Prosperity Gospel
by: ProIsrael
Total views: 543
Word Count: 819
PROSPERITY GOSPEL
What do you think of when you see the word ‘prosper’? Success? Bright lights? Fame? Fortune? A life of ease? The first mention of ‘prosper’ is in Genesis 24:42 And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go. The second mention of prosper is in Genesis 39:2 that will put the word in its proper context.
With the life of Joseph, Genesis 39:2 says, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” When was Joseph a prosperous man? After his brothers sold him into slavery, when he was in Potiphar’s house, God called Joseph a prosperous man! Genesis 39:3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. Joseph was prosperous when he was serving Potiphar! And it was the LORD who made him to prosper because the LORD was with him. “The LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.” Genesis 39:4 and Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Joseph was faithful in little. Joseph took responsibility. God was with him. Joseph was lifted up to overseer over Potiphar’s house. Then, all that he had he put into his hand. Joseph was given even more responsibility. Genesis 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. Genesis 39:6 And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
When God calls someone well favoured. Watch out! It doesn’t mean a life of ease. When Mary was blessed by God, she too was called well favoured, in fact highly favoured. Luke 2:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Well, that was the start of a life of embarrassment, shame, and misunderstanding. People thought she had fornicated, for even Joseph had the mind to stop their engagement. Not until the Lord intervened and helped him understand: “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. She even had to go through the agony of seeing her son die on the cross. But all who would be well favoured like Joseph or highly favoured like Mary go through a cross and an empty tomb. No pain, no gain.
Joseph was well favoured. That meant that was just the continuing path of suffering. So, we see from the context of Joseph that prosperity means not what we think it means in a worldly way. Prosperity, God’s way, is found in the path of conflict, disappointment, being misunderstood, and pain. For Mary, it meant embarrassment, shame, and misunderstanding; while for Joseph, it meant hard work for Potiphar, responsibility and honesty, then under the fire of temptation and misunderstanding, Joseph had to learn how to serve God in prison. Joseph had to learn to love God and serve him because he loved him. Genesis 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Genesis 39:23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
That, my friends, is the prosperity gospel. It is in the midst of the struggle that there is blessing! Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do all according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
About the Author
about Joseph OT about what it means to prosper and to be well favoured, and Mary NT about what it means to be highly favoured
Rating: 3.00