Prosperity Pleases God

PSALM 35:27 NKJ 27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."

Do you enjoy seeing your children -- or anyone you love -- suffer lack?

Jesus taught us that God our Heavenly Father's love for us is much better than any earthly parent's love (Matthew 7:11).

What kind of perverted being would God be if He delighted in seeing His people suffer? (The only kind of suffering that pleases God is when we are willing to be inconvenienced so that others will be helped.)

Ultimately, poverty is the result of an operation by the devil attempting to dis-please God. But it will not continue to succeed.

To achieve his plan, the devil has tried to confuse Christians into thinking that being poor pleased God, and that being poor was a sign of spirituality. This is a lie! (But being rich is not a dependable sign of spirituality, either!)

The Bible does warn against trusting in money, serving money, and covetousness, which is not just wanting more. It is really wanting to take what belongs to someone else.

But the Bible does not teach that we should be poor, or that poverty pleases God.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17-18 NET 17 Command those who are rich in this world's goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.

God has richly provided (through His creation, and through His redemption) all things for our enjoyment.

It is a lie that God wants us to be poor. This scripture tells the rich people in the church to be generous, but it does not say they should give everything away and become poor.

God enjoys our enjoyment of what He provides for us. God wants us to be happy about what He has given us.

God created things for us to enjoy. When we enjoy what God made and show our gratitude and appreciation to Him, God enjoys that.

SAY THIS: God is pleased when His people are happy and doing well.