In our last post, we saw how our real need is spiritual. We saw how the only sin of the world is unbelief and our only need is to believe in Jesus. That is why we delayed the popular prosperity verse in 3 John 2 until now. It says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Did you notice that part about just as your soul prospers? This is why we refer to this verse as the prosperity equation.
No doubt, most of us can recite this verse in our sleep. We pray with it and wonder why we do not prosper. Our days of wondering if there is something wrong with God are over. Amen. God is a covenant keeper and remains forever faithful. Once He says it, it is done. However, the outcome of God’s promises in an individual’s life depends on how that person keeps up their side of the covenant or bargain. So today, we ask ourselves: how is the prosperity of my soul, of your soul?
We start by considering what prosperity means. Is it only about abundant wealth? No. Because if it were, it would have nothing to do with our souls as we saw in the prosperity equation. The dictionary defines prosperity as success. We thus ask ourselves again: how successful is my soul, your soul? The prosperity equation means we cannot prosper and be in good health until our soul prospers or succeeds.
In the Prosperity Equation, The State of Our Souls is Critical
The success of your soul determines the state of your bank account and your health. Did I do something yesterday to offend God or His creatures? The prosperity equation says I should expect problems in my physical success, wealth, health, and other aspects of my life. The doctors have sorted this out. They declare that most physical illnesses originate from the mind (or soul).
Doctors may not appreciate the biblical origin of the prosperity equation, but they understand their observations. They know that there is a direct linkage. Do we desire to prosper? The prosperity equation dictates that we pay attention to the prosperity of our souls. Perhaps, unlike the doctors, the financial experts do not want us to see the connection. That way, they can keep us enslaved to the pursuit of money.
The banks also know you will no longer need their services when your soul succeeds. You would need fewer loans, if any. So, unlike doctors, they keep silent about the linkages in the prosperity equation. But the bottom line is clear. You cannot prosper or maintain prosperity unless you look after the health of your soul. That is the prosperity equation in simple language. Your soul must succeed for you to succeed in life.
Soul Success
By now, you are convinced that your soul’s success determines your physical prosperity and health. However, you have no idea what soul success looks like or how to get it. God will help us discover what the propriety equation is trying to teach us. Somebody defined a curse as the power to fail and a blessing as the power to succeed. That means when your soul succeeds, the Bible calls you blessed. So, to understand the soul’s success, look for all the instances of the ‘blessed’ in the Bible.
Our search will be in three segments, starting with Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew 5.3-12. That passage contains the highest concentration of “blessed” in the Bible. Please remember that we use ‘blessed’ instead of success (prosperity) in the prosperity equation. Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Next Step of The Prosperity Equation Soul Success
As if that was not a mouthful of “blessed” for the soul’s success in the prosperity equation, Jesus continued. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Has anybody reviled you and said all kinds of evil against you for Jesus’ sake lately? Ha!
When was the last time somebody called you stupid for refusing to retaliate against an insult because of your faith in Jesus? Perhaps your soul is not succeeding. Am I meek, do I hunger or thirst after righteousness? Do I mourn about the things that grieve God’s heart? We could go on but unless my answer is positive each time, my soul may not be ready for the prosperity equation. So, how do we get to this blessed (soul-prospering) state? Stay tuned.
Maranatha!
