We've all heard the saying, "money is the root of all evil" but this is so far from the truth. Actually, it's "the LOVE of money" which is the "root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10): not just the continual desire for more money but the hoarding of it as well. Both carry the foundation of the insidious sin of covetousness and ultimately, the sin of idolatry.
Back in 2013, when I was moving out of my home, I had the chance to reflect on what my immediate future was going to hold. Even as I pen this blog post, my home as I knew it no longer exists, I sold all of my furniture, gave away a good portion of my belongings, I'm in the process of building an online business and I'm literally just taking one day at a time. Honestly, for the first time in my life, I feel I don't have any control at all and frankly, it's scary as well as maddening. But, I believe this is the point: The Lord is drawing me to a greater dependence on Him and truly, it's the best place I could ever be even though it's uncomfortable. I'm seeing I was created to completely depend on the Lord in every way and for everything. I'm also starting to understand more and more when He says to, "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3: 5-6)
God owns everything including me. I'm not my own, I was bought at a heavy price. So, what does this have to do with prosperity? Everything...because true prosperity is really about transformation--first, the transformation from the kingdom of darkness and the continual renewing of the mind. If God owns everything, that means I own nothing. I am only called to surrender to Him as His vessel, His steward and manager. This is what it means to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
True prosperity has to do with the heart. As the heart is surrendered to the Lord and the mind renewed, the curses of all the aspects of debt, poverty and lack are broken and destroyed:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek (the humble) for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God." (Matthew 5:3,5,8)
"...Prosperity is the reward of the righteousness." (Proverbs 13:21)
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just
as your soul prospers." (3 John 2, NKJV)
Think about what prosperity really means and the condition of the heart. The Lord is most concerned about our hearts for where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also.
Back in 2013, when I was moving out of my home, I had the chance to reflect on what my immediate future was going to hold. Even as I pen this blog post, my home as I knew it no longer exists, I sold all of my furniture, gave away a good portion of my belongings, I'm in the process of building an online business and I'm literally just taking one day at a time. Honestly, for the first time in my life, I feel I don't have any control at all and frankly, it's scary as well as maddening. But, I believe this is the point: The Lord is drawing me to a greater dependence on Him and truly, it's the best place I could ever be even though it's uncomfortable. I'm seeing I was created to completely depend on the Lord in every way and for everything. I'm also starting to understand more and more when He says to, "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3: 5-6)
God owns everything including me. I'm not my own, I was bought at a heavy price. So, what does this have to do with prosperity? Everything...because true prosperity is really about transformation--first, the transformation from the kingdom of darkness and the continual renewing of the mind. If God owns everything, that means I own nothing. I am only called to surrender to Him as His vessel, His steward and manager. This is what it means to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
True prosperity has to do with the heart. As the heart is surrendered to the Lord and the mind renewed, the curses of all the aspects of debt, poverty and lack are broken and destroyed:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek (the humble) for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God." (Matthew 5:3,5,8)
"...Prosperity is the reward of the righteousness." (Proverbs 13:21)
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just
as your soul prospers." (3 John 2, NKJV)
Think about what prosperity really means and the condition of the heart. The Lord is most concerned about our hearts for where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also.
