Early Monday morning, I cooked breakfast for my son and I. As he was preparing his toast, he turned to me and said, “Mom, even though financially we aren’t where we want to be, I feel like this is the best time of our lives.” I looked at him and said, “I know. I feel the same way.”
Most people think of finances when they think of prosperity. However, the word says in 3 John 1:1-2 - “The Pastor, to my good friend Gaius: How truly I love you! We’re the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!” (MSG)
I had to go back and look up the word prosperity. One of the synonyms caught my eye - milk and honey. Wait, prosperity is synonymous with milk and honey? Milk and honey is the description given to the land that Moses was to deliver God’s chosen people too. The land that would provide for them and generations to come. So, prosperity is the blessings promised to me. It is the milk and honey of my heart according to the will of God. It is that thing that flows from my heart eternally.
Prosperity then is not dependent on the material things of this world. Remember God’s chosen? They were promised the land and their latter generations received the land but, their actions (murmuring and complaining) stopped them from touching the land. In this season, what is your murmuring and complaining stopping you from receiving? Do you not see that the prosperity that you are looking for begins within you? (Philippians 2: 14-15) “14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky”. (NIV)
I once heard a preacher say - “God can’t bless a mess”. That mess won’t be prosperous either. That mess will continue to be a mess until we as a people of God stop seeing the things of this world as the prosperity that we long for. Go back to 3 John. John is wishing prosperity on his good friend Gaius whom is working for the kingdom of God: (3 John 1: 3-4) “3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (NIV)
What message do those in your inner circle say that you are spreading? What delight are you brining tp their world? Do they hate to see you come or hate to see you leave?