The idea of prosperity is no doubt appealing to many of us, but few people realize its true biblical meaning. When we think of prosperity, we tend to think in terms of money and financial wealth, but God’s perspective is much broader. Financial advisors and wealth managers can offer us their advice on how to get rich according to the world’s standards, but these standards are limited and can change at any time. The guidelines we find in the Bible for achieving true prosperity are eternal.

Contrary to what worldly philosophies tell us, God wants His Christian followers to be wealthy and prosperous. When we read the Word, we learn that money is just a tool to help us do what’s really important, which is serving Him. When we acknowledge God and ask for His blessings on our finances, He will answer. But we need to keep those abundant blessings in perspective. “If you start thinking to yourselves, ‘I did all this. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!’—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today” (Deuteronomy 8:17, 18, MSG).

Another misconception I want to mention is that money itself is just plain wrong. It’s not, and there’s no reason to feel guilty when God causes it to come into our life. It’s okay to have money, as long as we don’t make acquiring it the top priority in life. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Being prosperous not only means having wealth, but health, happiness, long life, and success. God promises these to us in His Word. When we remember to apply His scriptural lessons to our life, we open up the door to those promises. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

When we look at people who are healthy, happy, and physically active, that’s prosperity. When we see joyful parents with well-adjusted, godly children, that’s success. When we observe peaceful, loving families who put God first and operate according to His principles, that’s blessing. True prosperity is rooted in God’s truths, and it affects our spirit and our soul. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest  prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 1:2).

It’s no sin to be prosperous, as long as we have the right spirit about it. Jesus died and was resurrected for us so that we could not only have forgiveness of sins and eternal life, but also wealth, success, and prosperity. Remembering that will help us keep the correct mindset. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3). May you be blessed!