I once sat under an amazing Preacher expounding on the desire of God for us to live an abundant rich life. According to her, that was the whole reason why Christ came, lived, and died for us. This message resounded greatly among the Congregants. Everyone wanted out of a life of struggle, never having enough, and desires and expectations not being met. Everyone wanted an abundance of everything good in this life! However, as great and acceptable as this message was, it seemed like an incomplete one in my heart.
So many of us are on the pews because of what we think we would get. If the money runs dry for some, they will begin to question and doubt their faith. The Scripture: "...I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10b NKJV) has been taught in all forms as God telling us to be wildly prosperous (moneywise of course). Prosperity is good, don't get me wrong, but when it is not balanced, it quickly becomes an error.
One question that comes to mind when this Scripture is taken into the context of money prosperity, is if that is what Jesus meant, why was He in the company of the low class? And while with them, why did He not raise them to the top earning class to prove His word? Even when some of the disciples caught plenty of big fish that would have established their trades, they left and followed Him!
During the devil's temptations of Jesus, the first temptation was for Jesus to turn stones into bread since He was hungry. But He replied the devil: "But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’ ” (Luke 4:4 NKJV). The word 'alone' is in most versions of the Bible. This was not by mistake. I believe God purposely left it there so people will not solely focus on prosperity, but must balance it with every Word that comes out of His mouth!
Out of hunger for fame, wealth, inordinate ambition, etc, we have turned so many stones into bread. Sadly, as we feed on these 'stones', they harden our hearts and block our ears from hearing that which comes out of the mouth of God! Beloved, no matter how you spin the message, these stones harden your heart and deafen your ears. No wonder many beloved sons of God are so quick to compromise their stand in God regarding their businesses, jobs, and endeavors. They claim they have to do this to forge ahead.
So many sit and eat from the table of demons because of the promotions and businesses they need from these agents of darkness! Do you see the irony in this? No wonder you are suddenly becoming tolerant of the things of the world to the detriment of God's Word! You turned stones to bread because of the need you have which you believe you cannot attain without your compromise: "Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword" (Romans 8:35 HCSB)? And the sad part? You return to give thanks and give a great seed (offering) to God because you delude yourself to think He helped you get what you got.
And some begin to preach the same to others to follow on this erroneous path! We are told: "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (III John 1:2 NKJV). This Scripture tells us that our prospering physically and in health must be at the same level as our soul! Meaning, one should not do better than the other. Sadly, when we turn these stones into bread, our soul deteriorates; and it is only a matter of time before our health follows suit!
As the year draws to a close and a new one begins, understand that as much as the LORD desires that we prosper, He desires that our souls do so much better! After all, have you ever considered, when all is gone, the world and all that is in it (including your flesh), only one thing of you remains? And that is your SOUL! The health of the soul cannot be faked or covered. It will reveal what it had been fed: Stones or Every Word that comes out of the mouth of God! Beloved, as you enter the New Year, readjust your thinking and strategy to align with God's Word. Finally, may you prosper in the grace and knowledge of God in every area of your life, even as your soul prospers, in Jesus Christ name! God bless you and Happy New Year!
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