Prosperity is a Reward

Is Poverty God’s Will?

There are many who teach that prosperity is not always the will of God. Others teach that God wants His children to prosper. With such an enormous difference of opinion, where should believers go for an answer? Do we turn to the experiences of men, the acquired knowledge of Bible commentators, or should we go directly to the Word of God? I hope your choice is the Word of God.

... let God be true, but every man a liar....

Romans 3:4

Please give some thought to the following question. If poverty is God's will for His children, why does the Bible consistently speak of it as a penalty for wrongdoing or wrong thinking?

It only stands to reason that if poverty had any redeeming value, the Bible would use it at least once as a reward for faithfulness and godly conduct. However, a careful examination of the Scriptures shows just the opposite is true. Our

Heavenly Father never uses poverty, insufficiency, or lack to reward His children for obedience or proper behavior.

Poverty is Destructive

... the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Proverbs 10:15

This verse says that poverty brings destruction. I cannot help but think about the effect poverty had on my own family. Before my wife and I learned that God wanted us to prosper, my family had to go without many of the things they needed. Notice, I said they had to go without things they needed, not just things they wanted.

If we had only known that our generous giving and faithful service to the Lord entitled us to much greater financial benefits than we were experiencing, everything would have been different. No doubt, several of my precious children would have had braces for their teeth. They would have enjoyed warmer clothing for winter, not to mention proper vacations every year. As painful as it is to think of it, I know our poor state prevented the fulfillment of many of their special wishes and desires. Shortage, lack, and just barely getting by were the cruel tricks Satan was able to use against us. I can attribute all this unpleasantness to the traditional church's erroneous teaching about poverty and its supposed virtues.

The destructive force of poverty can even turn a blessing into a curse. For instance, if a poor family were to receive a much-needed automobile as a gift, the car would certainly be a blessing. However, the destructive force of their poverty would erode this wonderful blessing. Their shortage would force them to neglect much of the necessary car maintenance. Before long, their nice new car would become run down and in need of costly repairs, further burdening their already strained budget.

Now think about it. Would the destruction of the automobile come about because they didn't appreciate it? No, the automobile would deteriorate because the lack of money would prevent oil changes at the proper intervals, as well as other preventative measures. Eventually, the blessing of a fine new automobile would become a costly stack of repair bills.

The destructiveness of poverty also affects many churches. I was scheduled to preach for a certain pastor not long ago. As he met me in the airport, his first words were, "Brother John, you've come just in time. We just had to pay an enormous debt from a lawsuit against the church. We couldn't afford liability insurance, so we had to sell the church property to come up with the money to settle." (This church had begun to meet in two undersized buildings.) The pastor continued, "Brother John, that is not our only problem. For some reason, the church offerings have steadily gone down, and now we are twenty thousand dollars behind with our monthly bills."

Let's ask a question. Was this church facing ruin because they had surplus money in the bank? Was it prosperity that brought about their problems? No, their ruin came because they didn't have enough money to insure their property against possible lawsuits. Now don't be surprised by what you are about to read, for the Bible actually says that having money is a form of defense.

For wisdom is a defense even as money is a defense....

Ecclesiastes 7:12, Amplified

While I was at this church, I realized the congregation seldom received any teaching about biblical economics. Through the years, I have discovered that when the pastor doesn't teach regularly about money, there will always be shortage in that church's finances. Notice that the Bible agrees with this observation.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge....

Hosea 4:6

A lack of biblical knowledge will always cause some kind of problem. Without proper knowledge of what your Bible says about money and God's plan for your prosperity, the destructive force of poverty could rob you of many of the blessings God has for you. Proper information about biblical economics is critical to every believer's financial well being.

Now I want to turn your attention to a few things that bring poverty into a person's life. Remember the Bible speaks of poverty as a penalty.

Poverty Is the Penalty for Laziness

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Proverbs 6:6-11

According to these verses, poverty is the penalty for laziness. Another verse says almost the same thing.

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty....

Proverbs 20:13

Poverty Is the Penalty for Stinginess

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

Please notice that the last part of this verse does not describe a non-giver. The words withholdeth more than is meet mean the giver has not given the proper amount. Many people give, but they harm themselves by giving less than they should. According to the Scriptures, this kind of stingy giving will lead them into poverty.

Many times people will say, "Brother John, we are givers, but for some reason, we are not prospering!" The main question in God's economy may not be, "Are you giving?" According to this verse, it is "Are you giving enough?"

When my wife and I learned about biblical economics, we started planting financial seed into the Gospel. After a while, it became obvious that we were not experiencing the abundant harvest God's Word promised. Thankfully, we had enough respect for God not to blame Him for our insufficient harvests. Through prayer and Bible study, we realized our problem was that we were not giving enough.

But remember this—if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much.

2 Corinthians 9:6, TLB

As soon as we moved into higher levels of sowing, we began to experience a much higher level of reaping.

The end result of not giving that which is proper is more and more insufficiency, which eventually leads to full blown poverty.

Notice these other translations.

It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything.

Proverbs 11:24, NLT

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

Proverbs 11:24, NIV

No thinking person wants to follow a course of action that will lead to greater and greater levels of insufficiency.

The verse that follows tells us what happens to the liberal giver who generously distributes his wealth.

Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself.

Proverbs 11:25, TLB

Once again, we see that generous giving is rewarded with prosperity, while stinginess is rewarded with poverty.

Poverty Is the Penalty for Stubbornness

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction....

Proverbs 13:18

People who refuse to receive instruction or correction are stubborn. The dictionary defines stubborn as "unreasonably unyielding." I don't care how much you try to convince some people to do things God's way, they will stubbornly refuse to obey. Your Bible says stubborn people will be rewarded with poverty.

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction....

Proverbs 13:18

Notice that God's Word openly couples the word poverty with the word shame. In one sense, poverty is a shame. Many will ask, "How is this possible since the greater part of the world's population is living in poverty?"

Before you can understand the origin of poverty, you must understand that God did not begin mankind’s existence in poverty. The human race started in the total luxury of the garden of God. There was no poverty anywhere on planet earth. There was more than enough of everything. Don't make the mistake of believing that poverty is the result of overpopulation. It came into existence as the penalty for mankind’s sin.

And unto Adam he [God] said, Because thou hast ... eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee....

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground....

Genesis 3:17-19

Notice carefully why poverty is a shame. Poverty and separation from God are the penalties that Adam and Eve brought to the human race for their disobedience to God.

Poverty Is the Penalty for Gluttony and Drunkenness

Most will agree that drunkenness is a sin. However, there will be less agreement about gluttony being wrong.

Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Proverbs 23:20-21

The Bible clearly tells us the glutton and the drunkard are penalized with poverty for their wrongdoing.

After pastoring a local church for many years, it is obvious there are people who come to church for no other reason than to ask for money. After a little investigation into the lives of these folks, many times you find their lack of money is the result of drunkenness. This is not only a dangerous way of living, it also brings about poverty. Once again we see that poverty is a penalty for wrongdoing.

Poverty Is the Penalty for Associating with Vain Persons

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

A faithful man shall abound with blessings....

Proverbs 28:19-20

If you follow after vain persons, the Bible says you will come to poverty. What is a vain person? The Strong's Concordance of the Greek language says a vain person is an "empty and worthless" person.

A few years ago, my wife encountered a truly vain individual. This fellow was living with one of the members of the church, and he did not have a job. One day my wife met with this fellow and asked if she could pray with him about finding work. The young man quickly responded, "No thank you, Pastor. I don't think God has called everyone to have a job."

This young man's mistaken theology was causing him to abuse the generosity of others. He was the perfect example of a vain person. He thought it was all right with God to use people's cars, homes, and food without working for a living. How vain he sounded when my wife tried to help him, and he stubbornly answered that he didn't believe God wanted him to have a job. While this might have seemed like a clever way to avoid working for a living, the Bible tells us something quite different. God's Word says that anyone who refuses to work should not be allowed to eat.

... when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

2 Thessalonians 3:10

Vain persons are everywhere in our society as well as throughout the local church. They consider themselves clever in the early years of their deceptive practice. However, the passing of time always brings them to poverty.

Poverty Is the Penalty for Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Proverbs 28:22

God's Word teaches that get-rich-quick schemes bring poverty to those who try them. I like how The Living Bible puts it.

... the man who wants to get rich quick will quickly fail.

Trying to get rich quick is evil and leads to poverty.

Proverbs 28:20,22, TLB

Beware, because get-rich-quick schemes are not limited to the unchurched. Many scams take place right in God's house. One of the most difficult problems pastors face is dealing with get-rich-quick schemes. They usually operate in the following manner. Someone shows up at church with a great business opportunity that guarantees to make everyone rich overnight. This person lures unsuspecting parishioners with bogus spiritual talk like, "This business is from God. If we all invest in this, we will have more than enough money for our church to win the whole world to Christ!"

Invariably, as the pastor tries to protect the membership with a proper warning, the people who are pushing the get-rich-quick scheme begin to cause strife by telling everyone, "Don't listen to Pastor's warning. He only cares about his own prosperity— not yours! You have to see to your own best interest."

As always, after only a short time, the whole scheme collapses and a number of gullible members lose their money, not to mention those who quit the church.

Now don't get me wrong. There are certainly legitimate business opportunities for believers. I'm always blessed when I see God's children getting into successful endeavors. We should expect good business opportunities for believers, because we have the favor of God on our side.

. . . If God be for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:32

Poverty Causes Separation

Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbor.

Proverbs 19:4

How can poverty separate you from your neighbor? If poverty continues long enough, the mortgage company will repossess your house. The sheriff will evict you from your apartment. Poverty also causes the repossession of automobiles, furniture, and other items. Statistics tell us that lack of sufficient money plays a part in over 70 percent of all divorces. Separation from friends, neighbors, and loved ones is an ongoing occurrence in the lives of those who walk in poverty.

No One Listens to Poor People

No matter how you look at poverty, in some way it's always associated with mistrust. It doesn't matter how many misinformed preachers have taught just the opposite. It doesn't even matter that some ministers have taken a vow of poverty.

Once in a while, a person will tell me that his pastor or priest will not take any money for his personal gain and wants nothing to do with money or possessions. He has taken a vow of poverty so that people will more readily believe him when he ministers to them.

While this might sound reassuring, I want you to look at what God's Word says about poor people and the lack of confidence that the general public has in what they have to say.

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

I hope you can see how Satan uses the church's ignorance about poverty to keep Christians from having a powerful voice in the earth. Think about the following paradox for a moment. The traditional church has embraced an erroneous concept that requires many preachers to take a vow of poverty so they can become more believable. In reality, the very Word of God they claim to believe and preach declares that no one listens to those who are poor. Satan has tricked the vast majority of believers into a false form of humility, which they think poverty demonstrates.

Throughout the Word of God, you will find that poverty is not a reward for righteous actions. Instead, it is always the penalty that comes to those who do wrong or think wrong.

Prosperity is a Reward

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3

Verse one tells us to avoid three groups of people—the ungodly, the sinners, and the scornful. Verse two instructs us to meditate in the Word of God. Notice what verse three promises to those who obediently observe these instructions. Is it poverty? Absolutely not! It is prosperity in every realm of endeavor.

... and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 1:3

Throughout the Scriptures, prosperity is presented as a reward while poverty is presented as a penalty.

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do 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.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:7-8

Anyone who reads these verses immediately sees that God wants His children to be obedient so that He can reward them with prosperity and success.

Throughout the Bible, it's always the same. If you do right, you will prosper. God never once says He will reward faithfulness with poverty. He always rewards obedience with prosperity and good success.

God Rewarded King Uzziah With Prosperity

Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem....

... and as long as he sought the LORD,

God made him to prosper.

2 Chronicles 26:1,3,5

Not only did King Uzziah prosper, but God promises prosperity to everyone who seeks His kingdom first.

... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

God Rewarded King Solomon With Prosperity

Solomon's prosperity did not come as a penalty. It came as a reward.

Now, my son [Solomon], the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.

Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.

Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfill the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel....

1 Chronicles 22:11-13

Solomon was responsible for building the house of God. It required tremendous resources and dedication. David knew the magnitude of the task, so he imparted some fatherly advice. Notice that he did not tell Solomon to do without and barely get by. Instead, David told him how to prosper.

For if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which he gave to Israel through Moses, you will prosper....

1 Chronicles 22:13 TLB

Once again, prosperity is the reward of obedience.

God Rewarded King Hezekiah With Prosperity

Now it came to pass ... that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.

He trusted in the LORD God of Israel....

For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments....

And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth....

2 Kings 18:1,3,5-7

Notice what Hezekiah did—(1) He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. (2) He trusted in the Lord God of Israel. (3) He clave (remained faithful) to the Lord. (4) He departed not from following God. (5) He kept the commandments of God.

What was Hezekiah's reward for his obedience?

And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth....

2 Kings 18:7

We can clearly see that Hezekiah's reward for service to God was prosperity.

God Wants You to Prosper

Up to this point, you have seen that God's Word always speaks of poverty as a penalty and prosperity as a reward. However, God gets even more specific about His desire to prosper those who obey Him! I want you to pay close attention to the following verse, because it reveals God's will in the matter of poverty or prosperity for your life.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way....

3 John 2, Amplified

With the erroneous information that Christians hear from the traditional church, no one would expect the Apostle John to pray for God's children to prosper. However, that is exactly what the Bible says. John prayed for all Christians (that includes you) to prosper.

God Gets Pleasure When You Prosper

Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Psalm 35:27

This verse actually says your Heavenly Father gets pleasure when you prosper!

The Bible clearly states that Jehovah God is a good Father (Matthew 7:11, James 1:17). With that fact in mind, let me ask you a question. If you were a parent, would you rejoice if your son called and said, "Mom and Dad, I just lost my job and we are going to lose our house"? Would you say, "Hallelujah, you are going to experience poverty, and it will be good for you"? No! You would much rather hear that your son and his family received a substantial raise and paid off the mortgage on their house. In that same way, our Heavenly Father wants to give His children only good things.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 7:11

The Biblical Conclusion

After carefully studying the Bible on this subject, I believe God has stirred your faith and increased your understanding. If poverty were God's will for His children, He would most surely use it to reward faithfulness and obedience. However, this is not what we find in the Scripture.

God consistently rewards people with financial prosperity when they faithfully obey His Word! The Bible looks upon prosperity as a blessing, not as a curse.

In conclusion, I want to share a special portion of Scripture. It illustrates that prosperity is a reward for proper actions.

... Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house....

Psalm 112:13

If you will make a commitment to obey God, you can expect Him to reward you. God will not reward you with insufficiency, barely getting by, or—let's just call it by it's ugly name —poverty. No, God will reward you the way He has always rewarded those who please Him, by greatly prospering you.

Table of Contents

Start