Where Does Prosperity Come From? By Lisa Burkhardt Worley
There are few people in the world who don’t want to prosperous, whether it’s prosperous in business, ministry or health. Culture teaches us that prosperity is up to us. We work and strive, spending long hours in the office or at the volunteer job. Some religiously buy Lotto tickets in hopes that they snag the million dollar winner. But I’ve learned over the years that prosperity and success are gifts from God, and he wants us to steward them well. In Job 1 when Satan and God have a discussion about the upstanding and God-fearing Job, Satan said, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is!” (Job 1:9-10, NLT)
Many of us know the story of Job. God took everything away—Job’s children, livestock and health, but in Job 1:21 Job says, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job knew that everything he possessed came from the hand of God and God had the right to remove everything. He was only a steward of the property.
That’s the way we feel about the house we live in. Our names may be on the home loan, but we believe it’s God’s house. This week is my doctoral in-class residency, required once a semester. One of my classmates will be based out of here this week. When we tape television shows, we always offer guests a place to stay at our home and we’ve had several pastors stay in our guest room when they are passing through. Once, a friend and her family lived here for a few weeks because there new house was not ready yet. This is one way we can bless others with the blessing we have received.
I believe that when we acknowledge God as provider, he is pleased and it gives Him glory. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” And when we follow Jesus we should not worry about provision. Jesus said, “‘That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!” (Luke 12:22-24).
Today, will you join me in thanking God for everything He’s given us—both large and small? Like any good Father, God wants His children to prosper.
“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:11, BSB).