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| Prosperity & Health |
| Introduction Read 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 Read 1 Samuel 2:7 Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 Read 2 Corinthians 12-5-10 Conclusion |
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| One movement present today promotes prosperity and health for all believers. Although this movement started in the early 20th Century, television ministries have been the most visible in promoting the idea. These verses are popularly known as "The Prayer of Jabez." Very little can be gleaned about Jabez, but we do know that his name sounds like Hebrew for 'pain', his mother gave birth to him in pain, and his request for more territory stems from a desire to be free from pain or causing pain (depending on bible translation). One conclusion that may be drawn is that Jabez must have proven himself a capable manager before being granted more territory. In the same way, we often must prove ourselves with small things first before being entrusted with greater things. Others have concluded that God has blessing that are available to us if we specifically ask for them. Although this may be true, we must be cautious not to use this verse as a scared formal to achieve only wealth. At times in the Old Testament prosperity is seen as a sign of God's favor towards someone; Deuteronomy 28:1-4 even talks about blessings coming from obedience - yet in this verse we see that poverty was sent to humble someone. Hebrews 12:10-11 continues this idea with God disciplining us so we may reap the rewards in the future. Although Christians should view prosperity as a blessing from God, we can not draw the conclusion that Christians are suppose to be rich. In addition, we should remember what true poverty is. An old saying reads "I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet." How often have we been richly blessed yet don't appreciate what we have? How often is our true motivation simple envy of what someone else has? Chapter 9 deals with the setting aside resources to help God's people. Often times, people are concerned that they are not capable of giving anything and that doing so will make them poor. Verse 11 shows the opposite, it is through the abundance that God has given to us that we are able to freely give. How often do we mistake materialism for the prosperity of God? How often are we more interested in 'keeping up with the Jones' than with helping our fellow brother? Riches are not just limited to money. Time and talents are also given in abundance that we can freely give. We should remember that items that the world places little value on may have rich value in spiritual realms. In Numbers 33:55, the phrase 'thorns in your sides is used to describe people persecuting Israel. Therefore some have concluded that Paul?s thorn might have been someone that troubled or tormented him. Others point to evidence that might indicate a medical condition, such as Paul mentioning illness in Galatians 4:13-15. Regardless, the point is not what the 'thorn' literally was but that God's will was not to remove it. It was through Paul's weakness that God's strength showed. In faith, Paul believed that God had the power to remove the 'thorn.' And we too should have the faith that God has such power. But Paul realized it wasn't in God's Will to remove the 'thorn' that he had, and maybe true within our own lives. Some Christians may be blessed with more wealth than other, but we all are far richer by the salvation we have through Jesus Christ. It is through grace that we have received salvation and through grace that we have the greatest prosperity. Our physicals bodies in this life are frail, weak, and prone to sickness. Even the strongest man isn't immune to the common cold and will be sidelined by its effects. |
