“Live long and prosper”—What does it really mean? Let’s talk…
Avoid the prosperity gospel that presents the comforts of modern consumeristic lifestyle in spiritual wrapping paper. How can we recognize and resist its charms? Who doesn’t want all things in our imperfect world to be perfect for us? But what is good and perfect in God’s way of thinking? There is a fine line we must not cross. We live on the edge of disaster when we think we should tell God what we think we must have or what He must do as a way to control or bargain with God who knows what we truly need at any given time. Leaders in this religion also use this way of thinking to judge others’ measure of faith.
“The prosperity gospel—or the “health and wealth gospel”—insists that the gospel of Jesus brings physical wellbeing and material prosperity. It redefines Jesus’s death upon the cross such that his atonement not only provides salvation from the guilt of sin, but also promises freedom from sickness and poverty. One of the easiest ways to recognize prosperity gospel theology is by its view of sickness and poverty. It does not see them as merely a consequence of the fall. Instead, it sees sickness and poverty as sin itself, resulting from unbelief, from which one must be saved by faith. The prosperity gospel falsely promises that God will eradicate them from a believer’s life.” –Christopher David, The Gospel Coalition
There are dangers in following a trend that looks like the Word, talks like the Word, but is not the Truth. Deuteronomy might lead us to thinking if we are very good, doing all that God says then we will prosper in riches and nothing bad will ever happen to us. But God also tells Moses that there will be enemies to conquer. So, if we are being good, doing all the right things God tells us to do—why will there be enemies who get in our way? Are we not “good” enough to obtain a perfect life without troublesome enemies or circumstances? It depends on our view of what prosperity is for us.
“Prosperity gospel” denies God’s providential ordaining of suffering in the believer’s life. Instead, it claims the Christian life is one that is always victorious and devoid of sorrow and loss. Not true. ALL the disciples of Jesus suffered…sharing in the sufferings of Jesus who was, is and is to come the only Way to God, the Truth of God, who provides Life eternal.
All the succeeding followers of Jesus also suffered as they told of the Truth of what Jesus did to set all who believe free from the bondage of sin. God uses suffering in our world to build our faith and trust in Him no matter what the circumstances—all for our good and His Glory!
The Apostle Paul, whose letters to the churches planted by God’s teams of ordinary people through the known world, now fill the rest of the pages of the New Testament after the Gospels and Acts of the disciples. Paul tells and demonstrates to the world how to reconcile and reconnect to a God who loved them so much He sent His Son to suffer and die and then be raised in resurrection power to prove His power to all who would call on His Name! All have sinned. No one is good. Only Jesus saves us. No one can “boast” then of being good. Only God is good.
Remember, Paul wrote most of his God-inspired letters from various jail cells—imprisoned for telling the Good News of Jesus’ salvation with joy—in all circumstances! This is prosperity—rich in Jesus, full of the love of God! Paul was in jail for giving his whole heart, mind, and soul to God through Jesus and telling others about Him! Paul declares often the richness and prosperity of knowing Christ and wanting to be like Him in every way—even sharing in His suffering that Jesus did for us.
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”—Paul, Philippians 3:7-11
Paul, (formerly Saul), who had obeyed all the tenants of The Law, now had an intimate, growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ, his Savior and Lord. Only by God’s Grace was Saul to Paul saved to know God in relationship so he could tell the Gospel of Jesus Christ who died and rose again while prospering personally in the limitless love, mercy, and unending grace of our Lord! Jesus changed everything about Paul. Whew, not let’s us get back to our next passage…
Deuteronomy 30
Prosperity After Turning to the Lord
When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, 2 and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. 4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. 5 He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. 6 The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. 7 The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. 8 You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9 Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, 10 if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
The Offer of Life or Death
11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
God’s Son, Jesus explains the intent of God’s Law with the power from God to fulfill it in every way. Listen in as one day, Jesus stops to give an “inquiring mind” answer to a question about being good many ask today, such as; How good do I have to be to get into heaven? What is that good thing that I must do that will secure me a place in heaven? Jesus responds to this young man of influence who felt pretty proud of his upbringing of obedience to the Law. We wonder if his question was more about telling Jesus how “good” he was for the purpose of gaining a good and best seat in heaven. Afterall, the disciples tried this a time or two. Here is the true story…
Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”
The man asked, “What in particular?”
Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”
The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”
“If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”
That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.” Matthew 19:16-22, MSG
To the world, prosperity of material wealth is a sign of God’s favor and faith is the key to unlock this blessing. “You don’t have because you don’t have enough faith.” Danger sign. Prosperity teachers often quote the Old Covenant with Abraham and The Law given to Moses. But, Jesus spoke of not only fulfilling the Law but going beyond the Law to developing a growing, prospering spiritual wealth of blessings from God that is beyond the world. All false gospels replace the gift of God’s grace by a religion of works. Be alert and aware to avoid.
We have done and can do nothing to earn God’s grace. We don’t deserve God’s mercy. Only Jesus could do this work for us that we cannot do for ourselves—Save us from our sins. Not only that, Jesus removes all repented sins from us—to be remembered no more by God. We now live new, redeemed, lives in Jesus! This is God’s work alone through His Son, Jesus.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” Ephesians 1:3-11
We can have it all because God gave HIS all for us. Only God is good and is always more than enough for us. “When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life” (Romans 8:11 MSG).
“Sin may, and will, touch you, discourage you, and distract you, but it cannot condemn you. Christ is in you, and you are in him, and “therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Lord,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for lifting the burden of trying to be good enough as if this is the mechanism that controls your goodness to us. Your love, mercy, and grace is who you are. Help us to lean into You, listen to You, and love you back with all our hearts, minds, and souls so we can know you more. Show us the path for today and we will follow because we know You are with us always through it all—what rich and blessed assurance! May we prosper in sickness and in health, content because of your love that is growing in us.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 