What is true Biblical prosperity, and how do we seek it?

[com7fy8]

I think our exploration of this can include >

(1) Do we first seek prosperity for God? What is involved in prosperity for God?

(2) What is included in our own personal prosperity? What needs to get the main emphasis?

(3) How do we seek prosperity for ourselves and others?

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

I think our exploration of this can include >

(1) Do we first seek prosperity for God? What is involved in prosperity for God?

(2) What is included in our own personal prosperity? What needs to get the main emphasis?

(3) How do we seek prosperity for ourselves and others?

Sorry, prosperity in this life is not taught in the Bible... we, as Christians, are called to suffer with and for Christ, we are to humble ourselves and be storing treasure in Heaven, not here. God may indeed bless us in different ways we are not called to seek worldly gain, only a humble and teachable spirit.

Time is short Comfy, focus on the message of repentance and humble surrender. What advantage is there in seeking prosperity but losing your own soul?

 

[com7fy8]

@EastCoastRemnant That is clear and right. In my title I ask what "true" prosperity is. You have made it clear that ones can seek what is false prosperity.

The Bible says "godliness with contentment is great gain", in 1 Timothy 6:6. I understand that "great gain" is great and true Biblical prosperity.

To me, "godliness" means character which is like God, because of how God's love in us has cured our nature, so we are perfected in this love >

"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

This is in us, now > if John says love "has been perfected among us", I consider.

And I consider that "contentment" means the deep satisfaction of God's love in us. We have God's own love "in our hearts" >

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

This is Heaven's own love, in Heaven's own Holy Spirit in us now, isn't it? Heaven's own quality of love in us makes us truly content, and this is included in what Paul says is "great gain" Is not this great prosperity . . . not by worldly definition, but according to the meaning of God's word?

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

My apologies for misunderstanding your intentions with this thread...

Loved what you responded with though...

 

[com7fy8]

Please, Remnant > share what you have about Biblical prosperity . . . or "riches", or "good success", if you might find "prosperity" to be a misleading term; I understand that we may have been "programmed" to consider "prosperity" to be a sort of a "four-letter word"; but what the world has used badly can be used well by God.

So, I accept your apology, but since you please to be honorable by offering an apology, please be generous, too, by sharing what you have been learning about true Biblical benefit.

What is most valuable? we might ask.

What does God Himself value and appreciate in us?

What can bring great benefit, great gain for ourselves and others?

Should we say "who"? Who is our prosperity?

 

[Jipsah]

I think our exploration of this can include
(1) Do we first seek prosperity for God? What is involved in prosperity for God?
(2) What is included in our own personal prosperity? What needs to get the main emphasis?
(3) How do we seek prosperity for ourselves and others?

Matthew 6
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

[com7fy8]

@Jipsah Thank you Jipsah

I am sharing with my lady friend; she says >

"His kingdom is righteousness, joy, and peace."

Yes, this is in Romans 14:17.

"It's obvious if they know the Bible, that God gives us prosperity; He is prosperity."

Well our true Reward is Jesus. Genesis 15:1 >

"After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram; I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.'" (Genesis 15:1)

He is our Reward for diligently seeking Him. But godliness is needed, so we have the nature to be able to sense and submit to God. Or else, if we do not have the right nature, we can not benefit from God like we could. So, we need correction, like we have testified and commanded, in Hebrews 12:4-11 > this shows all the good . . . the Biblical prosperity . . . which can come with our Heavenly Father's correction. This prosperity is not only gain in this world, of material things; but the benefit of His correction is how we become "partakers of His holiness" in His love's "peaceable fruit of righteousness". So, we are encouraged to seek God for this.

 

[com7fy8]

Even if we could swim or walk on gold . . .

gold can not give us love!

"praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God"
(in Jude 20-21)

I would say that God's love is part of our greatest prosperity . . . of the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8). And how do we seek this love, and to live in this love? By "praying in the Holy Spirit". What I get is this means to always be sensing for how God has us becoming with Him, submitting to Him and how He corrects us, included > Hebrews 12:4-11 . . . not doing a do-it-ourselves discipline thing.

And "Flow with Him."

And yes the Bible does say we in Jesus have God sharing His very own love with us >

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts, by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

So, we thank You so much, O God our Father, in the name of Your Son Jesus

 

[com7fy8]

I'm thinking that the letter of Paul to the Ephesians is all related to true Christian prosperity, meaning how we have all the good of God and true success with Him and all He does with us . . . yes, and has us doing for others. So, I'd love to read any sharing you might offer, but I think while I am waiting for anyone else to share in, here, I will feed through Ephesians, about this topic

We thank You, God, for however You please to bless, here, and for however You please to encourage others to join us in reading, prayer, and any sharing. Amen, in the name of Jesus Your Son

Ephesians 1:1 > Paul is an apostle "by the will of God". This is such great prosperity, simply to be in God's will. Whatsoever God has for each of us is the greatest prosperity we can have. It does not matter how great we are in ministerial reputation; your personal example can feed people to become more like Jesus!!! How you are can spread to be used by God to make others how you are; so halleluiah!!!

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

And in Ephesians 1:1, Paul calls the Ephesian "saints" "faithful in Christ Jesus". Now, in marriages ones so appreciate being faithful to one another > this is of great value > therefore faithfulness in marriage is part of true prosperity, I consider, being so valuable and precious. I can hear people thinking, now, how being faithful is worth so more than any amount of money or their house or many other material things of this life. So, consider how special it is to our Groom, how we are "faithful" to Him We refuse to have any affair with worry, for example, or with any unforgiveness or other degrading and ruining thing not of God's kingdom. But we relate with our Groom Jesus in His love and peace and stay here . . . more and more, "of course", as we grow in Jesus.

We also need to not cheat on our Groom by getting into lusts . . . not only sexual stuff but lust of food abuse and other substance abuse, and workaholic lust and other things which degrade us from sharing with Jesus in His love with "rest for your souls." (in Matthew 11:28-30) How much is this worth? People can spend so much money and time trying to get some sort of rest, but only Jesus gives us this ! ! !

Therefore, also, do not party with bitterness and frustration and guilt and shame and resentment. Do not give up loving anyone; because Jesus does not give up on us > we ourselves do fail in this, but being faithful to Him includes how we keep seeking for His forgiveness and correction > Hebrews 12:4-11 > trust God to correct us and heal us together with Him in His love >

"casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

And be this way for each other, never giving up on anyone; Jesus never gave up on any of His disciples; this is my example to feed on, rather than just criticize and dump anyone. This is part of being "faithful" to our Groom Jesus . . . by relating in love the way He desires, and not having involvements with self-righteous condemning and conceited picking and choosing who is good enough to love and worth forgiving and worth my attention. But be strong in love >

"Let all that you do be done with love." (1 Corinthians 16:14)

This, I would say, is great prosperity - - - of great worth to Jesus our Groom, Himself. So, in seeking prosperity we are not only about what is for our own selves, but we seek all which is so precious to our Savior who loves us so. And we share this with one another >

"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:2-3)

This is included in our "calling with which you were called", as Paul says in the verse before Ephesians 4:2-3.

So, I would say all this is included in our basic love calling of Christianity.

How much can you pay for this? I have found how even a minute of sharing with a real lady of Jesus in love does me more good, than billions of universes of gold and silver could

 

[mikedsjr]

True biblical prosperity? Why did you need to form some biblical guideline to get rich? Here's the guidelines.

But Zig Ziglar tapes. Buy Tony Robbins tapes. Buy motivational books. Absolutely nothing wrong with this.

 

[com7fy8]

True biblical prosperity? Why did you need to form some biblical guideline to get rich? Here's the guidelines.

But Zig Ziglar tapes. Buy Tony Robbins tapes. Buy motivational books. Absolutely nothing wrong with this.

I'm not talking about financial prosperity, in case this is what you mean, Mike. I am asking how we seek God's riches which are spiritual.

And, "of course", Jesus says,

"'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.'" (Mathew 6:33)

So, it looks to me like Jesus is saying that we need to first seek God for Himself; and if we do this He will add to us all we need.

"And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." (1 Timothy 6:8)

"be content with such things as you have" (in Hebrews 13:5)

So, if God has us content with what He has added to us . . . why would we be seeking to be financially rich? And why would you need to pay for someone to tell you how . . . if Jesus says,

"Freely you have received; freely give"? (in Matthew 10:8)

And isn't our Father able to teach us better, freely, than how people can teach us, for money?

 

[mikedsjr]

Com, you're confusing me. You say this is about spiritual prosperity, but you quote verses about material things.

Can you define prosperity? Not prosperity of spiritual riches but the actual term prosperity.

 

[Optimax]

I think our exploration of this can include >

(1) Do we first seek prosperity for God? What is involved in prosperity for God?

(2) What is included in our own personal prosperity? What needs to get the main emphasis?

(3) How do we seek prosperity for ourselves and others?

True Prosperity is best described as a pie cut into several pieces.

Some of those pieces are:

Healing
Relationships
Socially
Financially
Spiritually

 

[com7fy8]

@Optimax Thank you for what is simple and nutritious sharing about this.

And I notice how you say, "Some" of the pieces . . . yes! > there is always more to be discovered, I would say, Optimax But I would say, not only are there more pieces to be discovered, but also we can keep discovering more good in the pieces we already have

By the way . . . I would say, in having a spiritual gift, I keep discovering more of the good which that gift is for. For example, in my case, I have felt I had the "teaching gift", and I would go about tell tell telling people all I supposed I understood. But then my "gift" started teaching >me< . . . how to love. So, in case I really had the gift, it was for more than I supposed, at first.

And, I can have certain things of this world's goods, but as I grow in love I can do more and better, more personal loving while enjoying and appreciating God, while I might have the same physical things. Because in His love, we have His creativity . . . growing in us, I keep finding.

Someone said something like this > "It's not how much you have, but how much you can do with it."

And I would certainly say that "Relationships" are a very special part of Biblical prosperity. We could discuss how the Bible says for us to relate. Among other things,

"submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:21)

In our group, yesterday evening, we were hearing about how we need to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, and we need to share with people who are mutually submissive with us. Each child of God is an example to the other, each "wins" the trust of the other, by how each is good for the other. So, no one is controlling or just using the other.

I think ones miss out on prosperity, by not relating in love the way the Bible says. They might have great wealth in this world, but because they do not relate in love, they in a way miss out on all they have. Do you agree?

And you say there is prosperity "Spiritually" > yes, there is certainly spiritual prosperity. I suspect ones of various groups can be into seeking many things they feel they should have, for prosperity, but they do not start or get started with how to prosper spiritually.

Jesus does say,

"'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.'" (Matthew 6:33)

You are welcome to share more about this spiritual aspect, if you please.

 

[com7fy8]

Something I am thinking of, right now >

Possibly, people can correctly believe God wants them to prosper in this world (Luke 14:13-14, Mark 10:21-31), but what needs to be the "target"? >

Do we first have "faith" and simply seek God to prosper us in this world?

Or, do we first need to seek to spiritually be with God in His love and leading, then discover how He guides us in this world's benefits?

So, which comes first, the chicken or the egg?

I consider how we need to first be with God . . . in His love, so we can be in His personal leading in His peace (Colossians 3:15, Isaiah 58:11), then discover how He prospers us in this life. "There will be love in everything."

"Let all that you do be done with love." (1 Corinthians 16:14)

This is God's love; so this is all-loving love, which means I need to care about any and all others, as much and as well as I care about my own self prospering. And in Jesus we share as family; so this is not prosperity on my lonesome, but in sharing with others as one, I now consider. So, my "target" of all-loving prayer for prosperity is our Father's correction (Hebrews 11:4-11) so I become first how He has us becoming in His love, so then I can obey how He pleases to prosper us all.

And we see what happened because Abraham obeyed God >

"'In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.'" (Genesis 22:18)

So, the obedience of Abraham has helped to get "all the nations of the earth" "blessed"! So, I can see our prosperity in Jesus is with obedience which gets others blessed.

And if you have read what happened with Joseph > Genesis 37-50 > Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers into slavery; but Joseph with God used that situation to save the lives of many people > Genesis 50:19-21 < also, we can see from this, how Joseph in God's prospering of him, also got more into family loving.

So, there is family and personal sharing and caring in our Father's own love, in Biblical prosperity. I see that as we grow in Jesus, we get more into family love with one another (Ephesians 4:2-3, 4:31-5:2), not only into more and more physical good and physical helping. So, because people can be "hard" and "impossible" to deal with, we need to become strong in how God has us loving, so we do not break down in relating with other people. Such strength in love's nature is very important in our prosperity. And then we can be examples for others (1 Peter 5:3), to feed them this < so, in gaining all God desires for our prosperity, we are loving any and all people > not just using anyone to get things for ourselves!!

I now understand that love does not have us only using anyone, but He has me personally caring for each and any person; and Jesus never gave up on any of His disciples; so this example is required of me.

 

[Extraneous]

Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all

Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

[Extraneous]

I don't see personal prosperity in the scripture above. There is no "I" but only the body. There is no "my prosperity" there is only "our prosperity". I only see people sharing everything they have. IF there are rich people and poor people in the church, then this seems to show a lack of faith not on the part of the poor necessarily, but instead the rich.

 

[Extraneous]

Why doesnt prosperity preachers teach this scripture? Because they are rich. Their love of money has caused them to become spiritually deaf and they cannot hear what the word teaches. I believe these teachers lead many people astray.

 

[Extraneous]

Prosperity preachers don't see that they need spiritual healing. They are blind and deaf. They may be rich in wealth but they are poor in faith and eyesight.


Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

 

[Tiny Bible]

I think our exploration of this can include >

(1) Do we first seek prosperity for God? What is involved in prosperity for God?

(2) What is included in our own personal prosperity? What needs to get the main emphasis?

(3) How do we seek prosperity for ourselves and others?

Anything you can dream for yourself God equipped you with the powers to bring it to fruition.