Should Believers Expect Blessings in Regard to Finances, Health, and Success? (Part 5 of Interaction with the Belief Statement of a Prosperity Gospel Church)

While giving a sermon at a local SBC church in Shreveport, the pastor mentioned his joyful willingness to partner a local church called the Word of God Ministries. Honestly, the name alone drew my attention as it suggests affiliation with the Word of Faith and Prosperity Gospel movements. Given this concern, it made sense to tour their website (See link in 1^st endnote) and determine whether or not grounds existed to support my suspicion. On their website, I accessed their belief statement which included the following words:

It is the Father’s will for all believers to become prosperous, healthy and successful in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will and blessing while on earth. However, this should never prevent all believers from seeking the full endowment of God’s Blessings offered through Jesus Christ. Biblical wholeness affects at least four areas of one’s life:

Spiritual (John 3:3-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-13); Mental or Emotional (2 Timothy 1:7; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3); Physical (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24); Financial (Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19; 3 John 2)[i]

In Part 1 of this series, the initial part of this belief statement was considered.[ii] After reviewing the teachings of Scripture, this statement was found to be in error essentially because it directs believers to maintain an earthly focus on temporal blessings instead of pointing believers toward Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings as Paul did. While it is true that believers may experience some earthly blessings, these blessings are never to serve as objectives that should be sought after and expected in the Christian life. Part 2 of this series considered the promises of God to believers in relation to spiritual blessings using the verses provided in this statement.[iii] Unfortunately, the verses provided by the church completely overlook the fruit of the Spirit in favor those concerns with soteriology. Part 3 examined the verses offered concerning mental or emotional blessings.[iv] In Part 4, the verses associated with physical blessings were carefully studied.[v] Part 5, the final addition to this series, will cover the verses listed above by the Prosperity Church to support their belief that God’s promised financial blessings should be a focus during the Christian life.

Financial

Joshua 1:8 – This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success.”

In Joshua 1:8, the Lord commands Joshua to focus his mind (think deeply) on the study of Scripture so that his way would be “prosperous” and successful. From the context, it is clear that the Lord has the conquering of the promised land in mind. Within the old covenant, the Israelites were promised material blessing so long as they faithfully obey the Lord (cf. Deut 4:1-40). At the time, for Joshua and the Israelites, prosperity and blessing was linked directly to promised temporal blessings so long as God’s people kept their part of the covenant. With this being the context of this verse, one must consider what principles and applications can be derived from this verse for the New Testament (NT) believer. Clearly, God desires that his Word be carefully studied and obeyed. Further, He indicated His pleasure in his promised response to prosper Joshua and make certain his success in the task of moving into the promised land. NT believers, therefore, should expect some form of reward from God for their faithfulness in regard to the Word. Unfortunately, this verse does not reveal what those rewards will be. Furthermore, the financial blessings (as well as other blessings) were directly associated with the obedience of the Israelites to God’s will. If God’s will for the Christian is to suffer for Christ (e.g., incur financial troubles), then the Christian would be expected to trust God in the midst of deprivation. Given this, this verse is hardly sufficient proof that faithful believers will prosper financially.

Malachi 3:10-11 – “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the Lord of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. 11 Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground; nor will the vine in the field prove fruitless to you,” says the Lord of armies.”

In the Old Testament, the tithe was commanded by God to be used in support of Levitical priests (also strangers, orphans, and widows, cf. Deut 14:29 and 26:12) who were barred from receiving a direct inheritance from the Lord when the Promised Land was divided among the tribes of Israel (Lev 27:30-31; Num 18:21-28; Deut 12:11; 14:22). For the Israelite at the time of Malachi, faithfully giving the tithe and offerings was an expected (i.e. commanded) part of the Old Testament (OT) Mosaic covenant. Since the Israelites entered into the Mosaic covenant, they were duty-bound to give the requisite tithes and offerings which amounted to 23-28% of their yearly income. By not faithfully giving the agreed amount, the Israelites are rightly charged with robbing God. Should they change course and start giving their tithes and offerings, Malachi assures them of temporal blessings in line with Mosaic promises of blessings for those who are obedient (Lev 26:3-4). Malachi 3:9-10, therefore, is in total alignment with the covenant God made with the Israelites as they were about to enter the Promised Land.

From these verses (among others), the NT believer can learn that God is pleased when they give of their wealth to his church. This would certainly include any amounts that believers choose (in their own hearts) to give. If the Israelites would give of their material wealth, God promised to bless them materially in response. For Christians then, it would seem clear that God blesses in accordance with the seed that is sown. In addition, we can observe from Malachi’s directive and the rest of the OT that giving the first-fruits of our wealth is pleasing to God (assuming, of course, one’s heart is right). Despite these clear implications, believers who faithfully give may still undergo God-ordained suffering which may include financial strain.

Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

According to Luke, God blesses people in accordance with how they bless others. If a believer gives of their wealth (assuming the right heart, cf. 2 Cor 9:6-10), he/she can expect in general that God will indeed bless him/her financially. Even so, persecution and other difficulties that fall upon Christians can lessen any such blessings in this world.

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 – “Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written: “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”

Giving, according to Paul in this passage, is a matter of the heart. It must be in sequence with a generous intent and not under compulsion. In other words, giving to God in the NT is not a matter of law, and believers are not to be mandated to give. In Corinthians 9:8, Paul ensures that God will bless the believer financially and in line with that believer’s giving (which is done with a generous heart).

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 – ““Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I am commanding you today, that the Lord your God will put you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings will come to you and reach you if you obey the Lord your God: 3 “Blessed will you be in the city, and blessed will you be in the country. 4 “Blessed will be the children of your womb, the produce of your ground, and the offspring of your animals: the newborn of your herd and the young of your flock. 5 “Blessed will be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 “Blessed will you be when you come in, and blessed will you be when you go out. 7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated by you; they will go out against you one way and will flee at your presence seven ways. 8 The Lord will command the blessing for you in your barns and in everything that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 9 The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10 So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will be afraid of you. 11 And the Lord will give you more than enough prosperity, in the children of your womb, in the offspring of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless every work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will only be above, and not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God which I am commanding you today, to follow them carefully, 14 and do not turn aside from any of the words which I am commanding you today, to the right or the left, to pursue other gods to serve them.””

In this passage, the writer of Deuteronomy makes it clear that any Israelite who hopes to be materially blessed should faithfully obey the Mosaic covenantal laws (vv. 1-2). Furthermore, each Israelite was expected to “walk in [the Lord’s] ways” (v. 9). This would expand the requirement to one that is more in line with the NT (cf. 2 Cor 9:6-10). In other words, the faithful Israelite must follow all laws, including those regarding giving, and must do in a way that is consistent with the character of God. Such a person must, therefore, give at all times generously if they expect to receive God’s material blessings underneath covenantal law and its promises.

Psalm 34:10 – “The young lions do without and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.”

Here, the psalmist promises provision for the Lord’s people. As to whether such provision includes finances, much less an abundance of such, this verse does not provide sufficient clarity in and of itself. Therefore, any teaching on the subject of God’s financial blessings for the believer should not depend on this reference exclusively.

Psalm 84:11 – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.”

In this verse, the psalter makes it abundantly clear that any person expecting to receive provision from the Lord should make sure that integrity marks his/her life. Once again, this verse does not demonstrate in and of itself that God will financially bless a believer.

Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Paul tells his audience that God will supply the needs of His people. Should believers have legitimate financial needs, then this verse indicates that God will supply. From the context, it appears that Paul certainly could use the financial gifts given by the Philippians and yet he still claims to be without need (Phil 4:11). In receiving their gifts, Paul makes it clear that God will supply the needs of His people including those needs which are financial. Despite this assurance, Paul also indicates that he has learned to be satisfied in times of want (Phil 4:11-12). Like Paul, generous believers should not expect an immediate response from God. Instead, God may allow them to experience a time of financial strain before blessing them financially according to His Word.

3 John 2 – “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

John, in this verse, is simply offering Gaius a standard greeting and expressing his hope that things go well (“prosper”) for him. This, of course, could include financial dealings, but the general nature of John’s greeting makes this verse somewhat insufficient for one looking for solid support from Scripture on the topic of God’s promise to financially bless the giver.

Final Word:

Believers who give with a generous heart will be blessed financially unless God’s will lead them in a direction that requires them to forego such blessings temporally. Like Paul who gave so much, givers may experience even more fellowship in the suffering of Christ, so they must never allow expectation of blessings due to their giving to become their focus in their relationship to God. Rather, they should keep Christ first as He is the One True Blessing to all Christians.

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[i]Available at: http://wogm.com/about-us.

[ii]Available at: https://battlehardenedbeliever.com/?p=859.

[iii]Available at: https://battlehardenedbeliever.com/?p=902.

[iv]Available at: https://battlehardenedbeliever.com/?p=905.

[v]Available at: https://battlehardenedbeliever.com/?p=1000.