Prosperity: What's the big deal?

If I had to take a wild, baseless guess as to how many people are living paycheck to paycheck, I'd estimate that three out of four have barely enough money to finish the month with. Unfortunately, believers like me aren't excluded from this statistic, even though the Bible speaks so much on blessing and prosperity.

But what exactly is prosperity?

You're going to have to take my word for it because I'm too tired right now to dig up scripture to support it, but prosperity is this: abundant excess and success in all areas of life. All areas. This includes money and finances, but is not limited to them. In fact, prosperity covers other areas such as marriage, mental and physical health, and emotional well-being. If you're rich but dying of cancer, then you're a poor rich man. If you're rich, healthy man with a broken spirit, then you are a broken man - forget about the money or health.

So, based on this description, perhaps 1% (likely less) of the population in America is prosperous. It's probably a fraction of that in reality, but as with the previous statistic, Christians are not immune, or even any better off. Why is it that the people whose faith is based on a belief that includes (but is certainly not limited to) blessings, miracles, and joy would likely be hard-pressed to give a recent example of any of the three in their lives?

The answer is simple: many believe a lie.

The lie leads the children of God to accept so much less than what their Father has for them in life. Some people think that it's not important or necessary to have real blessings and success this side of heaven. Others believe that in shouldering the yoke of poverty, they are somehow serving God's purpose in life. Yet more believe that prosperity is just something that greed-filled, fraudulent evangelists preach about to get rich. And these lies (and more - Satan is insidious, intelligent, and creative, always coming up with new spins on the same deception) rob Christians of what is their right this side of heaven - prosperity that overflows in excessive abundance.

This is the truth: it is God's will in our lives that we be blessed. And when I say "blessed," I do not just mean that He means for us to have our needs met. I mean that He wants to exceed our needs, overflow the reserves, and fill our lives with so much prosperity that it pours out onto the streets! Blessing is not just for us: it is for those around us, to be given generously.

God wants you to have more money than you can possibly use in a lifetime. God wants your marriage to be a dream come true. God wants you to live until you decide that you've lived long enough. God wants you to be a shining example of richness that the world will never forget. When you get to the point where your mind is deprogrammed of the belief of poverty and has instead been programmed with the belief of overflow prosperity, your circumstances will follow suit.

The mechanics are simple. First, believe what God's word says. Scour the bible for scriptures about prosperity or blessing, and then meditate on them. Brainwash yourself to the point where the old thought process of "good enough" and "not for me" is only a memory. Second, develop your relationship with God to the point where you are walking in obedience to Him. Third - and this is something that only God can direct you concerning - sow a seed. Like a farmer sows a seed expecting a harvest, sow a seed of some sort expecting a harvest. King David once said that he would never give the LORD an offering unless it was of personal cost to him.

The seed you sow is not always money, either. If your marriage is in dire straits and divorce seems imminent, then sow your spouse - that is, give him or her over to God entirely, so that God may work in the situation. Generally speaking, whatever you sow you reap multiplied back to you. This is where a close relationship with God is important, because only He can direct you what to sow in order to receive your breakthrough.

And don't forget to change the way you talk to match the Word that is in your heart! Instead of complaining about how broke you are, praise God for how rich you are. If your marriage is broken, bless your spouse in prayer and thank God for a rich, whole union. If you have any need, stand on the God's promises for you and praise Him for the fulfillment of them.

Remember, finally, as I said earlier: God blesses us so that we may bless others, and God blesses us for blessing others. Whatever you sow - be it money or food or even just a kind word - will bless us in return. We should give generously and give cheerfully, blessing just to be a blessing, not just to be blessed.

It's getting late, so I'm going to turn in for the night. Do not forget, though - God is no respecter of persons: His prosperity is for every single one of His children.