Common Misconception

"If they obey and serve him,

they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity

and their years in contentment.

But if they do not listen,

they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge."

Job 36:11-12

She was hurting, wounded by a failed marriage that was not at all what she imagined it would have been when she first walked down the aisle.  The abuse and unfaithfulness left her feeling like a shell-of-a-woman.  She cried out to God, "Is this the abundant life Jesus died to give me (John 10:10b)?"

I can't blame my friend for being disappointed in the way her life has turned out.  While she does have hope in Christ, she wonders what kind of benefit there is for her faithfulness to God.  How has her love for Him brought about this prosperity and blessing she's always reading about in His Word (Proverbs 3:1-2)?

Elihu wondered the same thing about Job:  If he's been so devoted to God and His ways, why is He suffering so?

When God says I can be like a tree planted by streams of water if I delight in His law, prospering in all I do, what does that mean (Psalm 1:1-3)?  Does it mean my life will be free from trouble and I'll be wealthy and pampered?  Or is there something more to this promise?

Fruit.  The pile of vines were stacked near the curb, ready for pick-up.  Even though they had produced quite a few blackberries the year before when they covered the back part of our yard, this year I had declared war on these insidious bushes and vowed to wipe them out.  Consequently, I spent every morning for two weeks digging out roots, cutting shoots, and dragging the vines to the street.  Now, the wilting plants produced nothing as they lay apart from their source of nutrients and water.  Without being rooted in the ground, these blackberry vines were worthless.

It's the same with me, Jesus tells me in John 15.  If I'm connected to Him, the source of all that I need, I will bear much fruit.  Apart from Him, there is nothing worthwhile that I'll be able to accomplish, no matter how hard I try.  I can work hard in service to the Lord, but if I'm not doing it with Him, it won't make an eternal difference.

This means the fruit is more important than the location of the vine.  As long as the plant is rooted in Christ, a crop will be yielded.  In other words, no matter my circumstances, God will use me for good when I'm connected to Christ.  It doesn't depend on how comfortable my life is, whether or not its free from suffering, or if it lines up with my expectations.  I will bear fruit if I'm abiding in Jesus.  In the pit.  During the trial.  In the midst of the pain.  Fruit will come.

I will prosper in fruit production when I stay connected to Christ, even through the trial.

Strong Roots.  I worried about the little sapling, newly planted and exposed to the elements.  The wind blew and blew, hammering the little tree.  I wondered if this would hamper it's growth or damage it in any way.  What I learned was that hardship stimulates strong root growth.  The harsher the environment, the more the tree will adapt and become tough.

This is like me, as well.  When I go through hard times, suffering much, my faith will grow.  If my faith only remains in my head, never tested out by facing tough, real-life issues, I'll never know if it's real.  It could just be words I say, or phrases I repeat, or truths I know.  

When I choose to wait on the Lord and I find new strength, or I when exchange my worry for prayer and experience an unfathomable peace flooding my soul, or when I believe God will get me through even though I don't see how it will work out, my faith grows stronger (Isaiah 40:28-31, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 5:7).  As I test out His promises and see them deliver time and time again, I'm able to trust Him even more.

My faith develops strong roots when I trust God throughout my life, no matter how hard times get.

Kingdom Prosperity.  I want it now.  I expect to see my reward in the here and now.  Since I live in a fast-food type of economy, I'm used to instant gratification.  The thing about God's kingdom is, my true treasure is being stored up in heaven.  This is delayed gratification at its best!

When I read about all the giants of faith in Hebrews 11, I find out that many of them did not receive what they were promised in this life (Hebrews 11:13-16).  Instead, they died waiting.  What's  up with that?  That seems unfair!  

In reality, they understood God's economy: The real treasure is yet to come!  There is nothing on this earth that can compare to what God has in store for us.  Staying true to Him, standing firm during the storm, keeping my faith strong will bring about rewards I cannot fathom.  It will be well worth my time to stay faithful to Him in this life, even if it seems it's not doing me any good.  In the end, when I enter into my eternal home lit by the glory of God, I'll be glad I waited to receive my blessing.

That's not to say there won't be good things to taste while here, but I had better be looking in the right place to receive those blessings.  I can't expect God to work within the parameters of this world, giving what is valued here.  While He can bless with money and material goods, that is not the true benefit for us.  For His children, He would rather give more valuable treasures like a rich, meaningful life with a purpose, the assurance of dwelling in the security of a perfect love, and the peace that only comes through Christ (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:38-39, John 14:27).

Prosperity in God's kingdom is quite different than I may expect, but much more valuable.

I often get it wrong, falling prey to a common misconception as I expect my life to follow a certain path as long as I'm true to God.  In reality, God has His own economy and His idea of success is quite different from mine.  Therefore, I must expect fruit production when I stay connected to Christ, development of strong faith, and kingdom prosperity as a result of my faithfulness.  This is so much better than what I first thought would be mine if I stay loyal to God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can look for my kingdom blessings instead of worldly ones.

When do I get disappointed because Jesus doesn't give as the world does?

How am I looking for the wrong kind of blessing?

Apart from God's Favor

"Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah

son of Jehoiada the priest.

He stood before the people and said,

'This is what God says:

"Why do you disobey the LORD's commands?

You will not prosper.

Because you have forsaken the LORD,

he has forsaken you."'"

2 Chronicles 24:20

I can't earn it, don't deserve it and can't explain it.  But apart from it, I cannot succeed (John 15:5).  Through faith in Jesus I have the unmerited favor of God.  What happens, though, when I go out on my own?

Can't Prosper.  I just don't get it.  I took all the proper steps, did everything I was advised to do, but nothing is clicking.  Do you ever feel like that?  I have many times in my life.  A number of years ago I remember attending a seminar I heard advertised on the radio.  I was a stay-at-home mom at the time who was homeschooling her children but didn't think that was enough.  I had this desire to be more.  I felt this pressure from the world to do something "worthwhile."  So, when I had the opportunity to learn a skill that would allow me to work from home, I jumped on it.

I studied vigilantly, trying hard to balance teaching my children, caring for my family and home with learning new material and taking tests.  Once I earned the certificate, I couldn't find work.  Despite my best efforts, I just couldn't succeed.  Finally I turned to the Lord, seeking His guidance.  He spoke to my heart and gave me peace with my roles as wife, mom, homemaker and teacher.  I then saw the foolishness of my actions.

I can't blaze my own trail in life and then ask God to bless it.  Instead, I must find the path He has marked out for me and follow that with diligence (Hebrews 12:1-2).  Only then I will find true success as defined by Him.  Obedience to His calling on my life brings with it a sense of worth that cannot be found anywhere else.  And if I want to know what it means to prosper in God's kingdom, I must be following behind my Shepherd who clears the path before me.

I can't taste prosperity, kingdom-style, apart from the favor of God.

Sacrifice Peace.  Buddhism is an entire religion based on the quest for peace and happiness.  It is a Buddhist's belief that these highly-sought benefits can be obtained through positive thinking and meditation.  In truth, though, peace can never be found apart from Jesus Christ and only living in relationship with Him will bring true contentment (John 16:33).

When I seek my own way, trying to live life according to my own set of rules, standards and guidelines, I will give up the sense of calm serenity that rules my heart in Christ.  When I instead walk by my Shepherd's side I will encounter heartache, face opposition and meet unfair treatment, but He will assure me of His presence.  With Jesus at my side I have nothing to fear (Isaiah 43:1-3).

I can't taste peace apart from the favor of God.

Live without Assurance.  Life is complex and I am faced with dozens of choices every day.  There are tons of ways to live, many of them quite positive and constructive.  I can allow lots of influences that seem so beneficial into my life.  I will never know for sure if the decisions I make are right, however, without the wisdom that comes from God.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, said if I need to know what to do I can ask the Lord who liberally and generously dispenses wisdom for living (James 1:5-8).  There is a catch, however.  When I ask, I must truly believe He is the sole source of the insight for living I so desperately need.

If I want to know which job to take, I can rely on Him to guide me toward His choice for me.  If I don't know how to handle a sticky situation, I can trust Him to lead me step-by-step through every twist and turn.  If I'm facing a life-altering choice, I can believe that He has blazed a way through the maze of options, making clear the path He has prepared for me to follow.  

I can't taste the assurance of a life well-lived apart from the favor of God.

There is no denying it: I am dependent upon the favor of God.  I receive this gift of grace simply, through faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  Whenever I go off on my own, however, leaving His gentle side, I find true prosperity that lasts an eternity impossible to grasp, peace as a fleeting benefit, and the assurance of choices well-made flying out the window.  Apart from the favor of God, I simply cannot thrive.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live life in tandem with Jesus.

How am I often going off on my own, forsaking God's wise counsel?

When do I forget to seek His wisdom and instead rely on what sounds good to me? 

Kingdom Prosperity

"The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered,

and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

When his master saw that the LORD was with him

and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,

Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.

Potiphar put him in charge of his household,

and he entrusted to his care everything he owned."

Genesis 39:2-4

He wanted the good life; a fulfilling career complete with perks, a nice home with all the modern luxuries he'd grown to expect, a car that was more than a mode of transportation but a symbol of status, financial security, and a beautiful wife and 2 good-looking children.  This man went after these goals until he was living the epitome of the prosperous life.  Everything went according to plan and he reached the pinnacle quicker than anticipated.  Why, then, did he feel so empty inside?

As humans, we often base our lives on the pursuit of worldly prosperity.  Once we attain the goal, however, we realize that what we're striving for is never enough.  There is always a longing that cannot be satisfied with anything that can be touched, tasted or seen with the naked eye: Only our Maker can fill that void inside.

While my flesh may desire the kind of success reached by the above-mentioned man, God has a better way for his children.  In His kingdom, prosperity looks different than it does in the world.  As His beloved daughter, I would be wise to desire His brand of wealth.

Flourish

Water leaked through the cracks in the wall, forming a perpetual stream of sliminess through the center of his space.  His bed was the hard stone floor that also served as his desk, dining table and recreation area.  The never-ending stream of insects became his friends and the tiny birds that came to feast on them his confidantes.  Still, Joseph's life was flourishing. (Genesis 39:20-23)

Despite his dismal surrounding as he languished in the king's prison, Joseph's heart bloomed.  He knew the God of his father Jacob, and the belief that the Lord was with him made all the difference in his present circumstances.  Even though he did nothing to deserve this brutal treatment, knowing that God has a purpose for everything He allows into His children's lives gave him peace.

I can take a lesson from Joseph.  Many times I let my present situation define my mood or outlook.  I think if things don't look good through my eyes, then there is nothing for which to be thankful.  In reality, the good things are there, I just have to look for them.

When my car breaks down, I may think I'm undergoing cruel and unusual punishment but if I'd never gone to the shop, I'd have never met a sister in Christ who encouraged me as I paid the bill.  When I can't bear the thought of how much I miss my dearly departed brother, I soon experience the comfort of the Father of compassion in a way I'd never before felt. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)  Even though I don't understand why my loved one has to lose his mind, I begin to more clearly understand the love of my heavenly Father as I witness His care.

While it would be easy to grow bitter at all the suffering in this world, focusing my eyes on Jesus gives me a whole new perspective.  As I trust Him to lead me through the gauntlet of troubles found in the world, I will experience nothing but peace.

Seeking first God's kingdom as I live this life means my heart will flourish.

Success

Even though Joseph was a slave, Potiphar made him supervisor over all the affairs of the household.  Instead of treating him as property, his master put Joseph in charge and every effort he made ended in success.  In addition, due to his presence in this Egyptian home, God blessed everything that belonged to Potiphar. (Genesis 39:5-6)

Wherever I go and whatever I do as one who has committed my life to the Lord, I will find a similar principle.  As I stay connected to Jesus in my day-to-day life, any effort put forth in God's kingdom will bear fruit.  (John 15:4)  Living in relationship with my Lord and Savior and letting Him have His way in my life will result in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that is foreign to my own flesh. (Galatians 5:22-23)

This kind of success will then draw others to me as the blessings of God will overflow from my life to those around me. (Psalm 23:5)  Instead of going after the worldly success that consists of climbing the corporate ladder, living out the American dream, or gaining all the trappings of the rich and famous, I would much rather experience God's kind of success.  In the end, it is all that will last.

Seeking first God's kingdom as I live this life means I will experience success as God has defined it.

Favor

He possessed no experience leading men.  When he first fell into slavery, he was only a boy of seventeen who had lived a charmed life under the loving care of his doting father.  All his needs were provided for him and his responsibilities were few.  Still, when he found himself in prison for a crime he didn't commit, the jailer inexplicably placed him in charge of all the prisoners. (Genesis 39:21-22)

Joseph could have refused this responsibility, citing inexperience as a valid justification.  Instead, though, he trusted God that this new-found job came from Him and moved forward in faith, believing that the Lord would equip him to handle the task at hand.

In the same way, I will be offered jobs I may feel completely unqualified to fulfill.  Instead of relying on my own abilities or lack thereof, I can do as Joseph did and trust God to supply my every need.  (Philippians 4:19) Instead of fearing my own weaknesses and frailties, I can walk forward in confidence, knowing that the favor of God is upon me because of His great love for me.

Seeking first God's kingdom as I live this life means I will recognize opportunities of greater responsibility as the favor of God.

Prosperity means something totally different in the world than it does in God's kingdom.  In His realm, I can flourish despite my dismal surroundings, find success simply by staying connected to Christ, and receive job offerings that have nothing to do with my qualifications but everything to do with the favor of God.  In these ways, I am experiencing  prosperity, kingdom style!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to supply all my needs when I am faced with a task outside of my comfort zone.

When do I hang back in fear instead of walking forward with confidence in my Father?

How am I missing out on God's blessings because I am afraid to submit to Him?

True Prosperity

"Blessed is the man who does not walk

in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields it fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers."

Psalm 1:1-3

She put her all into living for God.  Every waking moment was spent thinking of ways to please Him.  Soon, an opportunity came along that seemed good but instead of talking to God about it, she decided it was too good to pass up: it must be from God!  Consequently, she unwittingly walked down the wrong path.  After awhile, she noticed her life began falling apart: Relationships were strained, debt was piling up, her joy and inner peace were gone.  Where did she go wrong?

While living for God is not a formula to be followed where doing "A" will automatically bring about "B", there is one certainty: Doing things God's way and letting Him be Lord of my life will lead to blessing.  These blessings may come in the form of spiritual fruit, physical qualities or material gifts but whatever the type, things go better when I submit to God's absolute authority in every part of my life.

Many times, however, I find myself like the woman in the above scenario.  I try to do the right thing, putting a lot of effort into pleasing God without getting to know Him personally.  I'd rather do for Him than let Him into the innermost parts of my life where darkness dwells.  Giving Him access, however, is the ultimate manifestation of intimacy.  And without closeness to the one whom I call "Lord," there is no real relationship.

If I want to follow God's lead and enjoy a kingdom-prosperous life, I will have to give Jesus lordship over every part of my life so I won't get caught on the wrong path.

Walk in the Ways of the World

The world tells me to consider my own needs and wants above all else, to promote my own strengths and work hard to utilize them well, and to make decisions based on what seems best for me.  If I follow these basic guidelines, I will be able to climb the corporate ladder of success in any career field.  This mindset, however, does not translate into  God's kingdom where things are backwards, upside down and radically different from the ways of the world.

If I try to succeed as a Christian by working hard, doing things that benefit me, and stay within my realm of experience then I will end up further and further away from God.  He is not impressed by my work ethic, my desire to achieve or my decision-making skills. (Proverbs 14:12)  What He does desire is my wholehearted devotion to His plan, placing all my eggs in His basket. 

Jesus talked about a poor widow who came to the temple to offer two small coins to the Lord.  Although it was a very small donation, Jesus said she gave more than everyone else who had been giving large amounts of money.  In my eyes, the rich people gave much more, but Jesus said that while they gave out of their abundance, this humble women gave all she had.  (Luke 21:1-4)  This is the kind of devotion God is looking for in my heart by the way I live every part of my life.

Therefore, instead of using my own common sense to make decisions and to think of my walk with Jesus as some kind of business transaction where I will succeed if I follow certain rules, I need to get serious about listening to Him and then doing what He places on my heart.

If I am offered a prestigious, well-paid position in a highly profitable corporation but I sense God's lead to start up a risky-sounding business to benefit children, I will only receive good things from God if I heed His call and take the plunge.

If I spent thousands of dollars on a college degree but my Shepherd leads me down a path that keeps me at home to raise my children, that career that seems so tempting will never bring the satisfaction that will come from obeying God in what the world says is foolishness.

If I would rather be my own boss and make my own decisions but God clearly intends for me to submit to Him, the plans I have for myself will never amount to much as I stray from His path.

The wisdom of God dispensed through Solomon says that I need to, "Trust in the Lord will all (my) heart and lean not on (my) own understanding; in all (my) ways acknowledge Him, and he will make (my) paths straight."  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I can only hope for true prosperity if I turn my back on the ways of the world and let the Lord rule my life in every way.

Take the Path that leads to Destruction

It looked so pleasant; the walkway was wide and flat without a pothole or stone upon which to trip.  The road was lined with fragrant roses and lit by pleasant gas-lamps.  Even the gateway to enter this  route looked attractive with its embellished wrought iron archway covered in emerald ivy.  This must be the right way, I thought.  After all, look how many people are waking this path while the other choice is much inferior in quality and nearly barren of travelers; this broad road must be the best.  (Matthew 7:13-14)

It is easy to find myself on the path that leads to destruction.  I justify the little sins, telling myself that "at least I'm not as bad as them."  Soon I am categorizing sin, placing it into classifications of "serious" and "not so serious."  After awhile, the little sins seem to be less of a real sin and I begin to think of them as "mistakes" or "mess-ups."  I start to tell myself that God isn't offended by what I do because He knows I'm trying.

Before long I am living with many strongholds of sin, allowing them to rule my life without regard to the grief I am causing the Holy Spirit in my careless attitude. (Ephesians 4:30)  

I am headed toward destruction when I lie to the IRS by fudging the numbers to give myself a lower tax bill.  Everyone does it so its not really that big of a deal.  Unfortunately for me, I am ignoring God's desire for His people to be known as honest and trustworthy in order to reflect His character. (Exodus 20:16, Proverbs 16:11, Psalm 119:160)

I am headed toward destruction when I watch television shows or movies which portray graphic sex-scenes or filthy language, thinking to myself that I'm only watching it, not taking part in it.  As I minimize sin in either myself or others,  I am making light of His desire for me to live a holy and pure life, devoid of sexual immorality of any kind. (1 Corinthians 6:18, Matthew 5:28, 1 Peter 1:16, Psalm 51:10, Matthew 5:8)

I am headed toward destruction when I share prayer requests to my friends about all the horrible things with which another believer is struggling, calling myself righteous for my good deeds.  Gossip can never be considered helpful, no matter what I tell myself and I am guilty of spreading hearsay regardless of how I dress it up. (Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 21:23, Leviticus 19:16, Proverbs 26:22)

I can only hope for true prosperity if I choose to follow my Shepherd down the narrow path of righteousness. (Psalm 23:3)

Turn into a Hypocrite

They placed a heavy burden on the people in their quest to help members to live their lives in a way that pleased God.  They spent so much time analyzing others' behavior in light of scripture that they never took the time to examine their own actions, beliefs or attitudes.  Obviously, if they were placed in such a position of authority, they thought, they must be as one who is to be emulated.  Unfortunately for the Pharisees, this was not the case.  Instead, here is what Jesus said of them and their efforts:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:27-28)

There are times when I think like the Pharisees.  I get the idea that with all the things I do for God, He will certainly overlook the areas where I am off-base.  Instead of taking Him seriously, I brush certain sins aside, assuming a good effort is all that matters.

God, however, cannot be mocked.  I reap what I sow.  (Galatians 6:7) If I plant seeds of selfish living, I will reap the fruit of the flesh.  (Galatians 5:19-21)  If I live according to my own desires, my life will end up in ruins. (Galatians 6:8) If I only think of myself and my family, rarely giving of my time, talent and money to others, my life will be marked by this stinginess and I will be given little. (Luke 6:38)

No matter how small a sin may seem to me, to God it is serious enough for Him to send His Son to die as a punishment for the transgression.  As a holy God, my uncovered sin is an affront to Him and makes me His enemy.  Only through the atoning sacrifice Jesus made on the cross do I have any hope of pleasing Him.  Because of this gift of grace, I must always strive to take God seriously and guard against the hypocrisy of overlooking my own sin while paying attention to the transgressions of others.  

We are all in the same boat and have received the same death sentence. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)  Only through Jesus do I have the hope of eternity with Him.

I can only hope for true prosperity if I guard against hypocrisy and know my true identity as a sinner saved by grace.

My life can be like a tree that is planted near a revitalizing stream if I will keep myself separate from the ways of the world, stay off the path of destruction, and shield my heart and mind from carrying a double standard.  Then, I will experience true prosperity as I walk in God's ways, travel down the rocky path that leads to life, and live authentically and humbly before God.  This is a life worth living.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take God seriously in all my ways.

How do I minimize sin in my life?

When am I hard on others but give myself a pass?