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Prosperity according to The Bible...

Does the Bible teach that money is the root of all evil? Doesn't the Bible teach against making money? What does the Bible say about money and prosperity?

The Bible contains over 2,000 verses on money. That's more than on the subjects of prayer and faith combined. With that many verses on money, prosperity, and greed, what the Bible says about money should be an important consideration for anyone who wants to follow God.

Bible Verses on Prosperity 

In his third epistle, the apostle John writes: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth" (III John 2, KJV). That John says he wishes this "above all things" implies that he really wants his readers to financially prosper and enjoy great health.

That he adds "even as thy soul prospereth" takes away any attempt to redefine John's wishes as being symbolic of some spiritual quality. John is specifically referring to health and wealth, and saying that he wants these things for his readers, just as he wants them to grow spiritually.

What's more, if III John indeed belongs in the Bible, then John's wishes constitute divinely inspired Scripture and are "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16, KJV).

Anyone tempted to think III John 2 is an anomaly in Scripture can turn to the book of Proverbs, which provides wisdom on a wide range of subjects, including money. Here are just two examples:

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, [b]ut those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5, NKJV)

"Through wisdom a house is built, [a]nd by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches." (Proverbs 24:3-4, NKJV)

Is Money the Root of All Evil?

If there are Bible verses encouraging prosperity, then has the Bible contradicted itself? Doesn't the Bible teach that money is the root of all evil?

This misconception stems from Paul's first letter to Timothy, in which he writes: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (I Timothy 6:10, KJV).

Paul doesn't say money is the "root of all evil," the King James Version translates Paul as saying that the love of money is the "root of all evil."

While other English translations, such as the New International Version, have softened I Timothy 6:10 to read that the "love of money" is "a root of all kinds of evil" (I Timothy 6:10, NIV), the KJV is perhaps closer to Paul's original meaning. Even so, Paul is associating the "love of money" with covetousness. And many would agree that coveting (a biblical term for lust and greed) is indeed the root source of every human sin.

Those inclined to dispute that last statement should consider that covetousness involves the desire to pursue one's own agenda and take that which he or she desires. Covetousness is the very essence of selfishness.

God and Money

The Bible doesn't condemn the acquisition of money or wealth. On the contrary, it provides much in the way of practical and spiritual instruction on how God's followers can achieve monetary blessings. The Bible does, however, condemn greed and it warns that material prosperity has its limits.

Anyone focused on achieving material wealth in this life is pursuing the temporal, rather than the permanent and is compromising his or her ability to follow God's calling. Jesus warns: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24, NIV).

Thus, while God may indeed bless a person with financial prosperity (Proverbs 3:9-10) and while the Bible does provide instructions on how to acquire money (Proverbs 6:6-8), a follower of God must first pursue God's calling and not his or her own agenda.

The Biblical stance is clear: money is a tool; It should not be one's focus. For a follower of God, the focus must be God, and not money.

Brian Tubbs

The Godly woman and the family

The first task/responsibility God gave to Eve/women is:  

Genesis 2:18 (NKJV) - And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

Genesis 2:18 (Amp) - Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him.

Eve’s first role and responsibility the moment she becomes a wife is to be his help meet.  Again, many women today see this as an insult because it is looked as making women subservient to men both in the natural and in the spirit, which is not true. The scripture does establish order for the family, but that is because we serve a God of order and not confusion and chaos, which is what we have when families operate outside of God’s divine order. 

 Ladies, what many of you have overlooked is that God has given you the ability to adapt to any situation and respond accordingly!  This means that regardless of what God has called your husband to be or how God has structured the dynamics of your household, you are capable of not only adjusting to it, but helping your family to thrive!

The problem is most women have allowed society to pervert the role of the women in the family.  You have been tricked into thinking that being called a help meet is a bad thing that makes you a slave to your husband, which is not true especially if you are married to a man who loves you as Christ loves the church.  Women, God said it’s not good for man to be alone, but not merely for companionship sake, but because Adam needed Eve.  We all heard that behind every great man there is a great or strong woman.  This is a very true statement, but if God called the woman to be the one who is the mover and the shaker in the family, that is okay too.  There is nothing wrong with the women being the primary income earner as the amount of money earned doesn’t make you head of the family; this is a worldly concept. 

 A woman being the primary income earner is just another facet of how God created women to be capable of operating in any capacity.  So a woman can be anything from a housewife to a CEO of a corporation and still be obedient to God’s will for her life if she understands that in God’s eyes her husband is still head of the family.

Women, don’t be afraid or ashamed of operating the roles God created you for as none of them are insulting are belittling. Both Adam and Eve were made in the image of God and were both assigned roles and responsibilities according to God’s wishes.  He knows and understands us better than we do ourselves and if both Adam and Even could get back to God’s original plan for the family we would see that it is a winning situation for both of husband and wife.  Ladies, you should take pride in knowing that you are capable of being and doing whatever is necessary for your family; and you are able to adapt to whatever situation and environment you enter into once you get married.  

This is a gift that God saw fit to bless Eve with because He knew that Adam needed help in more ways than Adam/men could ever realize!