It's commonly called the "prosperity gospel". The gist of it, as often declared by televangelists, is that God loves you and wants to prosper you. Believe, and you'll be rich!

More often than not, those who have "signed on" to this gospel have found that the prosperity largely extends to those who are declaring it. But, there is evidence that God indeed desires to prosper us. Consider:

'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit. Indeed, your threshing will last for you until grape gathering, and grape gathering will last until sowing time. You will thus eat your food to the full and live securely in your land." (Leviticus 26:3-5)

As is consistently the case, God extends promises based on key conditions. Obedience is prerequisite to blessings. And, in the case of the Israelites, these conditional blessings were prosperity - abundant produce, rain, and bountiful food. 

We easily have our own ideas as to what God's prosperity ought to look like. Perhaps we think of it as winning the lottery - suddenly we're fabulously wealthy because we've been unfailingly faithful. This may be the experience of a few, but most of us find our material resources are as limited (maybe more so) as those outside the household of faith. And yet, are we lacking completely? Has God ever utterly failed to provide the essentials? You know the answer.

Of all that God promises His people, this is top of the list: "So I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will confirm My covenant with you." (Leviticus 26:9) We enjoy His attention ("I will turn toward you"). We have been made fruitful and have been multiplied (carefully consider what these mean in the truest spiritual sense). And, He continually confirms the covenant of life He has made with us through His Son, to give us the gift of immortality in the age to come.

The gospel IS one of prosperity, but don't confuse it with the fleeting prosperity of the world. He has given us something far greater. Savor the promise, life, and prosperity this day.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2012