King Hezekiah’s approach to prosperity was one of service to others. Hezekiah lived his life in service. His life shows us that we serve God by serving our fellow man. The principle stands–when we serve others, we foster our prosperity in life!
THE 3RD PROSPERITY Principle is Serving God. We read that King Hezekiah served in the house of God.
Table of Contents
- A Gospel of Selfishness
- Serve Your Way Into Prosperity
- How Do You Serve God?
- S.O.S.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Outsmart the False Teachers
2 Chronicles 31:21, KJV
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
A Gospel of Selfishness
Service is one of the key differences between the Prosperity Gospel and Biblical Prosperity. Unlike Biblical Prosperity, the Prosperity Gospel is a selfish, ego-centered theology.
The Prosperity Gospel asks the question: What can I get from God?
Think of the Prosperity Gospel like this:
Say, for instance, you are a millionaire, and someone you know always comes to you when he or she wants or needs money. The only time you ever hear from the person is when he or she wants something from you. Even though you have it to give, you may feel used or unappreciated at some point.
Every now and then, wouldn’t it be nice if that person asked:
- What can I do for you?
- Do you need anything?
- How can I help you?
I certainly think so. Who wants to be treated like a human ATM? As they say, it’s the principle of the thing.
Serve Your Way Into Prosperity
I used the scenario to illustrate how the Prosperity Gospel creates an unbalanced relationship between God and the believer.
Biblical Prosperity asks the question: How can I serve God?
In the previous lesson, I discussed that God gives you instructions. You’re practicing the Prosperity Principle of Obeying God by following those instructions. And when you obey God, you are essentially serving God.
With Biblical Prosperity, your prosperity is linked to service. Through your service, your needs are met.
While the Prosperity Gospel focuses on how you can get God to benefit you, Biblical Prosperity focuses on God using you to benefit (or bless) others. While the Prosperity Gospel promotes greed, materialism, and self-centeredness, Biblical Prosperity breaks the yoke of these destructive mindsets.
The Prosperity Gospel is an ego-centered approach to prosperity, whereas biblical prosperity is a Spirit-centered approach to prosperity that benefits both you and others.
How Do You Serve God?
Serving God is not limited to the four walls of a church building. You can serve God ANYWHERE. Furthermore, The Most High equipped you with a vast array of personal resources that you can draw upon to help others.
You have time, talents, gifts, skills, personality, advice, wisdom, common sense, etc. The Most High will use what you possess to bless others. And in the process, you will be blessed.
Look at it this way:
Your gifts/talents/skills + Serving God (serving humanity) = Prosperity
Ephesians 6:7-8, NIV
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
S.O.S.
Again, here are the 3 Prosperity Principles (or S.O.S. Principles):
- Seek God
- Obey God
- Serve God
When we compare the Prosperity Gospel to Biblical Prosperity, we see that it is a shallow theology that binds Christians to a selfish, ego-centered, materialistic lifestyle that undermines their relationship with God.
The Bible teaches that there is a righteous path to prosperity that encourages you to seek the Kingdom of God within you, to obey the commandments (or instructions) of God that have been placed in your heart, and to serve God by serving others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Prosperity Gospel Theology?
The Prosperity Gospel theology, often associated with the Word of Faith movement, teaches that God rewards faithfulness and positive confessions of faith with health, wealth, and success. Proponents believe that believers will reap material blessings by sowing financial seeds (often in the form of donations to ministries).
Critics argue that this teaching misinterprets and overemphasizes scriptures related to prosperity and wealth. While the Bible contains verses about blessings, such as 3 John 1:2 (KJV), which says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth,” it’s essential to interpret such verses in broader biblical context, avoiding an overly materialistic focus.
Is the Prosperity Gospel False?
The Prosperity Gospel, which teaches that God bestows health and wealth as a reward for faith and positive declarations, is viewed by many mainstream Christian theologians and denominations as a distortion of biblical teachings. Critics argue that it emphasizes material gain and overlooks the many biblical passages about the value of suffering, humility, and self-sacrifice.
One relevant scripture is 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV), which states, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” This verse warns about the dangers of prioritizing wealth and suggests that an excessive focus on material prosperity can lead one astray from genuine faith.
What Is It the Prosperity Gospel Promises?
The Prosperity Gospel promises that believers can obtain health, wealth, and success as a direct result of their faith and, often, their financial giving to ministries. It teaches that positive confessions and acts of faith, such as sowing financial seeds, will lead to material blessings and physical well-being.
Proponents often use verses like Malachi 3:10 (KJV) to support their views: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
However, many theologians argue that the Prosperity Gospel takes such verses out of context and misrepresents the broader biblical message about wealth and blessings.
Outsmart the False Teachers
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