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It is the Lord’s desire that his people prosper financially. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2).  Prosperity does not necessarily mean great wealth, but God wants you to have dominion over your current financial situation. Prosperity is having all of your needs abundantly met while still having enough resources to bless others.  God does not want to see you living paycheck to paycheck and burdened by debt.  We are going to look at 7 principles that, if followed, will lead to financial success and material blessings.  The first principle is to have the understanding that Christians are complete in God.

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2:10).  Prosperity can never truly be obtained if a feeling of emptiness drives us to go on a never-ending quest to gain more and more material things.  Many people lust after money because they are seeking fulfillment and completion.  Instead of looking to God, material wealth becomes their God.  These individuals attempt to fill voids in their lives with “things”.  They are then plunged into a bottomless pit because material things cannot fill spiritual voids.  The Christian must come to the understanding that God is all that they need, and true fulfillment is found in God’s word.  God’s Spirit can satisfy us when we spend time with him, daily.  We avoid the consistent struggle for wealth when we receive the completeness that is found in God alone. Once we recognize the source of our completeness, we must seek God’s wisdom.

A fool and his money are soon parted.  Wisdom is often needed to maintain blessings.  “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” (James 1:5-7). We need wisdom in order to maintain and increase our financial and material blessings.  There is no greater source of wisdom than God.  For the Christian, true prosperity is only achieved when we have God given management skills. Ask God for the wisdom to maintain, invest, share, and save what he has given you.  Do not make any major financial or material investments without seeking counsel from your Father.  Once you have wisdom, ask God for the discipline to stick to the lessons that you have learned. 

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NASB).  Self-discipline is the ability to follow a plan despite pressures to abandon that plan.  Wisdom and knowledge about finances is nullified and rendered useless if the Christian does not have the self-discipline needed to act on what he or she knows.  Sticking to a budget, limiting unnecessary spending, and wise investing all require dedication and commitment.  God has already given his children self-discipline, we have to release and exercise what we already have on the inside of us.  We also need God’s guidance on learning to use the “tools” that he has given us.  

If you are God’s child, you already have the ability to manifest material blessings.  “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:18).  We need God’s wisdom in order to activate this ability.  God will often use our natural talents as a pathway for financial increase.  This is part of the covenant that all who are in Christ have entered into.  Ask God to show you were your gifts and talents lie and then begin to exercise these divinely empowered attributes.  It is important to always acknowledge God as your source.    

When a financial problem arises, many Christians immediately look to their bank accounts.  Although God often uses natural means to provide for his children, the source of our blessings come from heaven.  “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).  Looking at our natural resources restricts our faith.  God is not limited to how much we have in the bank.  God’s resources are infinite.  When a financial problem arises, our first response should be to look to God and his word.  Prosperity is not just about our comfort; it is also about the needs of others.       

God blesses us with the expectation that we will bless others.  “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38).  God’s measure of generosity in our lives is in direct proportion to our generosity to others.  Jesus promises that we will be blessed if we are a blessing.  We should keep this in mind when we give, but the primary reason for our helping others is to be like our Father.  The last principle involves faith.    

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).  Faith is heaven’s currency, and it is one of the main avenues through which God’s blessings come.  Faith comes through meditating on God’s word.  Faith for finances comes from meditation on God’s word concerning finances.  The Christian’s life should be founded on God’s word.  “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8).  Never allow yourself to become so busy that you do not have time to meditate on God’s word, it is the source of your power.    

The prosperous person is not necessarily wealthy; however, all of their needs are met by the power of God, and they are able to bless others.  The prosperous Christian feels complete in Christ, is financially wise, is disciplined in material affairs, uses the talents and abilities given to them by God, recognizes God as their source, blesses others, and meditates on God’s word.  Follow these principles and allow God’s blessings to flow into your life.