“If they hear and serve Him, they shall end their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasure.”
Job 36:11

By Ron Dorner

Observation is a powerful tool. Through the years, I have counseled many people in financial matters. I have learned that prosperity is not tied to the amount of money one has, as much as it is to one’s contentment with the plan that has unfolded under God’s guidance.

Prosperity is bound up in being successful. The Christian must take his or her definition of financial prosperity from God. What makes the Christian successful financially?

It is important initially to acknowledge that God is not successful. The term “success” is relative. God is perfect; He always has been and always will be. The term prosperity or success can relate only to humans. Believers can determine our success as it relates to obedience to God and His plan for our lives.

God is not concerned with the acquiring of things as much as He is with individuals living their lives in a manner that pleases and brings honor and glory to Him. When approaching the subject of financial prosperity, one must acknowledge that God does not have the same plan for everyone. Some He will use to gain great wealth to His glory; others He will provide for adequately so they might live a very basic life. But in each God is concerned about that person’s obedience and glorification of Him.

A Christian must be very careful in financial planning. It is easy to be swept away with the world’s way of doing things and to run ahead of God.

Why is this a problem? It’s obvious that God is all-knowing. He recognizes one’s needs in the future. He has promised to care for each person. Yet many people charge ahead, making plans for years from now, often things which may never happen. If prayer was ever needed, it is prior to doing financial planning! People’s view of financial prosperity is often much different from God’s.

The key to financial prosperity is for an individual to place his or her life in God’s will. However, that is not an excuse to be unwise. Each person should take responsibility to plan, but not until one has prayed and sought the face of God asking, “Lord, even though I don’t know the future, direct me to handle my finances in a way most pleasing to You.”

Ron Dorner is director of Biblical Money Management. BMM has been helping believers handle their finances and estate planning since 1984. Online counseling is available at www.BiblicalMoneyManagement.com.