“Blessings of God”
Recognizing Godly Prosperity
Many times we have become discouraged
because we have observed ungodly individuals or lukewarm Christians obtain what
we believed to be blessings from God.
There have been times when we have wondered why it seems that individuals
who lack reverence for God prosper more than those who make an effort to live
righteously. As we learn more about the
character of God and how He operates, we will stop wondering.
First of all, if people receive
anything that diverts or removes their attention from God, it did not come from
God. In Luke 5:1-11, Peter, James and
John spent all night fishing, but failed to catch any fish. Jesus instructed Peter to take his boat into
the deep water and let his net down to catch some fish. After Peter obeyed Jesus, he caught so many
fish that he had to call James and John to bring their boat and assist him in
bringing the fish to land. Both boats
almost sank and the net were barely strong enough to secure the fish. Peter, James, and John caught more fish than
they had ever caught in their lives because they obeyed what Jesus had
instructed them to do. However, after
their most successful day on the job, they left EVERYTHING to follow
Jesus. God will NEVER give us anything
that will immediately cause us to focus our attention somewhere other than on
Him. What He gives us will cause us to
INCREASE our focus on Him. God gives us
what He knows we are mature enough to handle.
Secondly, if people receive anything
that did not require them to live by God’s standard in order to obtain, it did
not come from God. In Deuteronomy
28:1-14, God told the Israelites that if they were faithful to obey His
commands, He would cause blessings to overtake them. Satan is a deceiver and he will do whatever
is necessary to keep us from drawing closer to God and living by His
standards.
Jeremiah 17:11
As a partridge that
hatches eggs which it has not laid,
So is a person
who makes a fortune, but unjustly;
In the middle of his days it will abandon him,
And in the end he will be a fool.”
Proverbs 11:18
Evil people get rich
for the moment,
but the reward of the godly will last.
