What is prosperity? How do you become prosperous? Doesn’t the bible speak against becoming rich?
Short answers. Doing above well. Study hard, be prepared, and open to opportunities. No, but it does speak about how it could be harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
For those that may know me or have listened to me talk about my life with Christ or better yet my theology, I stray far from prosperity teaching. I find it ironic that I decided to name my blog and first business Shear Prosperity. It goes to show that I somewhat understand the grey area. The truth of the grey area is that some people can handle it and others cannot. Some people can handle success, money, power, fame, and other describing words that make you think of prosperity, but others struggle and fail miserably when they get a piece.
What I have planned for this post is to take a few questions and answer them with my opinion, take a look at a few bible versus, and lastly add some practical steps for those wanting to become prosperous.
1. How do I become prosperous
Prosperity is a mindset added to a goal. Some people’s idea of prosperity would be working a 9 to 5 in a career you love, coming home to a family, eating a good meal, watching their favorite sport team beat it’s rivals, laying in bed with the love of their life, and getting a full 12 hours of sleep before work the next day. I also must agree that this sounds nice if there was more time in the day. When I think of prosperity I go a little above this. I say that I want to be able to do all these things but I want it on my own terms. I want to produce these same outcomes without having to worry about our 9 to 5 going away, getting laid off, business going bankrupt. This is my lomg definition of financial prosperity. You become prosperous with finances when income is inevitable. You become prosperous with finances when you find a way to make your money work for you instead of your time making you money. You become prosperous with finances when you figure out that being an employee your whole life will not set you up for retirement in the end. Prosperous with finances is a mindset and the goal is your idea of freedom.
2. Why do Churches always ask for my money? Are they only becoming prosperous because of others?
I want to start of by saying that all organizations need workers. Volunteering is the exact same thing as giving your money. Assuming that you know your time is valued. Churches, not for profits, for profits, small gatherings, and other organizations all have the same thing in common and that is time/money. Without having resources all things come to an end. The answer to the second question is… of course. A building cannot be constructed without labor, iron, wood, and cement. Sunday schools and teen worship do not happen without dedicated leaders and volunteers. Choirs, bands, mission trips, and ministries are not prosperous without you, your money, and your time.
Bible versus on prosperity
Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 1:10, 1Kings 2:3, Proverbs 16:20
There are many more versus on prosperity, but this is a good starter.
Prosperity in a Bible
What you may find while reading the bible is this never ending speech on “do this and prosper or do this and be shamed forever”. I can guarantee that you will never see the bible tell you specifically what career to seek, investments to make, day of the week to grab a lotto ticket, or what businesses start. I do guarantee that the bible says to follow God’s instructions. This is the beauty of being a human. We have choices! We can be a teacher, warrior, NBA star, fisherman, or pastor. But what God requires of us is that we follow him and be great at what we do. Thus, to be great at what we do we must study and learn how to be great. We must take risk and never sit on money (“parable of the Talents/Three Servents” Matthew 25:14). I know you are asking the golden question, “How do I learn?” My best answer is to read the following books and then research books that are specific to your field and learn more.
My Favorite Books
The Bible
Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kyosaki
Set for Life – Scott Trench
The E Myth – Michael Gerber
Be Obsessed or Be Average – Grant Cardone
Life of Abundance 