Quote:
Originally Posted by tv1a
I agree with almost all of your post. I think Joseph prosepered at every level he was at. He found favor with his father, Potiphar, the jailer, and ultimately Pharoah. Temporary setbacks do not always equate the lack of prosperity. Joseph had to let go of family ties to get to Egypt. Joseph had to let go of success at Potiphar's house to be second in command at the prison. Joseph had to let go of the prison keys to get Pharoah's ring.
I am in the same boat you are. I haven't always 'financially' prospered. Still working on that one. But I have been taking steps to ensure I follow Biblical principles for prosperity.
The way I interpret Prosperity doctrine is even if God takes everything I have away, I can follow God's principles and eventually everything will work out.
I know there are a few hacks out there who abuse prosperity doctrine. I know one guy who used the prayer of Jabez to pray for a new computer. I do find it tough to swallow the tbn style telethons and the district national fundraisers where they give scripture to suggest God wants people to give offbeat amounts of money, like $23 here, $57 there. I don't buy all that stuff. I do buy the fact of listening to God in my sacrifical giving. I buy the fact there are blessings in paying my tithes and offerings.
My definition of prosperity isn't always forking over cash. My definition of prosperity is to use God's blessings to me as a tool to minister to others. Time, money, possessions. Everything I have is dedicated to God. God gave me a van at a real low price to take people to church. The other day my wife and I used the van to help an elderly man in our church move into a new house.
Prosperity is a relative term. There will always be someone richer than us. We may hate to think this, but there will always be people poorer than us.
Good post PO. I enjoy the dialog.
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I guess I'm a little hard on the prosperity doctrine for obvious reasons.
The Lord woke me up in the middle of the night, some years ago, and told me to quit my job. I had an excellent sales job. $1,200 per month, $500 car allowance and 50% commission. I cut Him off in prayer a few times before that. Stone cold, cut it off!
Well, the whole bottom fell out for us for a number of years after I finally obeyed. We went through more church trials - Lord - and it isn't fun when you are having financial trouble too!
We gave in offerings, tithed and struggled. Sometimes it just seemed so unfair. But on my knees I was righted again!
We are not in that financial situation anymore, but it was very hard. I felt very stupid and poor having had such a nice job and home. I suppose it was a pride issue to boot.
Anyway, when I hear "prosperity doctrine" it just doesn't seem to reach out and balance the whole out. It seems to speak of financial blessing as a certainty, when I know good and well it doesn't always go that way. You can give and give and suffer and suffer and none of it makes any sense, at times.
I believe every child of God, like Joseph, will prosper in areas, but the prosperity doctrine, IMO, only embraces the guaranteed financial blessing and that is what I am against.
I was paying bills yesterday and thinking of the times when I couldn't pay them all with one check. God has been good. I learned BOTH how to be abased and how to abound.....