However, after some personal studies and research, I awoke to the revelation that the prosperity many preacher's teach has its root meaning and origin from English. English analysis for prosperity focuses on acquisition, gain and self. During colonization, Britons traveled far and wide acquiring huge territories in Asia, Americas, and Africa. The colonizers used all mean ways to get whatever they wanted in these territories. So, they killed, stole, displaced native people from rich lands. In short, morality was never in their equation for prospering. This has been the attitude with my generation. Remember, the sin of Balaam Son of Peor, he was motivated by substance and influence to follow King Balaak of Moab to curse Israel in Numbers 22. Later Apostle Peter and Jude speaks it as being a way for those who are misguided loving wages of unrighteousness in 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 1:11. The actions of Balaam became a method and teaching that led many astray.
The most genuine meaning of prosperity is that obtained from Hebraic culture. According to Jewish culture, prosperity has to do with pursuit of purpose in life. That purpose was seen as one's assignment with divine mandate. Whether the assignment was secular or spiritual, accomplishing them in life was believed to be a prosperous endeavor. In fulfilling the purpose, wealth was never the motive but solution. The long term implication for walking in that purpose was wealth creation. No wander, Jews today run major multinational industries in the world than any other ethnic group on earth. The assignment focused on finding or providing solution, not just gaining and self-enrichment, as is with English meaning.
Believers should know our Christian values are largely derived from Hebraic culture not English. Though we are taught in English and speak it, English has limited/ shallow definition for certain Biblical words/ phrases and statements whose root is Jewish. With Jewish approach, we are able to delve into scriptures and know our purpose as believers on earth
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all its righteousness and this things shall be added to you". Our number one purpose and assignment in this life as believers is to seek the kingdom of God and fulfill all righteousness. Seeking God's kingdom is not just praying and fasting, studying word and fellowships, though they are basic principles that lead to fulfilling all righteousness, rather it also includes discovering your God given abilities towards advancing kingdom mandate on earth. This means once a believer knows his/her assignment, does it righteously and fulfills that assignment in life, according to God that believer is prosperous. This kind brings fulfillment, contentment/ satisfaction, peace and joy. Wealth/ material gain has never been the indicator for prosperity according to the scriptures.
There are so many people- a cloud of witnesses - who prospered in their assignments. Some attracted wealth others didn't. Abraham had massive wealth when God called him. Yet God still told Abraham that in blessing he will bless him. The only assignment for Abraham was to believe God in every step of his walk with him. Faith became Abraham's pursuit not material gain. Yet the man died more wealthier than when God called him.
Amram and Jochabed, by giving birth to Moses; that alone fulfilled their assignment. According to God they were prosperous. Mary allowing God to use her to bring Jesus on earth prospered in that assignment. Manoah and his wife giving birth to Samson and following instruction given to them were prosperous in God's sight. Zechariah and Elizabeth bringing John the Baptist prospered also.
After Ruth was widowed, she had the opportunity to find a wealthy man all by herself and marry. But that was never her intention. She rather choose to follow Naomi who was hopeless and in deep bitterness for loosing her husband and two sons. Ruth's decision to continue with Naomi and live with her in the long-run landed her to Boaz, a wealthy and honorable elderly man.
Gideon who saw himself powerless and from a small clan when the angel of the Lord appeared to him and revealed his true purpose and assignment, Gideon later ruled Israel. In ancient times it was wickedness to become a ruler and remain poor. People would come bless their ruler with gold and silver. The man prospered. Joshua's prosperity was anchored on daily study and meditation of the books of law. As long as he followed all that was written he prospered in his assignment to settle Israelite in Canaan.
Solomon sought after wisdom to rule Israel, God's people. His desire so impressed God that he blessed the man with so massive wealth to a point that silver became a common thing in his days. Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Esther, Mordecai and many others, prospered in the area of leadership and were blessed. The emperor dared Esther to ask whatever she wanted even half of Persian empire would be given to her. But her purpose was never wealth rather saving her people.
The apostles mission was to advance the Gospel. Yet many died poor. Apostle Paul said, though they are poor outwardly yet they make many rich. Imagine if Apostle Paul's motive was to collect offerings wherever he went, he would be the richest Apostle of all times. But in certain areas, he worked with his own hands to supply for himself and those with him, not becoming a burden to those he's preaching to lest the Gospel be hindered. Paul as other apostles fulfilled their purpose as given to them by God.
Yet many others, who Apostles Paul, Peter, John and James speak about, lost the genuine passion to advance the gospel and turned to the error of Balaam, motivated and captivated with unrighteous wages and gains. It was about self, their bellies and not Christ and him crucified. Think of Prophet Elisha who had just healed a billionaire commander by the name Namaan. The prophet refused to take gifts worth millions. Gehaz run after them only to loose his purpose in life (double anointing) and received the curse of leprosy.
Prosperity has all to do with fulfilling assignments not just after gaining wealth. In the process of fulfilling our assignment wealth manifests. We begin gaining as we continue in our divine assignments. However, in pursuit to fulfill the assignment growth is very essential. Imbalanced growth corrupts the fulfillment of the assignment. This attributes to morality issues. We have people with great assignments but corrupt morally. This hinders their advancement.
Did you know that running after wealth, introduces one to corrupt ways? That's the reason for all evil in today's generation- the love for money(wealth). Young men are under pressure to make it, as a result they are into all manner of schemes; money swindling pyramids, stealing, betting, or enter into occult. Young girls now break marriages to get married men for themselves. Prostitution has been redefined it's about sponsors. The recent celebrity culture has made our girls to go naked without shame to get more views and subscriptions and earn more. Content creators now focus more on sexual arousing content to remain relevant. Wickedness now sales more. Even simple business adverts have sex connotations attached to them. Business people now use all shoddy ways of doing business just to ink more profit than they should. The society is salvage. Man eat man society. Corruption in every level in the society. Get rich-quick syndrome has plagued my generation.
In church, some have come up with prophecies that targets believer's pockets, wallets and bank accounts. Those without knowledge and understanding are swindled to continuous poverty. Some churches have programs where God is not and has never been the guest rather the man of gold to get extra coin. People go home with burdens and tormented with evil spirit yet the man of gold goes home with fat account. Men of gold now sale holy -pens, -water, -handkerchief, -oil, -salt, -soil and many more. Men have invented new ways of sinning and many applaud them for such inventions.
But thanks be to God, He's rising genuine shepherds who are motivated by the assignment given to them than gaining wealth. And to believers who are willing to be taught and bear sound doctrine are being delivered from devil's schemes.
