Page 24 - The Prosperous Way _ (APRIL 2024 v3)

THE PROSPEROUS WAY

Abraham, the man of faith … He redeemed us in order that the
blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through
Christ Jesus…” (Galatians 3:7,9 &14)

We know that Paul is speaking here primarily of the spiritual blessing of
being made righteous before God by faith in Jesus Christ, in the same
way that Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness” (Galatians 3:6). However, the word translated as
“blessing” in this passage also means a generous or liberal present and,
by implication, “prosperity” (Strong’s Concordance of the Bible Ref#
1293). Therefore, I believe that the same blessing of prosperity that God
gave to Abraham (which included material wealth) has also come to us
since, through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are also Abraham’s children.

Similarly, Romans 11 describes God’s chosen people, the descendants of
Abraham, as a cultivated olive tree and the Gentiles (or in modern day
language, Christians) as branches from a wild olive tree that were
“grafted into” the cultivated olive tree. The Scripture then explains that,
through this “engrafting”, we became partakers of the rich root of that
olive tree. We can therefore believe the truth that it is God’s will that we
should be blessed in the same way as Abraham, whom He blessed with
both spiritual and material prosperity.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “RICH”?

You may ask, what exactly does it mean in the Bible to be rich? I believe
the answer to that question is found in the Scripture: “God is able to
make all grace abound to you so that always having sufficiency in all
things , you may abound in every good work’’ (2 Corinthians 9:8). The
Greek word “autarkeia” translated as “sufficiency” in this passage also
means “self-satisfaction,” “self-sufficiency,” “independence,” or
“contentment.” Therefore, to always have sufficiency means that, at all
times and in all things, we always have enough for ourselves. This means
enough food on our table, adequate clothing for all seasons and aspects
of our lives, transportation covered, a home for our family, all our bills
paid in full and on time. We have no lack as we can independently
supply all the necessities of our lives without aid or support from anyone.
But the Scripture doesn't stop with having enough for JUST yourself. It
goes on to say: “…So that always having sufficiency in all things, you may
abound in every good work.” True prosperity therefore means having
enough for yourself and more than enough so that you can give.

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