Prosper: To succeed in an enterprise or activity, especially to achieve economic success. To become strong and flourishing.

What you are about to read will enlighten you and is aimed to invite a new perspective on the meaning of prosperity and wealth.

God doesn’t care if you are rich or poor. There is a good chance that you and I will never be rich, at least by conventional standards. I’m convinced of that now. It took me awhile to get to this point, but I’m here and I’m sticking to my guns. As a matter of fact, God may be happier with you less rich. I know that is a tough pill to swallow, but read on.

credit: lincolnblues

In God We Trust

The beauty of the Bible is how each person applies it to their own personal settings. The truth, no matter how the Osteens, Dollars, Jakes, etc. feel, is that there are abundantly more poor people than rich. God fearing, faithful, obedient…poor people. While my theology knowledge is debatable, this fact I feel secure about. If trusting and believing in God was all it took to be rich, why aren’t you?

God commissions us to spread His word to those that do not know Him. He also commissions us to serve and worship Him. That is why we are allowed to stay on this thing we call Earth. In none of the Bible translations did I see “make a lot of money” or “become rich”. Either God didn’t say it or that cat King David left it on the editing room floor. As a matter of fact, becoming rich may hinder you more than help in making God happy. The time, energy and resources you spend chasing those dollars may be better used in fulfilling God’s true wishes. On top of that, turning our backs on God becomes a lot easier to do when you have more than enough money to supply all your needs and wants.

Occupation, not Dedication

Your occupation has a lot more to do with getting rich than your dedication to your faith. On paper accumulating wealth is a simple equation. Assets – Liabilities = Net Worth. If person A’s income allows them to create Assets at a faster rate then person B’s then they should be able to increase their Net Worth faster (if they keep Liabilities in check). Now, this is not to say that person B can not have a wonderful, fulfilling life. Money is a utility, and we all should know it can’t buy happiness. We are supposed to be managers of the resources we have. Having a Bentley and a big house may be all-good, but spending all your time praying for one is not. I know the above mentioned pastors would argue that prosperity preaching is not just praying for material items, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck then…

Can you lend me some change?

We all know that America is the land of opportunity and prosperity. There are rich folks and poor folks and folks in the middle. God wants us to be prosperous; it says so in the Bible so I am not denying that. But have you considered that the mainstream definition of prosperity and God’s definition may be totally divergent? Have you thought about how the definition of prosperity has changed for all the folks in America? Consider the following:

• 43% of all poor households actu­ally own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
• Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 31 percent own two or more cars.
• 97% of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.
• 78% have a VCR or DVD player; 62% have cable or satellite TV

Do you need more proof? Review these articles from american.com and heritage.org.

What you can do

Get in where you fit in. Live under your means, way under if possible.

Appreciate the “small” miracles in life.

Be optimistic AND realistic. Dream big, but realize God isn’t Santa Claus.

Give back your money AND your time. If time is money, then shouldn’t you be tithing both?

Have mustard seed faith and coconut sized cojones.

For more info check out www.molifeney.com.