THE PROSPERITY TEST

PROSPERITY = the condition of being successful or thriving; economic well-being, and having good fortune. The state of being prosperous; advance or gain in anything good or desirable; successful progress in any business or enterprise; as, commercial prosperity; national prosperity

For the prosperity test, I want to share the lives of two individuals: Isaac and King Solomon.

According to scripture, Abraham gave Isaac all that he had, and after his death, God continued to bless Isaac (Genesis 25:5; 11). There arose a famine in the land and Isaac decided to go to Egypt where things were prospering; however, God gave him these instructions, “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Isaac’s fate for obedience and staying was he sowed in the land, was blessed, went forward, grew until he became very great, received in the same year a hundredfold, had possession of flocks, possession of herds, and many servants. Also, Isaac was blessed because of Abraham’s obedience to God, plus he inherited his father’s wealth. When tempted to leave the land of Canaan due to famine, he followed in his father’s footsteps of obedience to God, and for this, God rewarded him greatly.

Solomon was the third king of Israel. At the beginning of his reign, God appeared to him in a dream and asked him, “What shall I give thee?” Solomon in reply said, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” The Bible states that God was pleased with Solomon’s response and He said this to him, “Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days” (1 Kings 3:5 -14). Solomon’s response garnered him financial prosperity, fame, prestige, longevity, intellectual supremacy, and godly wisdom, which is seen in 1 Kings 4 and 1 Chronicles 1.

Apparently, both of these individuals’ actions pleased God, and they became prosperous not because they sought after riches but due to obedience and a right spirit. They did not have these words of Jesus, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33); however, their attitude and actions displayed their priority which was pleasing God. For us, their actions are an example to follow, and prayerfully, we will also pass the prosperity test.