A Biblical Prosperity Message (Part 3) by Michael Furlonger

To begin, this is Part 3 on Biblical Prosperity, and likely last, of a number of blogs posts on this subject.

It began when I wrote a post called “My Best Friend’s Wife Wrote Me A Love Letter (Click Here To Read). In it, I address that I took a letter my friend’s wife wrote for her husband and claimed it was for me. I did this in an attempt to address that we can’t take scripture out of context and say, “God promised me prosperity.” This was in frustration to the misuse of Jeremiah 29:11 (“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”). The frustration is when in Jeremiah 29:1&10 says specifically for whom the letter is written.

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon… This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place…” (Jeremiah 29:1&10)

A Biblical Prosperity Message

I went on to write a post, followed by another on true biblical prosperity. By recognizing the nature of God and living according to godly standards, you will likely prosper. Not because God will supernaturally manipulate people’s freewill, but that, deep down, people react positively to God.

In the first Biblical Prosperity Message (Click Here To Read), I discuss a man named Joseph. He was favoured by his father and, due to jealousy, was sold as a slave by his brothers. The brothers told their father that he had been killed.

The story continues and I show that, although he was sold as a slave, God was with him. In the first post, I illustrate how we can only prosper to the level of the person over us. In the case, Potiphar purchased Joseph as a slave, and Joseph remained a servant in Potiphar’s house.

The second post, where Joseph is now in prison (Click Here To Read), I illustrate how people raise others. In the case of Joseph, he interprets dreams for two men in prison and the one mentioned Joseph to the Pharaoh. At which point, Pharaoh raises Joseph up to lead Egypt through the coming famine.

And this is where we are now.

A Biblical Prosperity Message (Part 3)

After Joseph interprets the dreams for the Pharaoh, Pharaoh raises Joseph up to prepare for the famine that his dreams spoke of.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” (Genesis 41: 39-40)

So for the next seven years, there is great growth and prosperity in Egypt. Joseph was put in charge to prepare for the seven year famine that was to come. You can read this from Genesis 41:41-49 when Joseph stored up much of the food that grew over the seven year of plenty.

When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere. (Genesis 41:56-57)

The Brothers Reunite

In Genesis 42, you can read that the famine struck Joseph’s father and brothers in Canaan. Joseph’s father, Jacob, sent his other sons to Egypt to collect grain. The brothers go to Egypt to get grain, but they don’t recognize that this person in charge is their brother Joseph. Keep in mind that, when the brothers are reunited, roughly 20 years had passed (Gen. 41:36).

Although the brothers don’t recognize Joseph, Joseph recognizes them, but doesn’t make himself known. You can read more in Genesis 42- 44 to read more, but the brothers think that Joseph is going to kill them. Finally, in Genesis 45, Joseph does make himself known.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (Genesis 45:4-7)

It Isn’t All About You

This is the big thing, my friends. Prosperity isn’t about you! Reading the adventures of Joseph, he gave glory to God. And as he spoke to his brothers, “do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”

It truly breaks my heart that people don’t want God for God’s sake. We all want God to make us rich, or healthy, wealthy, etc. And there is nothing wrong with asking God for such things, but check where your heart is.

How many times have you heard that if a Goliath sized obstacle is in your life, God must think there is a David inside of you. Let’s look at that:

He (Goliath) looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:42-45)

Will God help you with your work situation? Yes. Will God help you remain peaceful during a finals exam? Yes. But, unless your standing up for the name and glory of God, you’re not a David fighting Goliath.

Conclusion

I apologize if this ruined your hopes and dreams. God loves you and God will guide you in all the hardships of your life. But there is a good chance that those things that you’re praying for and wanting, God has plans for you to do something else.

Consider this verse:

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

It doesn’t mean that because you sing loudest at church, you will be rich. Or that if you tithe, you will get that job. Read it: Take delight in the LORD. When we want the things that God wants, he will give you the desires of your heart. Joseph gave credit to God over the dreams and he became king-adjacent of Egypt. David didn’t want a Philistine to dishonour the name of the LORD Almighty and he killed the giant the Israel army fled from.

God bless you, my friend.

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