PART 1
Hi Family
What is biblical prosperity?
Biblical Prosperity is sometimes called the prosperity gospel: the health and wealth gospel, the gospel of success, or seed faith.
And, some people say that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that positive speech and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth.
However, Biblical Prosperity will mean a number of things to different people. For example, it can mean to be successful or fortunate: to succeed, thrive or flourish financially or in some material way.
All are valid definitions in line with the context of someone’s circumstances.
Where the danger lies is when well meaning people have immediately interpreted a Bible verse (example shown below) to mean wealth, however, upon deeper study we see it translates simply to succeed in all its forms.
Let’s look at different versions of the following scripture:
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
From that scripture people interchange the word prosper for the concept of wealth.
Let’s look at another version of the same scripture:
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
This gives you another take on it. There is no inference of wealth being projected here; it’s promoting well being.
And lastly look at the complete Jewish Bible translation:
“Dear friend, I am praying that everything prosper with you and that you be in good health, as I know you are prospering spiritually.”
Many people who equate prosperity to wealth are therefore mistaken and incorrect.
Real biblical prosperity is to be at peace with God and have a successful spiritually rewarding life in Jesus, building up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.
Of course money has its value and usages, and we can do much good if we are entrusted with wealth.
In the book of Ecclesiastes we see that money is a shelter:
“Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.”
Jesus clearly told us:
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Let’s look at one key scripture that the prosperity teachers use to reinforce their interpretation of becoming RICH materially. The following is a snapshot of the famous prosperity teacher Kenneth Copeland teaching on this, where he claims to state 5 truths on biblical prosperity.
I will deal with the first two today.
Financial Prosperity is God’s will for you.
“You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich”.
What that prosperity looks like will differ from family to family, but be assured that God’s will is prosperity.
You are not outside the will of God when you ask for financial provision and blessings.
So, let’s study 2 Corinthians 8:9 and ask what does this scripture have to do with your personal financial state of being?
In Mr Copeland’s theory this scripture is indicating that JESUS let the money go and became POOR so we can be RICH.
Really?
Seriously?
So, technically HE died on a cross and rose again so we can be RICH?
This deserves more scrutiny I’m sure you would agree.
Let’s study the meaning of the word rich in the Greek plousios.
The KJV translates Strong’s G4145 in the following manner: rich .
Outline of Biblical Usage:
Wealthy, abounding in material resources – metaphor: abounding, abundantly supplied.
As the outline shows there are 2 interpretations for the word RICH.
1. Properly, wealthy, abounding in material resources: Matthew 27:57; Luke 12:16; Luke 14:12; Luke 16:1, 19; Luke 18:23; Luke 19:2; ὁ πλούσιος, substantively, Luke 16:21, 22; James 1:10, 11; οἱ πλούσιοι, Luke 6:24; Luke 21:1; 1 Timothy 6:17; James 2:6; James 5:1; Revelation 6:15; Revelation 13:16; πλούσιος, without the article, a rich man, Matthew 19:23, 24; Mark 10:25; Mark 12:41; Luke 18:25.
2. Metaphorically and universally, abounding, abundantly supplied: followed by ἐν with a dative of the thing in which one abounds (cf. Winer’s Grammar, § 30, 8 b. note), ἐν ἐληι, Ephesians 2:4; ἐν πίστει, James 2:5; absolutely, abounding (rich) in Christian virtues and eternal possessions, Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:17, on which see Düsterdieck. ἐπτώχευσε πλούσιος ὤν, of Christ, ‘although as the ἄσαρκος λόγος he formerly abounded in the riches of a heavenly condition, by assuming human nature he entered into a state of (earthly) poverty,’ 2 Corinthians 8:9.
So, in its proper context it means, although he formerly abounded in the riches of a heavenly condition by assuming human nature, he entered into a state of (earthly) poverty,’ so we could enjoy riches of the heavenly condition.
NOT BUY MORE IPADS.
The subtle smooth persuasion by the snake would have you believe that the word ‘rich’ means material gain in 2 Corinthians 8:9.
I’m flabbergasted by this level of deception designed to try to convince us that our goal is to be rich.
OK, let’s study Mr Copeland’s second point …
You are blessed to be a blessing.
“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
‘They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever’”
Resources are never meant to be hoarded in the kingdom of God
Instead, God desires that they be freely shared to accomplish His will.
Ask yourself, ‘do I allow myself to be a conduit of God’s blessing, or do I see myself as a stopping point?’.
If your answer is the latter, ask the Holy Spirit to give you a vision for blessing others.
Before we begin and for context FYI: Kenneth Copeland is considered to be the wealthiest pastor in America — with an alleged estimated net worth of $760 million.
Let’s look at this clever sleight-of-hand flip, because now we arrive at an interesting juncture.
Mr Copeland’s intention is to let the reader know that you should have abundance. In fact, you should have abundance so that you can bless others!
Let’s analyse this under the microscope.
The lord says in Matthew 6:25:
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Wow, this is it!
Are you ready!?
‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’.
Mr Copeland has informed us to seek after abundance and be a blessing.
What he hasn’t told us is that, by really taking the first step to achieve this – which is to seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness – all these things will be given to us as well.
This is the answer, period!
Now, to make matters worse, instead of Mr Copeland leading you to that scripture, he guides you to his book – to purchase it – so he can give you his answer.
In the description of his book entitled ‘Prosperity’, he states the following:
“Is prosperity truly God’s plan for you? Claim the physical and spiritual riches that are yours. Once you understand the plan of abundance God has designed, you’ll never again accept anything less. Through this scriptural study by Kenneth Copeland, you can be sure that when it comes to Prosperity: The Choice Is Yours. Google Books
Again I stress – GOD has already given you the answer.
‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
And guess what, that was for free – no charge.
More importantly. the Lord states that we should not worry.
It’s obvious He was talking to people that did not have abundance and Jesus didn’t condemn them for not having abundance, but gave them the right way of looking at their circumstances and gave them the answer.
In all of Kenneth Copeland’s 5 points the answer is not given or shared.
The emphasis is on you having to achieve and strive to be in abundance, and have abundance only so you can bless others – and so on and so on.
This is not the answer Jesus gave.
Only the pagans continue to run after these things without conscience, so don’t worry about what you eat or what you should drink, but seek the Kingdom of God first.
Then all these things will come to you.
Blessings,
Ron
It Has Been Said 