n this edition, true Prosperity is defined in the light of the Scripture as opposed to the definition of the pulpits that make prosperity synonymous with possession of worldly materials in abundance.
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Material wealth can be inclusive in the definition of prosperity. But a person may be prosperous but not rich. So prosperity is not synonymous (same thing) with material wealth. In the same vein, a person may even be rich, yet not prosperous if he lives his/her life outside God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
The definition of 'prosperity' in the Christian context is found in the sermon of the Master on the mount, recorded in Matt. 6:25 - 34 and Luke 12: 22 - 31. Apostle Paul also defines it in the same line of argument, which the Master did (I Tim. 6: 5-10).The two definitions are in accord with each other.
'True prosperity' as far as our Lord is concerned is: "Seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt.6:33) ie seeking the Kingdom of God and carefully doing things that result from being saved (Phil.2:12) i.e. working out our salvation with fear and trembling.
'True prosperity' is having a safe passage to heaven (3 John vs.2) and when anyone achieves this, he has very much prospered.
In order that Nigerians and others around the world have a smooth, safe passage to heaven is what the campaign of Jesus for the world Revival Mission is all about.
Jesus said, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world but loses his soul (eternal life) in the process ? For is anything worth more than his soul? (Matt.16:26, Mark 8:36).
As for material 'wealth', the Bible teaches that it is a gift from God (Rom. 12:4-8; I Chr. 29:11-14; Matt. 25:14-15), level of which for Christians, i.e. Christians who have not been lazy but conscientious and dutiful, He (God) distributes it according to the managerial capability of the individual. The parable of the man in Matt. 25:14-15, who while going on a journey distributed his goods (talents) to his servants in varying degrees vividly illustrates this argument.
Riches is not synonymous with Prosperity. If it is, a slave could not have been described as prosperous. But that was what was said of Joseph the dreamer, while he was a slave in the house of Potiphar in Egypt as recorded in Gen. 39 vs 2. He was prosperous, all because "the Lord was with him".
While some Christians may be fabulously rich, there are others who will just be average and there are others who will be below the average line. Yet it does not imply that those who are fabulously rich are better Christians than those who are poor. Neither does it imply that those who are poor are better Christians than those who are rich.
The Master said to Judas Iscariot in the house of Simon, the leper at Bethany: "The poor always you have with you�.."(Mark 14:7).
God the Father had in the Old Testament pronounced: "For the poor shall never cease out of the land"(Deut.15:11).
And here is God's command to those who are rich: "Therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land"(Deut.15:11). With this statement and command from the Lord and many other verses from the Scripture, we can confirm clearly, that the Government, which God handed to man is that of 'National Prosperity'. We shall be better off, if we should pursue this, above individual prosperity. My book titled "Prosperity Of The Nation : The Answer to Individual Lasting Prosperity"explains this in detail.
From ages, there have not been found in large number, Christians, who are very rich. Paul wrote: "Notice among yourselves, dear brothers, that few of you, who follow Christ, have big names or power or wealth" (I Cor. 1:26). The reason for this can not be far fetched. It is not too easy for the Christian to amass wealth without compromising his faith especially in many third world countries because Christians, cannot pursue things, the way, men of the world do them. We shall however always have the likes of Joseph of Arimathea, king Solomon, Nicodemus, Father Abraham, etc. who were bestowed with material possession without compromising their faith, but they will be few (I Cor. 1:26). It will therefore be erroneous to assume, think and preach that all Christians will or should be wealthy. It will equally be an error to think and preach that all Christians will or should be poor.
Really, Christ appears to resent wealth more than favouring it because of the danger or the stumbling block, which it may constitute to making heaven. We should remember the parable of the successive farmer. The Master concluded the story: "Everyone is a fool who is rich on earth but not in heaven" (Luke 12:21). And He did identify with the poor, as He chose to be born by parents of humble background rather than wealthy ones (Luke 1:48, 52-53). We confirm this fact by the sacrifice of purification, which Mary presented at the dedication of Baby Jesus, which were those allowed ONLY for the poor (Lk.2:24;Lev.12:6-8). But had Jesus not all the power to be born by any of the wealthy people of His days e. g. Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea if He had wanted to? His choice to be born by poor parents had made the sweet mouthed preachers who preach that all Christians must be materially wealthy, liars.
The Lord is more concerned about our wealth in heaven rather than the wealth, which we may acquire on earth and this is why He asked us to lay our treasure there (heaven) (Matt.6:19-21). This same fact, informs Him, why He asked that religious leader to sell all he had and give the money to the poor so that it could become treasure for him in heaven (Matt.19:21). With this understanding, we may conclude reasonably, without any doubt, that when the Scripture talks about the reward of our charity work in "overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room, and running over, whatever measure you use to give - large or small-will be used to measure what is given back to you" (Luke 6:38) and all the statements of Paul regarding the reward which will accrue into our account as a result of our giving (2 Cor.9), the reward, which is being talked about is not necessarily to be received here on earth, but banked or stocked for us in heaven. This should gladden the heart of any Christian.
Jesus warned: "Beware of covetousness, for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses" i.e. good life is not measured nor determined by how much of material properties we possess as Christians (Lk.12:15). This is why each time I hear preachers lay much emphasis on worldly riches as if it is the whole reason or essence of our faith, I always wonder if they have not lost focus on the more important issue. They certainly have placed the 'earthly' above the 'heavenly'
One thing however, which the Christian can challenge God for, which He has promised, are: good health, food and clothing (Matt. 6:31-32; Lk. 12:29-30). Paul reinforced same in ITim.6:8. Despite this, there will be Christians who will still be denied these and not because of any sins in their lives but just as part of Christian pilgrimage in what I refer to as "Affliction of the Righteous" (I Peter 1:5-7; I Peter 4: 12-13; Rom. 8:18). This may sound unpalatable even to me myself but can any of us change the truth of the Scripture ?
Today, in Nigeria, unemployment, economic depression, search for a husband, one hardship or the other, pursuit of life comfort and artificial, misconceived and short lived prosperity has sent quite a lot of people to the Church. This situation is similar to what happened in the days of our Lord when the people went everywhere looking for Him and He had to confront them with the hard truth and told them:
"The truth of the matter is that you seek me because I fed you, not because you believe in me" (John 6:26). The Master then advised: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but spend your energy seeking eternal life, which I the Messiah can give��"(vs.27). This is 'True Prosperity'.
How I pray that these 'emergency church goers' will really find Christ and their faith will remain (abide) and they will not turn back even if they fail in their goal, ambition or hope for which they have entered the Church.
Subsequent discussions will focus, in the light of the Scripture at the validity or authenticity of the claim of the popular preaching that says all Christians must have material possessions in abundance. It will also discuss the danger, which the preaching constitutes.
