FEATURE ARTICLE
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FEATURE ARTICLE
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| Wednesday, September 11, 2024 |
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[email protected] St. Ann's, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies 
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Gen. 1:26-29; 12:1-3; 13:2; 24:35; 26:1-14; Matt. 13:18-23; Lev. 26:8; Mk. 4:1-20; 2 Cor. 9:6-15; Lk. 6:38; 14:31-32; Gal. 6:7-9.
The idea that success in ministry and industry has no relationship to increase, multiplication, and numbers in general is a bit troubling for me as I study the Bible.
Please bear with me for listing the number of scriptures as my subheading for this article. While not writing them out in detail, I encourage you to go through them prayerfully to get a clearer biblical or scriptural position on the subject matter.
I prefer to get my conclusions on any matter from the Bible as I view it as my first priority, only reality and final authority on matters concerning life and living.
Recently, I saw a post on social media that was generally hailed by many believers. That post prompted me to write this article.
I initially responded to the post, and I got a reaction that implied that I either did not understand the original post or was just simply critical of it. The reaction I got further went on to try to explain or clarify the original post. To begin with I would state the original post here:
"Size does not signify God's blessing. In Scripture big budgets, affluent members, and large membership tolls are not valid goals. Real success is not prosperity, power, prominence, popularity, or any of the other worldly notions of success. Real Success is doing the will of God regardless of the consequences."
It is always important to make one's post so clear that no other party or person is needed to clarify it. That being said, let us dissect the original post and everyone can then make their "scriptural" conclusions:
As can be seen above, the original post explicitly stated the following: 1) "Size does not signify God's blessing." That statement is scripturally wrong. It is a fallacy because there are numerous verses in scripture that state otherwise. If the post had said "size ALONE does not signify success or that we should not conclude that something is successful simply because of the size" then it would be scripturally right, but as it is, it is fallacious and paints a very wrong scriptural picture.
2) "In Scripture big budgets, affluent members, and large membership tolls are not valid goals." This is another fallacious statement. There is no verse in scripture that supports this notion.
The statement would have been better stated as "…big budgets etc. SHOULD NOT BE OUR ONLY GOALS". Doing this would have made it scripturally right but stating that the things listed in the post are not VALID scriptural goals is fallacious.
Jesus gave a parable where a man had to make sure he could handle the budget for his building clearly, implying that the budget must be considered adequate before embarking on the project.
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" - Lk. 14:28.
That pretty deal with the importance of budgeting be they big or small. The size of a budget is a reflection of the size of the project; small projects require a small budget while big projects would certainly require a big budget. Look at this verse:
"And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables." - Acts 6:1-3.
This issue with the Grecians in Acts 6, stated above demanded administrators to properly manage the situation. That was the goal. The budget regarding this would have been a big one as the number of the disciples was greatly multiplied at this time.
Let us look again at the numbers or increases that were experienced in the early church. On the day of Pentecost, the very day that the initial one hundred and twenty disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit, a great number of people were saved and became numbered among the believers.
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls… and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" - Acts 2:41, 47b (words bolded for emphasis by me).
Next, we read that five thousand souls were added to the disciples after the healing of the lame man through the ministry of Peter and John.
"Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand." - Acts 4:4.
As we look at the three verses of scripture above, regarding large membership "rolls" (because the numbers were stated in the bible as inspired by the Holy Spirit), we see that the Lord Himself allowed the number of believers to be indicated and that He added daily to the church, clearly implying the importance of numerically large membership as evidence of growth and advancement of the kingdom of God. Another scriptural verse comes to mind at time:
"(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)" - Deut. 1:11.
As can be seen above God, specifically told Israel I will make you a thousand times more - that was His goal and desire for them. If God made multiplying (increasing Israel's numbers) His goal, there is absolutely nothing wrong if we emulate Him by making the increase of the number of His disciples our goal. God, doing it makes it a valid goal to desire multiplication or increased numbers.
3) "Real success is not prosperity, power, prominence, popularity, or any of the other worldly notions of success."
The common thread or problem in this post is the lack of the simple expression "…the ONLY…" This would remove the absolute tone used in the article to describe things that are variables and not absolutes.
The other problem here is the assumption that God does not prosper people, or give them power and prominence (political or otherwise), popularity or fame, etc. This post posits that these things only come from the devil or the world.
God gave Solomon, Jesus and many other people fame across their land. He even explicitly said the following through Zephaniah:
"Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and FAME in every land where they have been put to shame" - Zeph. 3:19 (words bolded words and capitalized by me).
Also, we can read about Joshua who succeeded Moses and led Israel into the promised land:
"So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country" - Josh. 6:27.
The Bible explicitly or unambiguously, tells us that Joshua's fame came from the Lord.
Hence, prosperity, popularity prominence, etc. CAN INDEED BE GODLY NOTIONS OF SUCCESS.
4) "Real Success is doing the will of God regardless of the consequences."
This is the ONLY explicitly scripturally accurate sentence in the entire post. It is probably the only thing that should have been stated in explicit terms and not the other statements. The other statements probably should have been presented in a more implicit or suggestive tone.
While I do understand the spirit behind the post and would certainly not have reacted in any seeming negative way to it, the issues we are dealing with currently in the body of Christ (especially in Nigeria) prompts, my balanced response so that God's people, can be objectively and accurately taught the Word of God.
Let me now further expound on what can happen when a believer does the will of God.
Doing the will of God often results in: 1) Living A Prosperous Life - The scriptures explicitly tell us that doing the will of God can result in people being prosperous both spiritually and materially. No one argues against the spiritual dimension of prosperity. It is with material dimensions that contentions arise or exist, so, I am going to outline some scriptures that unambiguously state that God prospers His people materially or financially.
"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." - Prov. 10:22.
"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." - Gen. 12:1-3.
Now let us see how this played out in Abram's (Abraham's) life. "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." - Gen. 13:1-2. (word bolded words by me).
For those who say that it was not the Lord that blessed Abram (Abraham) check out this next scripture as Abraham's servant testified regarding his master's blessings regarding his wealth.
"And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses" - Gen. 24:35.
Another direct passage of scripture showing how God's blessing upon His people has material implications is Deut. 28:1-14. Please read it prayerfully and meditatively on your own. I will only state a few of the verses here:
"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out." - Deut. 28:1-6 (words bolded for emphasis by me).
Note that every blessing outlined above was either material or financial.
The converse of not doing the will of God resulted in curses that affected them materially; their health and wealth were compromised - Deut. 28:15-68. Please read it prayerfully and meditatively on your own. I will only state a few of the verses here:
"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish." - Deut. 28:15-22 (words bolded for emphasis by me).
Note again that every curse outlined in the above passage has material implications. A careful study of the passage shows that the curses include poverty and all manner of sicknesses and diseases.
It was Jesus Christ who said that our material concerns would be taken care of by the Lord as we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matt. 6:31-33.
Also, look at the following scriptures which show that God's blessings have material implications: Gen. 26:1-14; Jos. 1:8; Deut. 8:18; 1 Tim. 4:7-9; 6:17; Rom. 8:31-32; 3 Jn. 1:2.
2) Persecutions - Mk. 4:16-17; 10:29-30. Doing the will of God can indeed be accompanied by hardships and seeming poverty.
Rom. 8:35-39; 2 Cor. 4:7-13; 11:21-30, all outline the possible discomforts that can arise from doing the will of God. Please read them prayerfully and meditatively. Paul wrote regarding this stating that persecutions are guaranteed to people who choose to do the will of God.
"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." - 2 Tim. 3:10-12.
The greatest word of caution here is for those who think that persecution or even poverty is a sign that one is not doing the will of God. The scriptures give us examples of those who lost everything and even became poor simply because they refused to compromise God's standards of godliness. Jesus Christ even stated that persecutions accompany the hundredfold returns we receive from obeying God.
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." - Mk. 10:29-30.
While God is not responsible for these unfortunate events (persecutions) in the lives of those who have chosen to obey Him, He allows them. I believe He partly wants to demonstrate that nothing and or no one can separate us from His love for us.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Rom. 8:35-36, 38-39 (words bolded for emphasis by me).
Another reason I believe that God allows this is to show that He can grace us to overcome any and every persecution making us more than conquerors in Christ.
"Nay, in all these things (the persecutions and trials) we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." - Rom. 8:37 (words in brackets are mine).
This is because part of our God-given arsenal is "world overcoming faith".
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." - Eph. 6:16.
Note the shield of faith, can quench all (not some of) the fiery darts of the wicked. Fiery darts are released in war from a distance to ensure that the target is not only hit but destroyed or burnt up. It is designed to completely erase one's works and even to kill the target. Thank God for the shield of faith.
John recognized this when he stated that our faith which is born of God overcomes the world:
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." - 1 Jn. 5:4.
A third reason I believe God allows these trials is that "He believes in us". He believes in what He deposited in us. I know that might sound awkward to some of us, because at first glance it implies that man is pure or flawless enough to be trusted. This is especially knowing according to the scriptures that God Himself said that we are to put our trust in Him and not in man.
"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." - Ps. 118:8.
However, I want you to realize that when I say that God believes in you, I am not referring to fallen man but rather to the New Creation, the one who is the result or product of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Beloved, before, I go further into this nature of the new creation man, I want you to consider how God spoke of Job before satan attacked him. The first chapter of the book of Job reveals the discussion between God and the devil regarding or detailing God's introduction of Job to satan.
"And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord" - Job 1:8-12.
It is plain to see from the discourse above that God had complete faith in Job making it through whatever the devil threw at him. If God believed so much in Job, who lived before the redemptive work of Christ, how much more do you suppose He believes in the New Creation who is made in likeness unto Him in righteousness and true holiness.
"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after (or like) God is created in righteousness and true holiness" - Eph. 4:23-24 (words in bracket are mine).
"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" - Col. 3:9-10.
I will further expand on this "faith that God has in the believer" before I finish this article.
but killed because of their faith. However, please be reminded that it was satan that caused the problems Job experienced and not God, though God allowed them.
"So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown" - Job 2:7.
Yes, God indeed allowed believers to go through suffering, as can be seen through the lives of Apostle Paul, the other early church Apostles, and many other believers who were not only imprisoned
3) Victory over the forces of darkness and comfort of the Holy Spirit - 1 Cor. 15:57-58; 2 Cor. 2:11-14; 1 Jn. 4:1-4; 5:4-5. Victory over the enemy is guaranteed for the believer. Yes, no matter what the enemy throws at us, our victory is guaranteed once we stick with the Lord. He emphatically stated that in the scriptures.
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." - 1 Cor. 10:13.
The tempter (satan) is limited to what is common to man but God, in His infinite mercies, allows us to walk in an unlimited realm of solutions.
This is why, even in death, without having a physical manifestation of what we believe God for, the believer still wins.
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" - Heb. 11:13.
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" - 1 Cor. 15:54-58.
Hence, our victory is not limited to the physical manifestation of the things we believe God for. Our victory lies in the unlimited realm of the renewing of our minds or saving of our souls, so we are not moved by the physical presence or absence of those things. We simply connect to the engrafted word of God.
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" - Heb. 10:38-39 (words bolded by me).
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" - Jam. 1:21.
This is mainly because our primary faith is IN GOD not in receiving the physical manifestation of anything that we believe Him for. Our minds are so renewed to this reality that we can say like the Apostle Paul I can do all things through Christ because I have learned how to be abased, and how to abound.
"But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" - Phil. 4:10-13.
I indicated earlier that "God has faith in or believes in the new creation". The truth really, is that the New Creation is a product of God and has His nature. So, God's faith is not really in man (or fallen man) but in who He has made us to be. He knows His product which was designed to successfully do good works.
"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" - 2 Cor. 5:16-18 9 (words bolded by me).
Note that we (the new creation) are now viewed after the spirit not after the flesh, so your natural gender, race, socio-economic status, are all irrelevant. Note also that the New Creation is of God, meaning made by God. This is why God "believes or has faith" in this product of His that was created to do good works as I stated earlier.
"For we (the new creation) are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" - Eph. 2:10 (words in bracket are mine).
The word of caution here is for us not to assume that the lack of physical manifestation of healing or lack of material possession means that someone lacks faith or is walking in unbelief. Many have gone down this slippery slope and caused great harm to other believers who were in fact, standing in or walking by faith until their death.
Hey! News flash, there will be sicknesses and or diseases that some believers would experience and never receive the physical manifestation of their healing before they die. There would also be areas of material lack that some believers would experience and seemingly not receive a manifestation of increases or deliverance from before they die.
However, in all these cases those believers still have the victory over those things because their victory was never based on the physical manifestation of their deliverance but on their connection to God through the renewal of their minds. It is also important to note that this in no way reduces the fact that God still heals and provides materially for His people. What Apostle John wrote in his epistle applies to all believers because God is not a respecter of persons:
"Beloved, I wish (pray) above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" - 3 Jn. 1:2 (words in bracket are mine).
Numbers Or Increases Are From God Now let us get back to the issue of the importance of numbers and increases. It is worth noting that a manifestation of increasing numbers is also from God and is USUALLY the most common mark of success in both ministry and industry. Please also note that I did not say the ONLY mark but USUALLY the Most Common mark. The following scriptures clearly show this, so go through them prayerfully and meditatively - Mk. 4:1-20; Ps. 115:11-16; Gen. 1:26-29; 12:1-3; 13:2; 24:35; Deut. 1:1-11; 28:1-14; 32:30; Lev. 26:8; 2 Cor. 9:6-15; Gal. 6:7-9; Acts 2:38-47; 4:4; 6:1.
Discipleship Brings Increase Jesus Christ told us to make disciples. This activity generally always leads to increasing numbers. The mere fact that we are told to make DISCIPLES (not just a disciple, but disciples) shows that God expects NUMERICAL OR QUANTITATIVE INCREASE from our works of ministry - Matt. 24:14; 28:18-20; Jn. 17:20; Mk. 16:15-20.
God Himself ADDED DAILY to the numerical strength of the church. We saw this earlier in Acts 2:41-47, please go back and read it prayerfully and meditatively.
This is reflected in the uncountable multitude that would be around the throne of God - Rev. 4; 5 & 7 and also in the New Jerusalem - Rev. 21 & 22.
Increase Can Lead To Preservation And Protection Note also that when the scriptures say "righteousness exalts a nation" the original Hebrew explicitly refers to this as the number of righteous people in a land being numerous will exalt that nation in Prov. 14:34. This is also evident when you study the context from Prov. 14:28. The verses other verses Prov. 14:29-33, simply outline the behaviour expected from the multitude of righteous people that will invariably exalt the nation, and not bring a reproach to the people.
"In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people - Prov. 14:28-34 (words bolded by me).
This is obvious in the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, as this would not have happened if there were just 10 righteous people in the land.
The number being less than 10 led to their destruction. This means that their atrocities alone did not cause their destruction as the land would not have been destroyed if they had 10 righteous people irrespective of their atrocities.
This is the power of the presence of numerical strength of the righteous.
The collective crowd was protective of Jesus Christ at certain times when the elders wanted to kill Him, and it was still the collective crowd that determined His crucifixion.
"And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way" - Mk. 12:12.
"And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified" - Mk. 15:12-15.
The numbers do matter, as they notably were involved in deciding "Jesus' fate". Of course, we know that this was all in the grand scheme of God's will, but He used this method because numbers or multitudes do in fact, matter.
The presence of a great number of believers was essential for Paul to preach freely amongst the Corinthians as God Himself indicated this by saying the following:
"Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace, For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city" - Acts 18:9-11 (words bolded by me).
Please note that this was after it was stated that many Corinthians believed following the conversion of Crispus the ruler of the synagogue. Also, note that the Lord was very explicit in stating the importance of the many people He had in the city as the reason why Paul could now freely speak. This was because the multitude became the point of contact for his protection.
"And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." - Acts 18:8 (words bolded by me).
Not Numbers Alone, But Numbers Matter While we know that NUMBERS ALONE do not reflect success in ministry and industry, it must be noted that NUMBERS do in fact, allude to success according to the scriptures.
This is also evident in the two parables of the talents given by Jesus Christ - Matt. 25:14-30; Lk. 19:11-26. Please read both accounts prayerfully and meditatively.
In one case, the proportional increase exhibited by the servants was the same, hence, their reward/praise was the same - Matt. 25:14-30. The two servants who had the same proportional increase of 100% (five from five and two from two) were both told "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" by their master - Matt. 25:21, 23. These two being praised because of the increase in numbers means that numbers matter.
In the other case (parable), everyone was given the same thing one pound to start with, and people were rewarded "differently" based on the NUMERICAL INCREASE that reflected their success - Lk. 19:11-26. Seeing that they also started with the same thing; one pound. The servant that got the most from his one pound (ten from one) was given the greatest reward. He was given ten cities to rule over, in fact, the pound from the unprofitable servant was added to the servant that "best" managed the one pound. The servant that gained five more from his one pound was given five cities to rule over. Though both of them gained more than the one pound they were initially given, the one that gained more i.e. ten as opposed to five, (or had more numbers) had a greater reward. This different reward system further buttresses the fact that numbers or increases do matter.
To say that NUMBERS DO NOT MATTER OR DOES NOT EVER REFLECT SUCCESS IS FALLACIOUS AND NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE SCRIPTURES.
Even nature teaches us that numbers matter. Increases generally reflect success and progress while decreases and depletion reflect failure. A good harvest reflects a great increase, way beyond that which was planted. Hence, numbers matter. We call lack of increase or a bad or poor harvest, famine, hence, numbers matter.
No one invests aiming to lose, or to experience decrease or depletion. We all invest to have more than we started with. The word to describe that is PROFIT. This is the word associated with or attributed to godliness in Paul's letter to Timothy.
"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation" - 1 Tim. 4:7-9.
The context here shows that profit which represents better, or more is a feature of godliness. These all show that increases can be and are usually the general measure of success.
Success Alludes To Succession We must reiterate that while increases can reflect or be a measure of success or progress, increase alone is not the ultimate measure of godly success. There are other factors that when brought in or considered help us to distinguish godly success from other forms of relative success.
For one, the very words succession and to succeed are related to success and show us that success is not just an event but a lasting continuum. The idea of consistency, continuity, cultivation, and change are all features of true godly or biblical success. You might have heard the expression "there is no success without a successor". Hence, this means that true success goes beyond you as an individual or even your accomplishments as an individual. It must translate to others. It must be reflected in the positive change of making others better. If ministry or industry ends with a man or an entity, then we cannot say that that man or entity truly succeeded. For it is what is left that truly demonstrates success. This is probably why Jesus Christ related our ultimate approval to us enduring to the end. Hence, we must last. It must be said of us that we lasted. At least or at last you must last or outlast your lifetime and provide an inheritance or godly legacy for others to follow.
Hence, ultimate success is a feature of what lasts. It is important to clarify that though natural things cannot last forever, we cannot say that they have no place in success. They are given to us by the eternal God, to live on this earth.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" - Rom. 8:31-32.
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" - 1 Tim. 6:17 (words bolded by me).
God being responsible for the provision of these material things, validates their place in success. While they do not last forever, they can outlast your natural life and be passed on to your children and grandchildren as tools of continual success.
"A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just" - Prov. 13:22.
Some try to say that the inheritance referred to in Prov. 13:22 is a legacy of faith and godliness. Though we are to indeed leave a legacy of faith and godliness, this is not what is being portrayed in this scripture. It is fallacious to say that prov. 13:22 simply alludes to a spiritual legacy and not a material one. This is because while we can teach and encourage morality or live a life of faith and godliness, we cannot hand them to our children as an inheritance, neither could morals be passed on simply by laying on of hands or prayer. The very verse alludes to wealth. This wealth cannot simply be posited as spiritual because the verse also alludes to or refers to the wealth of the sinner being transferred to the righteous. Look at the verse again.
"A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just" - Prov. 13:22.
The sinner does not have a positive spiritual wealth that needs to be transferred to the righteous. The only type of wealth the sinner has that can be transferred to the righteous is material or financial. The verse was therefore speaking of material wealth which is something that both sinners and righteous people can possess while they live on earth.
The Ninety-Nine And The One I once heard someone say that Jesus spoke about the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine and going after the one sheep because numbers do not really, matter.
"And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance" - Lk. 15:3-7.
Many who think they understand this parable, really do not. So, let us look into it. Firstly, note that this parable was not about the ninety-nine being less important than the one or the one being more important than the ninety-nine. It was simply about the importance of the entire herd of one hundred.
Secondly, also note that the parable was not about a shepherd doing something unusual. He said "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? Meaning, this is something that every shepherd would do or is expected to do. This shepherd's action is routine and embraces the fact that every sheep in the herd is important.
Thirdly, leaving the ninety-nine was not a reckless act like some people suppose, but the genius act of every shepherd who properly understands how sheep behave. Staying with the ninety-nine and not going after the lost one is what would have been considered a reckless act. Sheep love to flock, and they perform optimally when they are part of a flock or herd. Once the ninety-nine were together, (and they were) they were safe. Remember, it is the one sheep that was lost, not the ninety-nine. The ninety-nine being together meant that they would eat well and their appearance as they "huddled" together would scare any predator, as they would in that state appear like a giant or humongous creature that the predator would avoid.
Fourthly, it is the lost sheep that was in danger and needed protection as we explained in the point above. This is because sheep can only thrive when they are part of the flock. Hence, the lost sheep would not thrive. It would not perform optimally. It would not feed well, because sheep only feed well when they are part of the flock. It was therefore, in danger of dying from hunger. It will also be in danger of being killed by predators. This is also why predators do everything to separate a sheep from the flock, before attacking it. A quick object lesson here is that you need the body of Christ more than you can ever imagine. You are part of God's pasture, and you need the flock to thrive.
"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture" - Ps. 100:3.
So, please do not assume that numbers do not matter because of this parable but rather that numbers matter. Every one of God's creatures matters to Him.
Numbers Are Relative Numbers are a relative and not an absolute measure of success. This is because God always operates in proportions or percentages and multitudes. Hence, though the figure might be the same, the numbers are still relatively different. For example, a crowd of twenty thousand in the USA would be different from a crowd of twenty thousand in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).
This is because even though it is the same figure, they are not the same. The USA has a population of over three hundred million people while T&T has a population of less than one and half million people. Therein lies the relative nature of the "twenty thousand" in both places. The twenty thousand in T&T is proportionately more in comparison to the twenty thousand in the USA. The relativity is based on variables that affect the significance of the number. In this case, the variable is that the population of the countries are not the same and this affects the value of the numbers in both places.
However, if the twenty thousand people were to make contributions to a venture, all things being equal, the contributions of the twenty thousand in the USA could be more than that of the twenty thousand in T&T, because the earning power of the ones in the USA would be more. Numbers are therefore relative. This is why we are not to compare ourselves with each other.
"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." - 2 Cor. 10:12.
This is why Jesus adjudged the widow's two mites to have been more than what the others in the temple gave.
"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all (everything) that she had, even all her living" - Mk. 12:41-44 (words in brackets are mine).
Firstly, if numbers did not matter then Jesus Christ would not have been viewing the quantity and quality of the gifts. Yes, I said quantity and quality because some think that the issue here was only quality and not quantity. This cannot be so because the amount she gave was stated, unlike the others. This amount was all her living. That woman gave a hundred percent unlike every other person in that temple that gave less than one hundred percent. So, it was about both the quality and quantity.
Secondly, the whole scene represented God's connection to proportional giving. Both in the Old and New Testament Scriptures, proportional giving is heralded as God's ultimate parameter for giving.
"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee" - Deut. 16:17.
"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" - 1 Cor. 16:2.
Note that Apostle Paul was quoting from the Old Testament when he wrote to the Corinthians. This is why proportional giving has always been God's way. The tithe was given to them as a perfect way for them to practice proportional giving. No one can tithe more than any other person. My tithe can never be greater than yours and your tithe can never be greater than mine. Even if my tithe is one hundred dollars and yours is one thousand dollars, God regards both as essentially the same because proportionately they are. This is why I often tell people that the tithe levels the playing field, so to speak. No one can tithe more than someone else; the rich cannot tithe more than the poor and ultimately the poor cannot tithe less than the rich. This is another way to see that numbers are relative.
A local church of fifty people in a rural community of a total of five hundred people (10% of the population) can be considered proportionally more significant than a church with ten thousand members in a city of ten million people (0.1% of the population). This is why it is foolish to compare one another or local churches by their numbers. There are so many relative factors that affect the numbers. Hence, numbers have relative implications and success is also relative. Remember that even though Jesus Christ spoke of harvest in folds; thirty, sixty, and hundred, all these diverse folds reflected success.
"And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred" - Mk. 4:20.
Once again, it is worth noting that these numbers can be relative but when it is all said and done NUMBERS "ALWAYS" MATTER.
Prosperity Is Important In Outreach Finally, note that the scriptures tie the prosperity of God's people to the saving of the nations.
"Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession" - Ps. 2:8; 67:1-2.
"God be merciful unto us, and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations" - Ps. 67:1-2.
Please remember that the blessings of the Lord make one rich.
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it" - Prov. 10:22.
The psalmist was showing us how people being blessed can affect our outreach to the world. This is because financial resources can help us reach more people. Many missionaries across the globe would certainly do more if more resources especially financial are made available to them, I got a letter from a missionary from T&T who is currently stationed in a remote area of Zambia detailing how much was needed for their family to take care of their basic needs like feeding, shelter, etc. All things being equal, it is safe to believe that many missionaries would certainly do better if some of their material needs were taken care of.
I think I have made my point clear. My aim was for a balanced understanding of biblical prosperity, in this day and age where the very biblical terms prosperity, riches, wealth, increases, etc. are viewed as "cuss or cursed" words. I am aware that there are lots of charlatans who have abused believers and given the church of Jesus Christ a bad reputation globally. However, we must also understand that we cannot change the message of the gospel because of charlatans. We cannot "create" a new doctrine that undermines God's providing power because there are those who would or are abusing it for their personal gain or filthy lucre.
I honestly believe that we are going down a slippery slope in our quest to arrest the excesses of these charlatans if we continue to undermine God's ability to provide for His people. We should focus on calling out those charlatans and their heretical doctrines rather than creating more confusion in the minds of believers. We should not be afraid to condemn their actions in defense of the gospel.
As well-meaning as we are, we must stay focused and appropriately use the principles of apologetics and polemics, to ensure that we earnestly contend for the faith.
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." - Jude 1:3.
We must be fully prepared to give answers that accurately depict what we stand for or believe without running the risk of unwarranted theological errors.
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" - 1 Pet. 3:15.
We should also not allow ourselves to carve out erroneous doctrines in the name of going after charlatans which end up confusing the flock of God and invariably hinder their growth. The actions of many church leaders in recent times, have not demonstrated the love for God and His Kingdom which is essential to advance His purpose on the earth. Many ministers are fighting each other over minor differences in the name of accurate theology. These things have caused us to switch the focus of our witness, resulting in seemingly less focus being directed on reaching the world. This is because they are doing a lot more to prove the other brother wrong.
I truly believe in accurate theology but even more, I believe in every believer being a "Theophilus" and NOT JUST a "Theologian".
This is because those who spend more time loving God would know Him better than those who simply spend time studying Him or studying about Him. Beloved, the qualification to feed God's sheep starts from the place of accurately answering the question Jesus asked Peter - "do you love me? …then feed my sheep".
"So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." - Jn. 21:15-17.
We must continually evaluate our love for God more than our love for our doctrinal positions so we can positively bless God's people. It is also in loving God and doing His Word that we would see a greater manifestation of Jesus Christ and the Father in our lives and ministry.
"Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." - Jn. 14:19-24.
Our love for God is paramount in demonstrating our commitment to doing His will and bringing pleasure to Him. The above passage unambiguously shows that we cannot see God or encounter Him appropriately unless we love Him. Interestingly, loving God is also what it takes to appropriately navigate the challenges we face on earth and cause things to work out for our good. Apostles Paul and James alluded to this.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" - Rom. 8:28.
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" - Jam. 1:12.
People who love God cannot be overcome by persecutions, and challenges of life. Neither can they be baited to move away from God for worldly pleasures. I also endorse Apostle Jude's recommendation that we should remain in the love of God, so we can appropriately build on Jesus Christ the rock and foundation on which our faith stands.
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" - Jude 1:20-21 (words bolded by me).
As always, I remain committed to making every life better and I encourage you to keep feeding your faith on God's Word and starve your doubts to death. Stay strong. I love you.
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here seems to be a general crusade to eradicate the idea that increases, and multiplications are indicators of success in ministry and industry. In recent times I have heard statements like "God does not prosper people materially". "The prosperity gospel is a fraud, and God does nothing materially to enrich His people". I have also heard statements like "numbers are not the reflection of success in ministry" and "numbers do not matter to God".
