8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. [simple_tooltip content=’1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;
2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.
3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready;
4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!’](2 Corinthians 9:1-15)[/simple_tooltip]
Do you think Jesus was selfish in any way? And yet, if you really study the Gospels, it is obvious Jesus never wanted for anything. Furthermore, He had so much money that He had to have a treasurer (John 13:29). Yet most Christians oppose financial prosperity because they equate it with greed. No doubt many Christians err in this regard, but it is the love of money that is the root of all evil not money itself (1 Tim. 6:10).
True prosperity as the Bible teaches and Jesus practiced it is not selfish or greedy. Jesus had a lot because He gave away a lot. As this verse says, the Lord prospers us so we can have enough to give to every good work. Those who are unable to give to everything they would like haven’t yet reached the level of prosperity God has provided for them.
Another verse that makes this point is Ephesians 4:28, which says, „Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” God prospers you so you can bless others. When you understand the biblical concept of prosperity isn’t selfish at all, you want to prosper so you can be a blessing to others.
Believers who say, “I have enough and would never ask God for any more,” reveal that they think prosperity is just for them. With that attitude, it would be selfish to believe for more money. They think they are being holy by just getting their bare needs met. But once they see that prosperity isn’t only for them, that they can be a channel of God’s supply to others, this „I have enough” attitude will be exposed for what it is: silly and self-righteous!
What is your reason for wanting to prosper? Is it all for selfish gain, or do you want to be a blessing to others? Today, instead of thinking about all your financial needs and desires, look around you and consider the needs and desires of others. Stir up a desire to meet those needs. Then you will have the right motivation to prosper. If God can get it through you, He’ll get it to you.
