How many of you would agree that the Bible is absolutely amazing? I am in awe of all the wonderful promises that God has for us.
Last month’s blog left me curious about God’s promises to prosper the work of our hands.
One of the things that stood out VERY STRONGLY to me, that I think many of us miss, is that most of God’s Word to change our lives including those verses about prospering are conditional. For example, in Psalm 1 it says that we need to be doing things God’s way, staying in the Word, for then what we put our hand to prospers.
It’s easy to say that we want God to prosper what we are doing, but I have noticed in my life when things aren’t going like I want, it isn’t because God didn’t hold up His end of the bargain, but that I didn’t hold up mine.
The conclusion I’ve come to is that obeying God is not for His benefit, it is for our benefit! I’ve found out, the hard way, that God views the ‘small things’ as ‘major things’. For all those “little things” I’ve encountered in my life, that I didn’t think were a big deal, I’ve found out that apparently they were a ‘big deal’ to God.
And of course, what makes it worse is when others around me are doing exactly the same thing and their life isn’t being challenged, I’ve sadly seen myself act just like our 8 year old grandchild acts, “well everyone else is doing it – why can’t I?” However, just like any good parent, God’s answer is, “because I told you so!” Ouch!
God doesn’t give us a bunch of rules just to make our lives challenging, He instructs us, not for His benefit, but for ours! When He says not to gossip, it is because He knows what it leads to – and how it ultimately makes our lives worse. When He says to give, it’s because He knows that the most fulfilling and joyful life is one of giving.
When He says, in Matthew 6:33, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously…” it’s because then He is able to give us all that we need to live a blessed life. It’s just not a bunch of impossible rules that He made up to challenge us, but it is a lifestyle of blessing for us and for those around us.
Now I am not suggesting that we should just serve God to see what we can get, but it is nice to know that He really is looking out for our benefit!
Below are a few Scriptures I found about prospering in all that we do…
Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV) – Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
1 Kings 2:3 (NIV) – observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.
Genesis 39:3 (NASB) – Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Deuteronomy 12:7 (NASB) – “There also you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 29:9 (NKJV) – Keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.
Joshua 1:7 (NIV) – Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
I think this verse sums it up well…
Deuteronomy 30:8-10 (NKJV) And you will again obey the voice of the Lord and do all His commandments which I command you today. 9 The Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the Lord will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, 10 if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.