Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Prosperity”
Our Bible verse for today: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord. That person is like a tree planted by steams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)
Our thought for today: “Seek genuine prosperity.”
If you’re like most people, when you think of a person who is “prosperous” you’re thinking in terms of money. Prosperous people are wealthy people. They have lots of money and lots of nice things. While that is one definition of being prosperous, it is actually a narrow and limited application of the word, and it is also a less important meaning of it.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines prosperity simply as being successful. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of the Bible offers a little more help by explaining that in the Bible the concept of being prosperous pertains to all aspects of life, not just financial. Spock from Star Trek encouraged us with the Vulcan proverb “Live long and prosper” – picturing a life that is long and full. The phrase “Live well and prosper” is actually an ancient Jewish blessing, a form of prayer that speaks of a godly life that is lived in righteousness and which is therefore blessed by God in multiple ways. Clearly there is more to this than just having money.
To that point, yesterday I returned from a mission trip to Haiti – the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. The depth of poverty there is mind boggling. There are few people in that nation who would be considered “prosperous” by any financial measure. And yet the Haitian Christians who I spent the week with, while living in deep poverty, they radiated with joy and they seemed to be genuinely happy. It was a pleasure to be among them.
At the same time I know a wealthy family in our town who while having lots of money, a big house, fancy cars, and much more, their family life seems to be endlessly filled with conflict and anger and sadness. They might be prosperous in the financial sense but I wouldn’t want their life. If that’s what it means to be prosperous then I’ll pass, thank you very much.
This month I want us to build on our theme from last month. As was noted then, although we live in a country that has the highest standard of living of any nation in the world, most Americans live with “The fear of not having enough”. I believe that when we come to terms with the full meaning of what prosperity means, in the Biblical sense, we will have learned to seek and to be satisfied with the kind of prosperity that really does lead to a happy life.
Having money is a good thing, but it is not the best thing.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 