What is Prosperity?

Anyone who receives letters and memoranda from me knows I usually begin with a familiar greeting.  “Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  I hope this letter finds you in good health, spiritually and physically.”  It comes from 3 John 2 in which the apostle of love prays for well being of his dear friend, Gaius.  “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth.”  That verse is the foundation for “the gospel of health and wealth.”  Christian television universally endorses this theological perspective.  However, my use of that verse suggests a desire for the recipient of my correspondence to achieve holistic health.  It may or may not include a clean bill of health and material acquisition.  Yet, it includes an earnest prayer for a vibrant relationship with Almighty God in which your needs are met. 

Understandably, many who preach the gospel of good health and wealth seek to combat a longstanding heresy.  There is no correlation between poverty and righteousness.  For many years, people in the Church taught that poor people had an inherent advantage with God.  Yes, Jesus says we always have poor people.  Jesus’ incarnation actually demonstrates a preference toward the poor.  He comes as a carpenter in the poor region of Galilee.  He does not live a life of royalty and luxury.  He dwells amongst the downcast and downtrodden.  Yet, Jesus challenges them to a higher level of spirituality just as he did the Rich Younger Ruler.  Poor people face the same challenges of utilizing personal talents and natural endowments to obtain inner healing and a holistic life.  “Success” may or may not include physical health and financial gain.

Accordingly, the prevalent and popular teaching you can quantify righteousness and spirituality through an inventory of material possessions is equally false.  Righteousness has very little to do with possessions and finances.  Yes, Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon and Job were righteous and prosperous.  Again, an inherent correlation does not exist between the two circumstances. The prophets (Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah and Elisha) were righteous men who did not possess wealth.  Moreover, Elisha died of a sickness.  The Apostle Paul suffers from a thorn in his side, which the Lord does not remove.  Commendably, Paul advises Philippian believers to be content in plenty or little. 

Connecting poverty and spirituality creates false humility.  Poor people assume automatic admittance to heaven.  Equating righteousness with material acquisition coerces incessant demands from God.  God becomes a daily Santa Claus who listens to self-seeking wish lists.  However, health involves more than our bodies; and money is not the only measure of wealth.  Prosperity is a holistic process that touches every aspect of human being: mind, soul, psyche, spirit, will, body and heart.  A deficiency in any component jeopardizes wellbeing in other areas.  Prosperity requires consistent spiritual discipline in developing character.  It is far more challenging than balancing your checkbook.  The rewards of genuine spiritual prosperity exceed crass materialism however prevalently taught today’s Church.

Mental health is a major societal challenge in the United States.  Countless people are on Prozac; we are a “Prozac nation.”  Bipolar disorders, depression, schizophrenia and many other mental diseases plague the Church.  Desire for genuine acceptance and unconditional love fuels an entire segment of American publishing market: seminars, books, tapes, discs, movies, retreats, etc.  People spend incalculable amounts of money pursuing self-help and self-improvement.  It is essential we heal from past wounds lest they perpetually define us.  We fail to find holistic healing and peace.  Summarily, wellness and prosperity include mental balance,   divine love, inner healing and wholeness.