Prosperity is highly valued in today’s world, sometimes to the point of obsession. We all want to be prosperous, but succumbing to a “carrot-and-stick” mentality keeps us constantly pursuing something elusive that we can never catch. If we forget who is the real source of everything good in our lives, we make the mistake of thinking we are the source of our own prosperity. Remembering that God, not us, is our source helps us keep the proper perspective.

It’s God’s will for the believer to prosper to the point of being able to give generously. He gives us the power to get wealth, to establish His covenant with us. Trusting that He’ll always abundantly supply everything we need and will never let us suffer lack or insufficiency helps us give with the right motivation. Giving is a selfless characteristic of being a Christian.

Giving has always been important to God. Under the old covenant of the law, He promised that the generous are blessed because they feed the poor. Now that we’re under the new covenant of grace, we give not to get blessed, but out of gratitude for already having been blessed. God has supplied all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God has blessed us so that we can bless others. Thinking about all the ways He has intervened in our lives when we needed help puts us in touch with our joy, so that we give spontaneously, not grudgingly; God loves a cheerful giver. Giving generously without congratulating ourselves or expecting anything in return allows us to quietly make an impact on others’ lives. This is a powerful witness for the kingdom of God.

Trusting God more than money turns our giving into joyful expressions of love and thankfulness. It demonstrates the condition of our hearts. Giving as an act of faith creates avenues that allow God to move in amazing ways. Leaning on Him in this area makes us truly prosperous.

Prayer:

Lord, You’ve blessed us with everything we need to live abundant, rich, plentiful lives. You freely poured blessings on us so that we can do the same for others. Thank You for empowering us in this manner. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 8:18

Proverbs 22:9, NLT

Philippians 4:19

2 Corinthians 9:7