Prosperity continued…

Is there anything wrong with prosperity? Many Christians believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was poor during His ministry, and that since He is our model for life, we should be poor also. They use this verse to back it up:

Luke 9:58

58 And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

Jesus didn’t have a home where He slept every night, simply because He was the first “traveling evangelist!” He was constantly on the move. He could have stayed with Joseph of Arimathea, or in any of the other nice homes He was welcomed into. As we’ll see, He also could have easily produced the money to stay in the finest hotels if He had wanted to. Jesus certainly enjoyed the finer things:

Matthew 11:19

19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' …

The Greek brings out the fact that He ate fine food and drank good wine. He wasn’t poor! Jesus Christ knew God’s rules for prosperity (which we’ll get to in due time!).

Also, Jesus had twelve disciples and at least seventy other men traveling with him. (Luke 10:1-3) How could a poor man meet the needs of so many people? How many poor people run an organization this size? How many of them need a treasurer to take care of the finances? Jesus had one:

John 13:29

29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, "Buy the things we have need of for the feast"; or else, that he should give something to the poor.

Jesus had absolute faith, and was able to turn little into plenty. He has no need for worldly, material assets because He knew He could apply His faith to obtain whatever He needed! For example:

Mark 8:13-21

13 Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.

14 And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them.

15 And He was giving orders to them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

16 They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.

17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?

18 "HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR? And do you not remember,

19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?" They said to Him, "Twelve."

20 "When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to Him, "Seven."

21 And He was saying to them, "Do you not yet understand?"

What poor man could provide for others like this? When the tax collectors of Capernaum came to Peter and asked for money, was Jesus able to pay them? Of course!

Matthew 17:27

27 "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me."

It’s not just that He was able to perform miracles. What about when Jesus needed a colt to ride into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday? He didn’t have to buy or rent one; He simply told the disciples to go and get one. (Matt 21:1-7) What about when He needed a room for the Passover meal? He didn’t go rent one, He sent two disciples into Jerusalem and told them to go see a man, and he would take care of everything. (Mark 14:12-16)

What about when Jesus was on the cross? The soldiers who crucified Him gambled for possession of his cloak. It He was poor, where did He get a robe that was so valuable that soldiers would gamble for it? The Bible reveals the fact that Jesus was not poor.

So what’s the connection between the miracles performed by Jesus and His prosperity? He was able to turn little into plenty. Maybe you are thinking, “But He is the Son of God! What does this have to do with me?”

John 14:12-14

12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

But the key again is the next verse:

John 14:15

15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Jesus followed God’s laws of prosperity, and didn’t rely in the least on His own ability. He enjoyed total prosperity, not just financial, but also in His spirit, soul, and body.

We can enjoy that same prosperity in our lives here on earth.

Next, God’s laws for prosperity.