Prosperity Gospel

Q

Do you believe that the Bible preaches prosperity, what you say is what you get, claiming your inheritance, etc? I have a friend who goes to a church that teaches if we need anything, we just have to ask God. But he says we have to speak it out loud in order to get it. He claims that by speaking it out loud we can bring it into existence just like God spoke the creation into existence. Do you believe this?

A

I believe that the Bible teaches us to have faith that God is able to meet all of our needs. Matt. 6:25-34 tells us if we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness He will provide everything we need. Paul confirmed this in Phil. 4:19 saying, “my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

And King David said if we delight ourselves in the Lord He will give us the desire of our hearts (Psalm 37:4).

I don’t think that this necessarily means that He’ll immediately grant all our wildest wishes, as if He’s some genie from a bottle. After all He’s the one who brings to light what is hidden in darkness and exposes the motives of our hearts (1 Cor. 4:5). He knows whether we have a legitimate need or are just being selfish or immature.

Different groups promote different formulas that according to them will get God to perform for them, but my relationship with Him is such that I don’t feel the need to use any of them. I know that He looks for opportunities to give good gifts to His children (Matt. 7:11) and I’m comfortable simply placing my needs before Him to do with as He pleases.

Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Once I agreed to let Him show me what He means by living abundantly, I began to experience a life that was much more fulfilling than the one I had built on my own.