3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
What really is prosperity? In A Journey through Acts and Epistles, Volume 2, the footnote on this verse says:
“prosper: to be led in a good way or on a good path, to have a prosperous journey, to be well guided, to be successful…. Success in all matters would include material needs, health, peace of mind, joy in fellowship and other matters.”
In this book we are mainly interested in the area of material needs.
Dictionary.com defines prosperity as:
a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects; good fortune.
prosperities, prosperous circumstances, characterized by financial success or good fortune.
Many see prosperity on a very short term basis — a raise at work, or an unexpected check in the mail, or a good deal on a car, or to catch the right sale at the supermarket. These things are wonderful but not what actually results in long term prosperity.
The Art of Manliness website had a great explanation of prosperity in its article, “The Paycheck Mentality vs. the Net Worth Mentality”:
“From the time we are old enough to understand, society conditions us to confuse income with wealth. We believe that doctors, CEOs, professional athletes, and movie actors are rich because they earn high incomes. We judge the economic success of our friends, relatives, and colleagues at work by how much money they earn. Six and seven- figure salaries are regarded as status symbols of wealth. Although there is a definite relationship between income and wealth, they are very separate and distinct economic measures. Income is how much money you earn in a given period of time. If you earn a million in a year and spend it all, you add nothing to your wealth. You’re just living lavishly. Those who focus only on net income as a measure of economic success are ignoring the most important measuring stick of financial independence. It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you keep.”
Some people that make lists say there are over 2,000 verses on financial prosperity in the Bible. It must be an important topic, yet how many of them do we know?
Now, these promises of prosperity are to those who seek after God—very important to remember.
Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Deuteronomy 28:2-8 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Leviticus 25:19-22 And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.
“Command the Blessing upon” is a rare phrase and is used here with prosperity.
Deuteronomy 28:11-13 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
God will open to you His good treasure. God has many things stored up in abundance for His children. We have been told for many years that if we use too much, we will run out of land, water, oil, and all-natural resources. But it is not true. We should not be wasteful, but God is not up all night working to create more trees because we are running out of them. He has great storehouses or treasuries to draw from.
God promises us prosperity, and that is only natural as we are His offspring, His children. Why would our Father, who owns the earth and the fullness thereof, want His children to live in poverty? He doesn’t!!
Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
So, these promises we are looking at are for those that trust in and that seek after God and His promises.
Searching the scriptures diligently for God’s promises is part of the Prosperous Life!
If you would like to learn more about this subject; this book is available in audio, paperback or a Kindle format on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Poverty-vs-Wealth-Fundamentals-Prosperity/dp/B073WZ6676
There are two things in life that seem to distract people quite a bit: sex and money. Fortunately, both are covered in the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 7 God, by revelation, lays out some good instructions regarding sexual relations for people in the church, so that, as it says in 1 Corinthians 7:35, “that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.”
Money and finances are also a great distraction for many people. If you are broke all the time or in poverty, that can be a huge distraction. Generally, the distraction is lack of funds to pay current bills. The purpose of this series of blogs is to show the proper foundational truths, from the Bible, about how to handle finances from the Bible. Then you can learn to incorporate those truths into your life. As you incorporate them, the distraction over finances should cease because you will cease to be broke or in poverty. How to deal with money has been much goobered up by religion over the centuries and it is not conveniently covered in one chapter as sex has been in 1 Corinthians. But as we read we can see the plan that God has laid out for us so that we are not distracted by finances either. Then we can “attend upon the Lord without distraction” in that part of our life also.
My motivation in writing this is to learn and to believe what God has promised. Then we can believe what He has said, carry it out, and then see His Word come to pass in our lives.
We are not after money in this blog so much as we are after a greater relationship with our Father. We want to know what He has said and promised to us as His children. To paraphrase another man, “It is not what you get; it is what you become in the process.” In this case, it would be a deeper or greater walk with our Father with far fewer distractions as we learn about this field of prosperity.
To reiterate, my motivation for learning this subject was to find out what God actually said and then build my believing of prosperity on those words.
So let’s get started:
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
God’s desire for us as He states in His Word is that we prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers. With both health and prosperity, there are promises and principles in God’s Word concerning how to obtain both. For instance, with health, we have the truth that “by his stripes we were healed,” and we have the principle that “a merry heart does us good like a medicine”. The first part here is a promise, and the second part is a way we can learn to conduct our lives to manifest health by having a merry or happy heart.
So it is with prosperity. We are going to start with the principle of keeping God first and see some of what that may mean. Along the way, we will see some principles that go along with the promises. Here in Matthew, it states:
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We learn that if we keep God first and seek Him, He will add the things we need to our lives. If we seek after the things, we may never find them or never be satisfied with what we have.
Jesus Christ spoke about one of the first problems we run into when it comes to prosperity and wealth.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
“Hate” is the antithesis of love, as it is active ill will; “hold” is to cling to the one; “despise” is to think less upon or think down upon. We cannot serve God and mammon (the world or things in the world).
The Weymouth New Testament:
Matthew 6:24 “No man can be the bondservant of two masters; for either he will dislike one and like the other, or he will attach himself to one and think slightingly of the other. You cannot be the bondservants both of God and of gold.
If you try to serve, love or trust in both, you would be double minded, and James speaks on that:
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
So when we endeavor to serve both, we are double minded and therefore unstable.
The truth of keeping God first is stated in Matthew 6:33, but to see examples of people who did that, we can look in the Old Testament which was written for our learning. Many times the New Testament gives us the finely stated truths, but to see examples of those truths we need to look in the Old Testament.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Consider Hezekiah:
2 Chronicles 29:1-5 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
This is the very first thing Hezekiah did — he cleaned out the Temple and repaired it. Then he held a Passover in the second month. It was supposed to be held in the first month, but they could not do it then because the temple was not cleaned out. The Law allowed the Passover to be kept in the second month in some cases, so this was legal.
2 Chronicles 30:1, 2 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.
God showed us what Hezekiah kept first in his heart; he honored God first in the establishment of his reign. Now in the records of Hezekiah, we see God’s prospering of Hezekiah and God’s deliverance from Judah’s enemies.
2 Kings 18:5-7 He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
In the first Psalm, the Psalmist explains some of how to keep God first works:
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The Psalmist delighted and meditated in God’s Word. God’s Word came first in the Psalmist’s life. Because he kept God and His Word first in his heart, the Psalmist brought forth fruit at the right time in his life, and he prospered wherever he went.
With Hezekiah you see that God was first in his heart because his first action as king was to clean out the temple, to reestablish the worship of God, and then to keep the Passover. As you read about his reign, you then see God prospering him and delivering him.
Here is another example. This record took place just after Judah was carried away into the Babylonian captivity.
Daniel 1:1-8 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
It was against the Old Testament law to eat the meat or to drink the wine that had been offered to idols. These would have been offered in the temples to the gods and then brought to the king’s palace for consumption. This is what would have been served to these men. Daniel and the other three in the record had determined to keep God first no matter what. God then honored these men with great positions of power and influence in the kingdom of Babylon.
There are other records like this, but these two examples are of men that kept God first, and then God prospered them.
Keeping God first not only pays great rewards now but at the time rewards are given at the gathering together as well. We will see that in a minute.
These men loved God, honored Him, and trusted Him above all else. These men had great respect for God and His Word, and that is why when it was their time to stand on God’s Word, God came first. God coming first was simply a manifestation of what they had put in their hearts a long time before. Notice that the inward part comes first; then what is produced in their lives is simply a manifestation of what they had already put in their hearts.
The following record is about a man that trusted in his wealth more than he loved God.
Mark 10:17-31 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Notice that the man’s problem was not that he was rich, but that he trusted in those riches. His possessions and prosperity, not God, came first in his life. He served the world, trusted in riches, and loved his money more than he loved God. This is always a problem.
Also note that if he had been willing to give it all away and put God first, God would have given it all back one hundredfold. So the issue was not just that he was wealthy, but that he trusted in his wealth.
(An interesting note here: Abraham was very wealthy as was Job and many others, but they did not have the problem this man had. They trusted, loved and kept God first, not their possessions. So when it says Jesus loved him, he saw what the man’s problem was and offered him the solution. If the man had heeded it, God would have given it all back and much more. Abraham did not need to do that, neither did Job or many others. This was just for that man. It is a lesson not to trust in anything other than God. It is a lesson to keep Him first. Then you do not need to do as this man needed to do.)
Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
As long as we keep God first in our hearts, love Him and trust Him, He will add to us all that we need. What we need is what God has promised in His Word and what He will do for those that put their trust in Him.
Here is another record of a man who asked Jesus a question:
Luke 12:13-15 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
We have no need to be envious of what others have even if we actually should have had part of it, such as an inheritance. Why? God has promised to supply our needs and fill our homes with His treasures, as we shall see, so that we have no need of going to the law to force others to give us something.
Keeping God first is the first and greatest of the fundamental principles of prosperity that we are going to consider. Practicing these principles of prosperity should be such a part of our lives that we barely think about it. Then we can spend our days keeping God first and prospering in this life He has given us.
If you would like to purchase this book in audio, paperback or a kindle format it is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Poverty-vs-Wealth-Fundamentals-Prosperity/dp/B073WZ6676
Two of the greatest areas of concern in life are wealth and health. As we age, these become even more important. In light of this, the Epistle of III John has a very interesting verse.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Think about this: it is nothing for us to talk after fellowship or church about things that affect our health and nutrition and then to study nutrition during the week. But the subject of finances has been stigmatized for hundreds of years to the end that most Christians don’t speak much about it.
Our adversary, the devil, has attacked the subject of health, to the end that many Christians believe it is God’s will for them to be sick. This enemy also, through devilish doctrines, has caused many Christians to believe that if you have much money you must have gotten it through shady means, and that you are greedy. The devil has put forth that the most humble people are poor.
A good friend of mine, Rev. Mike Verdicchio, wrote a book and produced a CD on healing that are very good. The book shows that it is God’s will for you to be whole – that by the stripes of Jesus Christ, you were healed.
Some people feel that prosperity and health are inextricably interwoven:
Great wealth but bedridden?
Great health but in poverty?
God wants us to have both together. Great health AND prosperity. These are two of the biggest areas of concern in many people’s lives. It is the desire of God that we are all prosperous and healthy.
If both health and prosperity are part of God’s will, then both should be acceptable to study.
Christianity has taught that if you speak of money then you are greedy. If to desire great health is to desire God’s will for your life, then to desire great prosperity should be just as acceptable as part of God’s will for your life. A steady diet of teaching from God’s Word, listened to every day, could prosper your soul, increase your believing, and increase your understanding of God’s Word.
Could that, then, have an impact on your prosperity and health? Change your life?
This subject of prosperity should be part of our life as much as any other part of walking with and for God is. My goal is to help get to the root of what God promises about prosperity and then believe that.
As you read my book Poverty vs Wealth and find things you can use, think on this:
Psalm 119:97-100 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy precepts.
Notice that the Psalmist says he meditated on God’s Word all the day. Because he did that, God gave him wisdom above all his enemies. And that as he meditated on the scriptures, he had more understanding than all his teachers. Last of all, he says that because he kept God’s precepts or God’s Word, he had more understanding than the ancients. WOW!
As you read and think and read and think, ask God to teach you. He will. Your understanding will grow and grow. As you put His Word into action, He will teach you even more. Understanding is a growing process. You may not get it all the first day or even the first year. Being faithful to thinking on His Word and incorporating it into your life will bring great understanding and will be of great profit to you and the family, and the house that you are building.
“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying.
The great King Solomon has an interesting story to relate when it comes to this subject.
1Kings 3:5-14 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
I have always found it interesting that God said since you did not ask for riches or a long life as it says in 2 Chronicles….
It would almost seem that God does not prefer us asking for wealth or a long life. I am not saying it says that, but it would seem to imply that.
So, exactly what did Solomon ask for that God was so blessed with? In the above record, he asked for an understanding heart. In the corresponding record in 2 Chronicles 1:10, Solomon asks: “Give me now wisdom and knowledge….”
These three things, knowledge, wisdom and understanding, are like different facets of the same diamond. They seem to be traveling companions in God’s Word — where you find one, you usually find the other two.
So when Solomon asked for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, God said He would give that to him as well as wealth and a long life (health) if Solomon would walk according to God’s Word.
Now, Solomon was the writer of some, if not all, of the proverbs in the Book of Proverbs. So Proverbs would be some of what God taught Solomon.
Solomon discovered that wealth and health are a RESULT
of seeking after the knowledge and wisdom of God.
Proverbs 3:13-16 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Proverbs 4:5-7 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Apparently, understanding is something you have to go get. You have to want it; you have to seek after it. Seemingly, Solomon wanted this understanding and wisdom so much that when God asked what can I give you, that is what burst out of his mouth and heart.
(It is interesting that God gave Solomon what he did not ask for, wealth, honor and a long life God could have chosen to give Solomon many others things, but this is what God chose to bless Solomon’s life with. This is very similar to the verse in 3 John 2: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. So we might conclude that seeking after knowledge, understanding and wisdom would at least be part of the prospering of the soul.)
So, first of all, it would be an understanding of God and His Word. But as we see when we read the works of Solomon, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, it also applies to all areas of life.
For example, you can seek after knowledge, understanding and wisdom in the areas of:
Industry
Medicine
Law
How engines work
How to run a business
Raising children
Breastfeeding
Teaching children and adults
How to handle money, areas of finance
How to deal with health issues
The list could go on and on. Part of what God taught Solomon was to get some understanding, some knowledge and some wisdom.
So if you need greater health, or more help in the area of finances, ask God for understanding and wisdom in those areas, and then go get some recommended books, take some classes or find a good mentor and learn.
I have heard believers all my life say something to the effect of, “If I am going to read, study or learn, I am only interested in doing it from the Bible.” Yet many of these same people went to college to get degrees in their chosen field. But when it comes to learning about anything else, if it is not in the Bible, they have no interest in it. It is almost a copout.
God’s Word gives us a solid foundation of truths and principles by which to guide our lives. It is a light to our paths. We work and live in this world, and we need to understand many different things. As we learn through books, teachers and courses, we have as our motivation to be the best for God in what we are studying at the moment. We serve Him in ALL that we do. So we need knowledge and wisdom in many areas.
Consider for a minute what the record in Daniel teaches us. Daniel and some of his compatriots were carried off as slaves into Babylon when Babylon sacked Jerusalem. The king of Babylon had the finest of these captives go to school at Babylon “University” to become some of his advisors. They would have spent their time studying the language, the politics, the way the kingdom was administered, the wars they were involved in, and perhaps a host of other secular Babylonian subjects so that they would be able to advise the king.
Bible 101 was probably not the main course. But these men were ones that kept God first in their hearts. Thus, God opened their understanding and gave them wisdom in what they were studying to the end that when they were tested after three years, they were found to be 10 times wiser than all the other advisors.
How does that work you ask? As you read or study material in the area you are interested in, God will show you, that piece works with this one, this piece goes over here in your understanding, trash that one. If you expect Him to show you and teach you, He will. But He needs a willing student. Someone who wants to learn. Sadly as we get older, we shut off the intake valve to knowledge and lose much of what God would teach us. It reminds one of the verse that says “to he that hath (understanding) more shall be given, and to he that hath not (no understanding) even that which he hath shall be taken away.
The key to gaining the type of understanding and wisdom that Daniel and his friends had is also found in the writings of Solomon.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
This is where true health and wealth come from – having a great respect for God FIRST, above all else, then as you seek after knowledge and wisdom and understanding, God will help you to gain understanding in whatever field you need or want to learn.
Then, as Solomon discovered, as your knowledge, wisdom, and understanding increase, so does your wealth and health.
Proverbs 14:24 The wise accumulate wisdom; fools get stupider by the day. (The Message)
Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Pro 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
The book Poverty Vs Wealth: Fundamentals of Prosperity, pulls back the curtain in many more areas of prosperity. It is not a rehash of what you may have learned in the past. The information has helped many people, including myself, to understand what God really did say concerning The Prosperous Life.
One of the great ways to start off the New Year is to make sure you have forgiven all the people that wronged or offended you during the year. (You can go back further if this is the first year you have done this.)
I saw a great quote the other day that said, “Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does change the future.”
Another author said, “Forgiveness is not so much an act as it is a process.” It does take work to forgive people for the hurt they cause. But it is the best way to live because being unforgiving, holding onto hurt or grudges, or being offended is a prison that can be hard to escape.
The best practice to establish in your life is to forgive quickly. It will show in your face. Those that hold grudges become hard in the face and in the heart. Eventually, it will destroy your relationship with all those around you. Forgiveness allows you to move forward without the baggage and bondage of the grudges people hold in their minds. Holding grudges is like a prison. Forgiveness sets you free.
You can forgive a person even if they are not sorry for what they did. Remember Jesus said when he was dying on the cross, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” You can also live even on a higher level than forgiveness by asking God to forgive them and bless their lives. It is one thing for you to forgive a person; it is another for you to ask God to forgive them. That is called intercession. It is a much bigger way to live and a great way to clean the slate of the last year(s) and start over. It is a much lighter feeling to go forward into 2017.
The other way to start off the New Year is to do the things I talked about in the book Poverty vs Wealth.
Keep God first all year.
Be a giver of part of your income .
Be a saver of part of your income.
These three simple things can change your life dramatically as the years go by.
If you have not tried these yet, set a goal to do your best with each this year, and then at the end of the year, sit down and see if they have not changed your life.
If you have tried these things and they have changed your life already, read our previous blog and consider buying some stock or mutual funds for your children or grandchildren during the year.
This can open up some great conversations about God and prosperity within your family and church or fellowship. Your children or grandchildren will have the gift of stock long after the other kids’ toys are in the trash and forgotten.
God bless you all and have fun setting some goals for the next year. Let me know how it works out for you in the comment section. I appreciate hearing from you.
Forgiveness and keeping God first are all part of The Prosperous Life.
, pulls back the curtain in many more areas of prosperity. It is not a rehash of what you may have learned in the past. The information has helped many people, including myself, to understand what God really did say concerning The Prosperous Life.