BEYOND PROSPERIOUS

“Do not love the world or the things in the world…

The world is passing away along with its desires,

But whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

I John 2:15-17

The truth that God so loved the world that He gave His Son, who taught people not to love the world, would tell me there are two different meanings of world being spoken of.  The world that God created in the beginning and the world we have made.  All that God created and breathed His breath upon was good, very good.  All that man made will pass away; it has no substance.  It may be bog and flashy; it may look to be successful and productive; but it isn’t sustainable. Whatever is not of God’s Word and God’s will is doomed to disappear.  This makes me think twice about those who preach “Prosperity”, earthly rewards, and favor from God and man.

Jesus grew in favor with God and man.  He had nothing; no home, no successful ministry, no ritzy wardrobe, not even a grave of his own to be buried in.  Yet he was favored by God.  Those who followed Jesus as his disciples were favored, blessed, and remembered to this day.  But they lived meager lives, were cursed and killed, or in John’s case exiled.  They certainly were not successful or prosperous by today’s worldly standards.

God loves His children and will give only His best; He promises to give the desires of our hearts.  This makes for the potential of a very prosperous life.  But for me, something else is at work here.  I find that my desires change the more time I spend in God’s Presence.  They grow very simple, into one thing…being with Him in His Presence.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus;

Look full in his wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of his glory and grace.”