Session 2 | What is Biblical Prosperity? Big Ideas: • What is my understanding of prosperity? • What is biblically defined prosperity? Last week: • As seen in biblical history, God does not have a problem with His people having money or stuff. God also does not have a problem with His people living in poverty. The thing He cares most about is the heart attitude of the individual. • God has a lot of warnings about the love of money and those who are rich in this age. • Hyper prosperity, name it or claim it, and poverty theology are not biblically sound. • Many Christians miss out on blessings from God because they do not understand the biblical teaching of stewardship and generosity. • The Gospel of salvation is freedom from sin and a restored relationship with God. (open hand, close hand) A low understanding of biblical truth 1. Scripture does not contradict scripture. 2. Every text must be understood in its context—historical, cultural, and social. 3. Where God has not clearly spoken in Scripture, I will not try and speak on His behalf. • Principles vs. Promises • Open-handed vs. Closed Handed • Doctrine vs. Exhortations • Secret meanings or new revelations What is my idea of prosperity? The Bible teaches a consistent theme about money and stuff, and that theme is not that more money and stuff is the blessing of God or spiritual maturity. • How would you define wealth? • How would you describe an abundant life? • How would you define prosperity? • How would you define need? • What bible teachings have you been taught about money that shaped your theology of finance and stewardship? Is Jesus enough, or must I have more to engage with Christ in deeper discipleship? Does God want me to be Rich? Does God want me to be poor? 1. Righteous rich stewards • Righteous rich stewards manage their treasure by righteous means, such as working hard, investing wisely, and having a proper biblical understanding of stewarding wealth for the Kingdom of God. • Righteous, rich stewards manage their treasure righteously by living within a reasonable budget, paying their taxes and bills, and giving generously. • Some biblical examples of righteous rich stewards include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job (both before and after his tragedy and season of poverty), Joseph of Arimathea (who gave Jesus his personal tomb), Lydia (who funded much of Paul’s ministry) and Dorcas (who often helped the poor). 2. Unrighteous rich stewards • Unrighteous rich stewards can be ones who gain their treasure through sinful means, such as stealing and dishonest business practices because their monetary idolatry drives them toward greed. • Unrighteous rich stewards can also gain treasure in ethical ways but have no biblical understanding of the biblical purpose and stewardship of money. • Unrighteous rich stewards can poorly manage their treasure because they do not budget prudently, spend reasonably, invest cautiously or give generously. In fact, one thorough study reported, “Earning higher incomes does not make American Christians more generous with their money. It actually appears to make them more stingy, protective, and distrustful.” The study also said, “Higher income-earning American Christians — like Americans generally — give little to no more money as a percentage of household income than lower income-earning Christians.” That study also reported, generally, between 1959 and 2000, while the financial giving by American Christians was declining, the personal consumption expenditures of Americans increased for eating out in restaurants, toys, sports supplies, live entertainment, foreign and domestic travel by U.S. residents, lottery tickets, casino gambling, photography, sports and recreation camps, and other entertainment expenses. • Paul Piff, a psychologist and professor at the University of California, studies how money influences human relationships with one another and has seen more wealth be a corrosive influence in action. “What we have been finding…is that as a person’s level of wealth increases, their feelings of compassion and empathy go down, and their feelings of entitlement, of deservingness, and their ideology of self-interest increases.” Paul Piff • Some biblical examples of unrighteous rich stewards include Laban, Esau, Nabal, Haman, the rich young ruler, and Judas Iscariot. 3. Righteous poor stewards • Righteous, poor stewards work hard, act honestly in business dealings, live within their means, stay out of debt, and live in contentment with the treasure God has appointed for them to manage. • There are many righteous poor stewards since, statistically, the poorest Christians give away more dollars percentagewise than all but the wealthiest Christians. • Most of the church in the world today lives in poverty and yet are rich in Kingdom currency. • Some biblical examples of righteous poor stewards include Ruth and Naomi, Jesus Christ, the widow who gave her mite, the Macedonian church, and Paul, who often knew want and hunger. 4. Unrighteous poor stewards • Unrighteous poor stewards, like unrighteous rich stewards, seek to gain their treasure through sinful means, such as freeloading and stealing, but fail to succeed. • Unrighteous, poor stewards do not invest their treasure wisely and are prone to foolish spending (such as eating and drinking too much), gambling, and chasing get-rich-quick schemes to obtain wealth without wisdom or effort. They may also be lazy and do as little work as possible. (poverty mentality) • Some biblical examples of unrighteous poor stewards include the sluggard and the fool, who are repeatedly renounced throughout the book of Proverbs. Verses about the wicked prospering Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Jeremiah 1:12 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? Ecclesiastes 8:14 There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 7:13–14 Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?14In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him. Ecclesiastes 9:11 “I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.” Ecclesiastes 7:13-15 Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider: surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him. I have seen everything in my days of vanity: there is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness. Jeremiah 12:1–2 Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?2 You have planted them; yes, they have taken root; They grow; yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But far from their mind. Psalm 73:1-16 Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 There are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble like other men, nor are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore, pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. 7 Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. they scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them. 11 And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High? ”Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. 13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all day long, I have been plagued and chastened every morning. 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.16When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me— Psalm 73:17 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. What is biblically defined prosperity? Fellowship with God Proverbs 8:17-21 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries. Family Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. 4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. 5Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed but shall speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 68:6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. Blessed are…Beatitudes (Blessed-happiness beyond a life of care, labor and death) Blessed in scripture often does not refer to finances. Matthew 5:3-12 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. God Bless the Work of Our Hands Genesis 39:22-23 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. Virtuous Wife Proverbs 31 Weather & Crops Leviticus 26:3-5 If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. Godly Posterity in the Earth Abraham- many prosperity preachers talk about Abraham's financial and net worth as the blessing of God on his life. 1. He was rich before God called him. 2. Yes, God did prosper Abraham with money, land, and people, but the entire purpose was for a Godly posterity that would be a people for God set apart on the earth. The wealth and stuff was a means to accomplish God’s purpose in this context. Genesis 18:18-19 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” Peace- Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Provision (not necessarily money) – Deuteronomy 2:7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing. Walks not in the council of the ungodly -(happy) Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Godly leaders- Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Obedience- Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. Needs provided – Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Purpose in pain- Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Freedom from the curse of sin- Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Fruits of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Take Away: Whether you are materially wealthy or not does not necessarily determine your spiritual condition or Health. A lot of material wealth does not equate to God's blessing or a lack thereof. Examples. Even the patriarchs had seasons of financial struggles, sickness, and difficulty. (Hebrews 11) • Jesus • Paul • Early Church • Persecuted Christians • The majority of church history The Gospel should produce Kingdom fruit no matter the location, people group, socioeconomic status, or natural resources. If it does not work that way, then you are not preaching the Gospel of Christ. Proverbs 30:8-10 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches— feed me with the food allotted to me; 9Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.