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Let me begin by stating what should be obvious before all of the heresy-hunters attack me for preaching “the prosperity gospel.” The true biblical prosperity that I am referring to arises out of a life truly surrendered and devoted to living for Jesus Christ according to biblical principles and standards. Until we accept Jesus as both our Lord and our Savior, we will lag behind in attaining the fullest extent of prosperity that God intends for all of us to have.

While one may attain financial prosperity without accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, such a one cannot attain full prosperity until yielding his/her life to the Lordship of Christ. In fact, I’ve often preached that I am not certain Jesus can be the Savior of one’s soul unless He is also the Lord of one’s life. I’d like all of the heresy-hunters to contemplate their own relationship to Jesus as LORD before they boast about His salvation of their soul.

The prosperity I want to focus on in this article, in particular, and in this blog, in general, covers every aspect of one’s life, from money to health to relationships to just about anything one can think of. While it certainly includes financial wellbeing, it also includes health and everything else that makes life worthwhile. Hence, the title for this blog is “Health and Wealth Wise.” Having established this premise, I will now proceed to discuss a few of the keys to attaining this general health, wealth, and wellbeing in every aspect of life.

1. Submit to Jesus Christ. Naturally, the first key is acknowledging Jesus Christ for who He is: God in human flesh who is both Lord and Savior of all mankind. However, the salvation Jesus purchased with His sacred, atoning blood does not apply to anyone until he/she acknowledges who Jesus is and what He did on the cross for all mankind. If you skip this key, you may amass some measure of wealth, and you may maintain some semblance of health (usually spending a significant portion of your wealth to maintain your health), but you won’t attain the full biblical prosperity that God extends to all who faithfully obey His commands.
2. Return God’s Tithe. While this may be one of the most unpopular commands of God for New Testament Christians to accept and obey, it remains a practice that both Jesus and the writer of the letter to the Hebrews (the Apostle Paul?) spotlighted (see Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; and Hebrews 7). If you are one of those Christians who disputes the practice of tithing as applicable to New Testament believers, ask yourself if your eternal salvation depends on whether you accept and obey this commandment from God. If you answer “no”, then ask yourself why you are so resistant to obeying it. Note that this is the only subject in all of holy Scripture where God invites us to test His promise to bless us by our obedience to it (see Malachi 3:10-12). What have you got to lose except God’s blessing and full prosperity? Perhaps denying the applicability of this command in our time is a demonic deception to keep God’s people from achieving full and true prosperity. Why don’t you resolve here and now to take God up on His promise to bless you richly if you will begin by returning the tithe that He clearly says belongs to Him (see Malachi 3:8-9)? You’ll be amazed at how far God stretches the remaining 90% after you have given Him His 10%. It is an act of faith and obedience. Be mindful, though, that this is 10% of your gross earnings (not your net) and everything else you receive by way of gifts, rewards, etc., Don’t stop at the tithe however. There are numerous other ways to give to God as well.
3. Give Generously Both to God and to Others. After giving your tithe to God, next, give to as many other charitable causes as you can. Many Christians may be shocked to learn that God also mandated offerings from His people. Of the seven feasts God instituted for their observance, He stated that for three of them–Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles–“. . . they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed” (Deuteronomy 16:16 NKJV). At another time, we are informed that “he who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given” (Proverbs 19:17 NKJV). Jesus even went so far as to say that when we care for the least of His brethren (meaning the lowliest and poorest in both status and financial means who are in relationship with Him) that we are, in fact, giving to Him (see Matthew 25:31-46). “In relationship with Him”–as inferred by the word “brethren”–refers specifically to fellow Christians, though it may also be applied to His brethren from the house of Israel, but “the poor” can certainly include anyone outside the household of faith as well. Nevertheless, our first priority ought to be those of the Judeo-Christian faith, as the Apostle Paul emphasized by using the word “especially” in his letter to the church in Galatia (Galatians 6:10 NKJV).

If you want to attain the true prosperity that God promises to all who faithfully obey His commands, be sure that, first and foremost, you engage in covenant with Him for the salvation of your soul. Next, be faithful to pay the tithe of all that you earn and receive as both gifts and rewards. Then, give as generously as you can to as many charitable causes as you can that serve the needs of the poor, as well as of those who minister the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith.

If you aren’t currently in covenant with Jesus Christ, contact me through the Contact page on this site, and I will be delighted to lead you into that glorious decision. Until next time, may God bless you richly beyond all that you can ask or imagine, or as the Apostle Paul put it, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV).