Biblical Prosperity and Success: Ruminator Style

Let's face it, the whole subject of Biblical Prosperity and Success is pretty controversial. While there is nothing inherently wrong with having money or possessions, it is certainly true that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Having great fame and possessions is not always a sign of God's favor just as having few possessions is not necessarily a sign of God's judgement. The Book of Hebrews includes a chapter often referred to as The Hall of Faith-a list of people who have gone before us who by faith gained the approval and approbation of God. By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain, Enoch was taken from this life so that he did not experience death, Noah built an ark to save his family, and others conquered kingdoms, administered justice, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of the sword; became powerful in battle and received back their dead, raised to life again. Yet other, equally faithful servants of God were tortured for their faith, faced jeers and flogging, chains and imprisonment, were put to death by stoning, were sawed in two, or killed by the sword. They were destitute, persecuted, and mistreated-the world was not worthy of them. Biblical success can be defined as accomplishing the purposes of God in our lives. Biblical prosperity can be viewed as having enough to meet our needs and an overflow to help meet the needs of others. In a world of socialism, communism, capitalism, and every other kind of -ism, the question is not what you have, but what are you going to do with it?