The Christian's Prosperity

One of the phenomena of the 20th century church, that continues today, is what is referred to as "the prosperity gospel". The basic premise is that if we give more to God (through the particular "ministry"!), then He will "reward" us abundantly. Of course, that is not an offering from a grateful heart, but an investment! Father God is not in that business!

However, the disciple of Jesus does know prosperity, even if not always of a financial nature! Paul writes to the Ephesian believers: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," (1:3; emphasis added).

Yes, our blessings are spiritual rather than material - and spiritual blessings last! Of course, given our high position in the Christ, it follows that the Father would provide whatever is necessary to accomplish His purposes in and for us.  

The "Beatitudes" of Matthew 5:3-12 (please read!) provide a good illustration. Each "blessing" is designed to meet a need or fulfil a desire of God's "chosen" (Eph.1:4). The poor, meek, and persecuted are given ownership in the kingdom. The mournful are given God's special comfort. Those who hunger for righteousness are filled. The merciful will obtain mercy, the pure in heart will see God, and the peacemakers are identified as God's children. The longings of our souls and characters are all met by God.

 

The practical needs of "knowledge and discretion." are met, too (Eph.1:8). Wisdom is knowledge focused toward useful application, and prudence is the ability to develop successful activities based on wisdom. The Word of God is the source of wisdom (Deut.4:1-6; Prov.1:1-6) and is inspired of God to be "... profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (II Tim.3:16-17).

 

Furthermore, "He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will," (Eph.1:9). "kept secret" in the days of the Old Testament prophets (see Rom.16:25-26), it is now made clear to us so that "through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. " (Eph.3:10). These spiritual resources are available for every believer "for the common good." (I Cor.12:7). Let us pray that we do not waste these resources like the "wicked and slothful" servant in the parables of the talents and the pounds (Matt.25:26; Luke 19:22).

Genuine - or imitation?!

Today, along with my wife and a number of other people, I attended a seminar on the Persecuted Church, organised by L'Église Évangélique Libre de Bergerac with the organisation Portes Ouvertes (the French 'branch' of Open Doors - founded by Brother Andrew).  It was a very interesting, if sometimes harrowing, time as we heard, by video, from some of those who have suffered greatly for the sake of the Lord Jesus.

In our new home in Gardonne, awaiting a place to be hung, is a painting by the great French artist, Monet.  Well, it would be very nice if it was a genuine Monet.  Such paintings sell at auction for millions of pounds sterling.  Ours is actually just a print - and worth less than the frame that contains it!  The genuine article is seen, by those who can afford the vast sums involved, as an investment.  Our print, being just a copy, is certainly not investment material!

There is, I would suggest, a parallel in the spiritual realm.  The world is filled with 'religion', and Christianity is, numerically, the numerically largest such group.  Many people talk about Jesus (to one another!); insist on 'clean living'; carry a Bible; and attend worship services in a local church building.  But, like our Monet, they are not the real thing.  They are only pretenders.

The beloved disciple, John, in his first pastoral letter, gives three marks of a true disciple of Jesus.  The first of these is obedience: "And by this we may be sure that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." (2:3).   Secondly, a true disciple will display genuine love for fellow-believers: "He who loves his brother abides in the light, ..." (2:10).  The third mark given by the apostle is love for God, and not for the world: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever." (2:15-17).  If such qualities are not seen, consistently, in our lives, then we may need to examine our faith to check that it is genuine!

Those who suffer, as so many do, for the sake of the Lord Jesus are the real thing.  One would have to be, in order to remain constant and true.  Let those of us who live in the still relatively-safe 'western world' ensure that we, too, are true followers of Jesus - and not just imitations!