The Prosperity Gospel

Psalm 85:8-13

8 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their hearts to him.

9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
that his glory may dwell in our land.

10 Mercy and truth have met together; *
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *
and our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness shall go before him, *
and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

12 The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *
and our land will yield its increase.

That word prosperity. What is meant by this? What does it mean that the Lord will grant prosperity? We tend to think, wealth and riches and financial success. That is our 21st century understanding of prosperity. So when Jesus says how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven(Matthew 29:23) how do we square the idea that God is granting prosperity and that makes it harder for us to be with Him?! It doesn’t make any sense. Perhaps we believe that God will give his stamp of approval on our greed? Do we really believe that if God gives us the wealth we desire, then our greed is okay? Would God ever bless greed? If we have become wealthy because of our greed and then through Christ we become generous with our wealth, can we continue being greedy expecting that the ends will justify the means? The ones most likely to say yes to that are the same ones that stand in the pulpit telling you to give them your wealth. (Often with the promise that you will become wealthier. But they know they are the only ones that are becoming wealthy from that message).

So the original use of the word, “prosperity”, shala, has more to do with the feeling that one might have, like a king, when he is at ease because his people are not suffering or in need. So the idea of prosperity being a feeling of ease and peace because we all have enough is a very different idea when compared to today’s western idea of prosperity. Our western definition of prosperity is the idea that I have more than enough because of my efforts and talents. In our western culture, we don’t want to rely of God for “prosperity” because He is likely only going to give us our daily bread. So with that idea of “prosperity”, it does not reflect a God that approves of our greed. Rather it seems to reflect the authors understanding that when we turn our hearts to God, we are content with receiving our daily bread from Him. And not only that but we are at peace and at ease because we trust God to provide for us. And we are that way because our trusting Him has allowed us to see all that He provides for us abundantly day after day. The air we breath. The home we live in. The food we eat. The beauty all around us. The friends and family that we share love with. That is indeed the prosperity that the Lord grants to all of us. Its hard to live a prosperous life if we can’t see how prosperous we already are.