God’s Prosperity

by Heather Tietz

Then you will prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD gave Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed.

1 Chronicles 22:13

Prosperity. How does God define it?

Throughout the Old Testament God offered prosperity to His people over and over again. In Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles and Psalms, He promises a wealth of good living to the Israelites – safety, adequate rain, plentiful crops, healthy wombs, multiple children, productive work and long life. These blessings were all theirs as long as they were careful to obey all the laws and ordinances Moses had given them. This was God’s covenant with them. But throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites struggled to keep themselves in this covenant. They kept breaking their part of the deal. In turn, God took prosperity away from them.

Then Jesus came. God began His new covenant. No longer are we obliged to follow all the Old Testament rules. God’s covenant with us now is our love in exchange for His. We commit to loving Jesus, and God commits to caring for us, now and through eternity. God offers us an abundant life; one overflowing with all that He deems excellent for us. His goodness can take the form of money, children, property, health, work, or anything that grows our spirits, anything that brings us closer to Him. God’s prosperity for us may look different from one Christian to the next, on the outside. But inside He is enriching our spirits the same, making our spirits rich, leading us to the rich reward of Heaven.