Understanding “Prosperity”

I decided to blog about “prosperity” after having listened to our pastor Joey Bonifacio’s consistency over the topic. The first time I heard about this particular topic was during the business seminar at VCF sometime more than a year ago. My friend Pogs Mendoza came along after convincing him that he needed to hear about such interesting topic.

Here are the 5 things pointed out about Prosperity:

1. It’s a grant.
2. It’s abundance.
3. It’s about values.
4. It’s responsibility.
5. It’s generational.

I don’t want to sound like a preacher nor a spiritual advisor. I only want to share this since my friends have different views about how to be prosperous, how to be financially successful, or how to be famous. The Bible says in Deutronomy 28:11-13, “The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.”.

To briefly explain, prosperity is a grant. A grant is something that is agreed to be given or allowed. It’s free! Prosperity is abundant and if it comes from God, it is limitless. It’s about values. The value of having a slightly used BMW is sometimes better than a brand new Japanese car. But the value of you being a true person on a white shirt and jeans may be more than what a suit and tie can project. It is also a responsibility. Many people would like to prosper. The question is are they ready to be responsible? When you buy a car, it is your responsibility to maintain it and to keep it in good condition. When you wish for a big house, make sure you have the ability to spend for its interior beautification, gardening, and utility. Prosperity is generational. If you don’t feel prosperous even if you’re doing things right, it doesn’t mean it is the end of the world. It is still adviseable not to live beyond your means. You must build and keep your money in a storehouse. In Proverbs 10:4, it says “Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich”.

Some believe in luck. Some ask their feng shui consultant. Some still say that as long as you are hardworking, you will prosper. It may be correct! But it doesn’t still guarantee that you will prosper when you work hard. A hardworking man who digs gold may exert the same effort with another hardworking person who digs nothing but soil. True enough I believe that prosperity comes from God. Even if you sometimes don’t look after it, you will experience it. Probably, God is looking at a person’s heart too – what he will be made up to or how he will extend his hands and share his prosperity before it may even happen. That answers the 5 points above.