Prosperity Vs. Avarice
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)
Dearly Beloved: May God’s love, grace and peace be upon you and may you prosper in the Lord. Amen!
It seems today that everyone wants to be wealthy, but not everyone understands what that means. You can be wealthy with material things, yet poor in the spirit. Likewise, you can have an abundance of the Holy Spirit beyond measure and yet be physically dirt poor. I would choose the latter over the former any day of the week and twice on Sunday. For, what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet has not love? God is love and love is God. Without love, without God, it is pointless to exist and you shall forever feel empty and incomplete. Now, let me be clear…God wants us to prosper both spiritually and sometimes financially. He wants all of our needs met both physically and spiritually. That is a fact. Solomon and David are prime examples of the wealth God can lavish on His children. When you are a child of God, you are meant to prosper. Of course, there are times such as in the case of Job when suffering may be part of His plan. In His infinitely divine wisdom, He sometimes allows folks to be physically poor. Just as steel needs to be pounded and tempered, so too must God’s children in order to gain strength and wisdom. (more…)