how to prosper

 It's been 20 years since the turn of the century. Technology continues to advance, the Church is growing around the world, and wars and rumors of wars continue to be a part of everyday life. The Sermon on the Mt. is a magnificent set of Scriptures which have challenged the Church to live the high standard of Jesus. What is so striking about chapter 6,  is that Jesus asks us to do our religious tasks….with the right motives.  Upon reflection, I am being reminded by Scripture that Jesus's definition of prosperity is SO VERY DIFFERENT from ours. Ours is $$ based, there is no question. Jesus said it all in Matthew 6:21 (hint…hold your curser over the Scripture reference will pop up!).  The evangelical/Pentecostal wing of Christianity has suffered over the past 40 years concerning what it means to prosper. One time I saw a chapter title in a book advertisement on how to learn grammar (for students who are studying Hebrew and don't remember their English grammar) that was a play on words….the chapter title? Name it and Claim it! (I searched for the book and I think it's now out of print). If you search "name it and claim it" you will discover it is a phrase for the prosperity gospel. 
This confusion is due in part to the Church not paying attention to Jesus' definition of prosperity in Matthew 6:21. Prosperity has to do with joy and abundant life.
According to Jesus it means having your eyes on what has eternal value, not temporary value. 400 years before the birth of Jesus, there was someone else who was struggling with the definition of prosperity. Nehemiah had grown up in Persia, the descendent of Jewish parents who were deported from the southern kingdom of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. Nehemiah 1 records the magnificent prayer that he prayed when God opened up a door of opportunity to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 1:1-11). In the next chapter however, Nehemiah chronicles the trouble that Sanballat, Geshem and Tobiah threw his direction in his lofty task of rebuilding Jerusalem. In the midst of this struggle, Nehemiah records a phrase that gets to our illusive definition. It's not a definition as much as a description. To the threats and accusing questions of his detractors, Nehemiah declares "The God of heaven will make us prosper" (Nehemiah 2:20).  
Here is the point. God wants prosperity for His people, as in freedom from guilt, anxiety and worry. Prospering means participating with God in His purposes and discovering the joy of the Lord. We prosper when we set our hearts in the right place and discover the joy of ministry. A lot has changed since 400 BC. One thing has not changed. The God of heaven will make us prosper….as we follow HIS purpose. Praise God!

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