In fact life is a constant
proof of the validity of this law. Every human is constantly sowing and
reaping . Man can chose what he will sow but, having sown, he cannot escape
the consequences of his sowing. The Bible states the law clearly:
Be not deceived;
God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For
he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians
6:7,8.
Others have said
that a man reaps what he sows, reaps more than he sows, reap the benefit or
the harm of what he has sown.
On the basis of this
well-known and indisputable truth, the Apostle Paul describes the Bounty Level
of God’s prosperity. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6.
Obtain the full
significance of Paul’s challenge, consider both the sowing and the reaping.
What the giver sends consists of the material and the immaterial. The material
is money. The immaterial is love expressed with freedom and joy. This is the
sowing.
What is the reaping?
The reaping is return to the giver, rejoicing to God, provision for the
receiver, response from the receiver.
...End of Course.
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