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NASB | Deuteronomy 28:1 "Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Deuteronomy 28:1 "Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. |
Subject: Does God want us to prosper |
Bible Note: Dear TRU4GOD, Greetings in Jesus' name! Friend, I also consider you a brother in Christ, with no reservations! :-) I guess that I have seen so much abuse of the terms 'blessings,' 'prosperity,' and 'health' that I am somewhat touchy on the subject. Does God want to give us 'health and wealth?' Depending on your definition of these terms, Yes and No. Health, for instance: God wants to free us from Adam's curse of death, He wants to free this planetary abode from malevolence and pestilence! Yes! Does God want you to be free from all of the ordinary 'ordeals' of man, colds and stubbed toes? Does He want to give you a testimony, "See, if you believe in God you will no longer be plagued with colds and stubbed toes, illness and mishap!"? No, that is ridiculous. Next, wealth: God indeed desires that you be fed, clothed and housed. He wants you to have enough to share with your neighbor, though you may experience want in order to glorify God. He may even take things away from you in order to chastise, so that you will better appreciate His goodness. But does God really want to give you so much home that you need to hire help to clean it and your possessions? Such a good job that you are never home? Such a nice car that you can accelerate from 0-60mph in 7 seconds while maintaining 70 dBA and impress your neighbors? Such a nice yard that you pay some fellows to come in with a truckful of equipment to manicure it? Such a nice education for your kids that you hardly ever see them after high school? Such a nice debt schedule that you need two full-time paychecks to pay for all these 'blessing?' (not to mention giving to your church to support your pastor's 'blessed' lifestyle) This, too, is ridiculous! However, there are those that preach these very things! It IS dangerous, because so many are duped into giving money, hoping to 'buy' these kind of 'blessings,' only to be disappointed because they cannot meet the standard of a 'truly faithful Christian' as set by these 'prosperity' ministries. My fellow forumer, I assume that you do not go to these extremes. But in this way, I get to rant from my soapbox a bit! :-) Surely our God wants to bless His children! But what is the blessing of the Bible? What was prosperity to Old Testament Israel? What kind of goodness was Jesus and His disciples talking about? What you see and hear on TV? NO! (I am blessed to live in Japan, where overt greed is still considered worldliness) Well, my day is just starting. Many spiritual blessings to you, and may your needs be met in the bounty of our Lord! In Christ Jesus, charis |