The True Gospel of Prosperity: Embracing Blessings and Sharing with Others

The Prosperity Gospel in Our Closet

What is the prosperity gospel? It’s a belief system that teaches that God wants his followers to be wealthy and healthy, and that if they have enough faith, they can claim those blessings for themselves. The prosperity gospel has been criticized by many for promoting materialism and putting too much emphasis on personal gain. But there is another aspect to the prosperity gospel that is often overlooked: the way it affects our personal lives.

The Secret Thoughts of the Prosperity Gospel

Most of us would say that we do not believe in the prosperity gospel. We know that God does not promise us wealth and health in this life, and we understand that our ultimate hope is in heaven. But even if we reject the prosperity gospel in theory, we may still be influenced by it in practice.

Here are some of the ways the prosperity gospel may be lurking in our hearts:

1. We assume that success is a sign of God’s approval.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if we are doing well in our careers, relationships, or finances, it must be because God is blessing us. Conversely, if we are struggling or facing hardships, we may wonder if God is punishing us. But this way of thinking is not biblical. Jesus himself promised us that we would face trials and tribulations in this life (John 16:33), and the Apostle Paul suffered greatly for the sake of the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Success is not a sign of God’s approval, and neither is hardship a sign of his disapproval.

2. We equate God’s blessings with material wealth.

The prosperity gospel teaches that if we have enough faith, we can claim material blessings from God. But the Bible never promises us material wealth as a sign of God’s favor. In fact, Jesus warned us against storing up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19-21), and the Apostle Paul urged us to be content with what we have (Philippians 4:11-12). We should be grateful for the material blessings we have, but we should not equate them with spiritual blessings or assume that they are a sign of God’s favor.

3. We compare ourselves to others.

One of the dangers of the prosperity gospel is that it encourages us to compare ourselves to others. We may look at someone who is wealthy or successful and wonder why we don’t have what they have. We may feel envious or resentful of those who seem to be doing better than us. But this way of thinking is not helpful or healthy. We are each called to run our own race and to be content with the path that God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The True Gospel of Prosperity

So if the prosperity gospel is not the true gospel, what is? The true gospel of prosperity is the good news that we have been given everything we need in Christ. We are richly blessed in him, not because of our own merit or faith, but because of his grace and mercy. Consider the following verses:

• “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3).


• “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).


• “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

These verses remind us that we have been given everything we need in Christ. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, we have been made rich through his poverty, and we have the promise that God will supply all our needs. This is the true gospel of prosperity.

The Freedom of the True Gospel

When we embrace the true gospel of prosperity, we are freed from the bondage of the prosperity gospel. We no longer need to compare ourselves to others or worry about whether we are successful or wealthy enough. We can rest in the knowledge that we have everything we need in Christ.

But the true gospel of prosperity is not just about our personal freedom. It is also about our responsibility to share our blessings with others. Consider the following verses:

• “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).


• “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

These verses remind us that we have a responsibility to use our blessings to help others. We should be generous and ready to share, and we should bear one another’s burdens. This is the true gospel of prosperity.

Living Out the True Gospel of Prosperity

So how can we live out the true gospel of prosperity in our daily lives? Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Give generously.

One of the best ways to live out the true gospel of prosperity is to give generously to those in need. This may mean supporting a missionary, donating to a local food bank, or simply giving to a friend who is going through a hard time.

2. Be content with what you have.

Another way to live out the true gospel of prosperity is to be content with what you have. This means resisting the urge to compare yourself to others and being grateful for the blessings you have been given.

3. Bear one another’s burdens.

Finally, we can live out the true gospel of prosperity by bearing one another’s burdens. This may mean helping a friend move, watching someone’s kids for a few hours, or simply listening to someone who is going through a hard time.

The True Gospel of Prosperity: A Call to Action

As we have seen, the true gospel of prosperity is not about personal gain or material wealth. It is about the blessings we have been given in Christ and our responsibility to share those blessings with others. So let us embrace the true gospel of prosperity and live it out in our daily lives. Let us give generously, be content with what we have, and bear one another’s burdens. And let us do all of this to the glory of God.