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In his third epistle, John conveys to Gaius his wish “above all things” that he may “prosper and be in health, even as [his] soul prospers.”
This gracious wish, expressed as a greeting from one friend to another, implies very strongly that the Apostle John (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) saw nothing wrong (at least not inherently) with prosperity.
Lest you think I?m reading too much into a greeting, we need to consider the opposite of prosperity – and how that has played out in Scripture.
The direct opposite of financial prosperity is poverty. And the Bible provides some stark and painful examples of poverty and deprivation.
In the book of Nehemiah, we see the people of Jerusalem suffering in misery and despair, because their walls were in ruins and the gates burned up. Jerusalem was therefore incapable of civil order or economic self-sufficiency.
The people of Jerusalem were so desperate, that some families were selling their children into slavery, so they could eat!
Because of this horrific suffering, God moved Nehemiah to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem! When he did, Jerusalem was able to get back on its feet. Nehemiah rebuilt the wall, so the people of Jerusalem could rebuild their lives.
Everything I said in the introduction about putting God first and letting Him provide for our needs is true. The Bible is clear that we are not to be consumed by greed or worry over money. Yet many Christians read these verses to mean that we are to be passive victims in the face of hardship and challenge.
Yes, Paul calls us to contentment. But contentment doesn?t mean passive satisfaction. It means that we submit to God's will, rely on His timing, and are able and willing to worship Him and rejoice in Him no matter our circumstances.
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