"He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf doesn't not whither. In all that he does, he prospers" (Psalm 1:3, ESV).
This is the title of a best-selling book by a well-known televangelist, Joel Osteen, touting the benefits of being a believer, who only has to cash in on his spiritual lottery ticket to find prosperity, as he sees it--to suit his whims. God is indeed good to some in all ways, and good to all in some ways, but not good to all in all ways, including believers (cf. Psalm 145:9). We are to be faithful to what God has called us to and put God in charge of the so-called success.
With God, little, with His blessing, is much. The spirit that we offer our lives to Him is what matters--as Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, "True holiness consists in doing the will of God with a smile." She also said that it is not what we do, but how much love we put into it that matters! Prosperity theology is a heresy that the modern church has fallen for, and the test of this is that if you cannot preach that gospel to everyone, it is a false gospel. There are martyrs in China who are not leading prosperous lives, yet they wouldn't give up their crowns for worldly success any day--how does this teaching apply to them? God will prosper us as we do His will, and this means being in His will (which is always the safest place to be).
Do you really want your best life now, as some have their reward or portion in this life, according to Psalm 17:14, or would you want to make an eternal investment that will outlast the consequences of this world? Every day we strike a chord that will vibrate for eternity, and the most important thing we can do is make an impact that will outlast us, by investing in something bigger than ourselves.
The telltale sign of believers is not income, real estate, 401(k)s, vehicles, nor profession, but the love of the brethren, per John 13:35: Mother Teresa of Calcutta (recipient of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize) said that God has called us to faithfulness, not success. We can be assured that if we are faithful in little, we will be faithful in much, according to Jesus--as this life is but a trial run, dress rehearsal, or tryout for eternity. Jesus said that you shall know them by their love, not their possessions, or success by any standards.
Joshua 1:8 promises to make our way prosperous and to give success, if we are faithful to the Word; however, people misconstrue what success and prosperity are. God will ensure that we will succeed in doing His will, that He has called us to do and He will bless us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, even partaking of the divine nature. Don't be fooled by the world's standards of success and prosperity, like he who dies with the most toys wins or achieving the so-called American dream! The Bible warns against materialism and that we cannot serve God and Mammon. Jesus said not to store up treasures on earth. We are to make eternal investments in heaven by giving according to, and in proportion with, the blessings we share from are granted by God.
Some seekers are searching for the benefits, but not the Benefactor, and only want God in their lives for what they can get out of Him. God will take care of all our needs, though some confuse needs with felt needs or wants. David prayed, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want [be in want]." God's chief aim is to fashion us after the image of Christ, not to make us balanced, well-adjusted, happy, and secure individuals. We need to live in light of eternity and not be so focused on the temporal!
If we have God, we have all we need, even if the crops fail: It happened in Habakkuk 3:18 (ESV), which says, "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will take joy in the God of my salvation." 3 John 2 (ESV, emphasis added) says, "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul." God seeks to use us as vessels of honor and that is what we are here to do: Being His feet, hands, voice, and ears to a needy world. The really successful believer is one who bears the image of Christ and God can use for His glory like Paul said in Romans 15:18 (NIV): "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me...." This is reiterated by Isaiah, saying that all that we have accomplished, He has done through us (cf. Is. 26:12).
Newsflash: God isn't out to guarantee anyone's happiness or financial benefit, but to sanctify us after the image of His Son and to use us for His glory: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever" (The Westminster Shorter Catechism, cf. Isaiah 43:7). Some believers just want to be happy, which depends on happenings, while we are commanded to rejoice in the Lord and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, which includes joy.
We all have a cross to bear and when we finish the work God has given us, we will be checking out into our heavenly destination: "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption" (Acts 13:36, ESV). Our crosses pale in comparison to His, but God saves no one without sanctifying them. Jesus said that we must take up our cross and follow Him, and to "count the cost," as this is what we signed up for and it comes with the territory--there's no guarantee of a bed of roses or an easy life, but "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (cf. Acts 14:22).
God promises to meet all our needs in doing His will, according to 2 Cor. 9:8, that makes a promise to claim concerning God's provision. Again: "But my God shall supply all your need..." (cf. Philippians 4:19). In the final analysis, it is said, "Adversity, discipline, suffering, and trials inevitably come to all Christians, but Christ didn't exempt Himself from them." It is the bumps in the road that shape character: The same sun hardens the clay, melts the butter! Soli Deo Gloria!
This is the title of a best-selling book by a well-known televangelist, Joel Osteen, touting the benefits of being a believer, who only has to cash in on his spiritual lottery ticket to find prosperity, as he sees it--to suit his whims. God is indeed good to some in all ways, and good to all in some ways, but not good to all in all ways, including believers (cf. Psalm 145:9). We are to be faithful to what God has called us to and put God in charge of the so-called success.
With God, little, with His blessing, is much. The spirit that we offer our lives to Him is what matters--as Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, "True holiness consists in doing the will of God with a smile." She also said that it is not what we do, but how much love we put into it that matters! Prosperity theology is a heresy that the modern church has fallen for, and the test of this is that if you cannot preach that gospel to everyone, it is a false gospel. There are martyrs in China who are not leading prosperous lives, yet they wouldn't give up their crowns for worldly success any day--how does this teaching apply to them? God will prosper us as we do His will, and this means being in His will (which is always the safest place to be).
Do you really want your best life now, as some have their reward or portion in this life, according to Psalm 17:14, or would you want to make an eternal investment that will outlast the consequences of this world? Every day we strike a chord that will vibrate for eternity, and the most important thing we can do is make an impact that will outlast us, by investing in something bigger than ourselves.
The telltale sign of believers is not income, real estate, 401(k)s, vehicles, nor profession, but the love of the brethren, per John 13:35: Mother Teresa of Calcutta (recipient of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize) said that God has called us to faithfulness, not success. We can be assured that if we are faithful in little, we will be faithful in much, according to Jesus--as this life is but a trial run, dress rehearsal, or tryout for eternity. Jesus said that you shall know them by their love, not their possessions, or success by any standards.
Joshua 1:8 promises to make our way prosperous and to give success, if we are faithful to the Word; however, people misconstrue what success and prosperity are. God will ensure that we will succeed in doing His will, that He has called us to do and He will bless us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, even partaking of the divine nature. Don't be fooled by the world's standards of success and prosperity, like he who dies with the most toys wins or achieving the so-called American dream! The Bible warns against materialism and that we cannot serve God and Mammon. Jesus said not to store up treasures on earth. We are to make eternal investments in heaven by giving according to, and in proportion with, the blessings we share from are granted by God.
Some seekers are searching for the benefits, but not the Benefactor, and only want God in their lives for what they can get out of Him. God will take care of all our needs, though some confuse needs with felt needs or wants. David prayed, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want [be in want]." God's chief aim is to fashion us after the image of Christ, not to make us balanced, well-adjusted, happy, and secure individuals. We need to live in light of eternity and not be so focused on the temporal!
If we have God, we have all we need, even if the crops fail: It happened in Habakkuk 3:18 (ESV), which says, "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will take joy in the God of my salvation." 3 John 2 (ESV, emphasis added) says, "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul." God seeks to use us as vessels of honor and that is what we are here to do: Being His feet, hands, voice, and ears to a needy world. The really successful believer is one who bears the image of Christ and God can use for His glory like Paul said in Romans 15:18 (NIV): "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me...." This is reiterated by Isaiah, saying that all that we have accomplished, He has done through us (cf. Is. 26:12).
Newsflash: God isn't out to guarantee anyone's happiness or financial benefit, but to sanctify us after the image of His Son and to use us for His glory: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever" (The Westminster Shorter Catechism, cf. Isaiah 43:7). Some believers just want to be happy, which depends on happenings, while we are commanded to rejoice in the Lord and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, which includes joy.
We all have a cross to bear and when we finish the work God has given us, we will be checking out into our heavenly destination: "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption" (Acts 13:36, ESV). Our crosses pale in comparison to His, but God saves no one without sanctifying them. Jesus said that we must take up our cross and follow Him, and to "count the cost," as this is what we signed up for and it comes with the territory--there's no guarantee of a bed of roses or an easy life, but "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (cf. Acts 14:22).
God promises to meet all our needs in doing His will, according to 2 Cor. 9:8, that makes a promise to claim concerning God's provision. Again: "But my God shall supply all your need..." (cf. Philippians 4:19). In the final analysis, it is said, "Adversity, discipline, suffering, and trials inevitably come to all Christians, but Christ didn't exempt Himself from them." It is the bumps in the road that shape character: The same sun hardens the clay, melts the butter! Soli Deo Gloria!
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