BALANCED PROSPERITY

“Beloved, I pray that you may PROSPER in ALL THINGS and be in HEALTH, just as your soul PROSPERS” – 3 John 2

It’s apt to round off our month of Love, Peace, and Prosperity with meditations on biblical or BALANCED PROSPERITY: “Beloved, I pray that you may PROSPER in ALL THINGS and be in HEALTH, just as your soul PROSPERS” (3 Jh.2). In this specific instance, the apostle prayed that his friend Gaius may have secular or temporal prosperity and sound health commensurate with his remarkable spiritual prosperity: “as your soul prospers.” He made his spiritual prosperity the measure of the desired bodily health and temporal prosperity. The expression of this desire at the beginning of so brief a letter infers that John considered prosperity to be a priority; something of great value and significance.

The next verse buttresses the significance of spiritual prosperity - prosperity of soul. This was seen in Gaius’ growing acquaintance with and conformity to the truth: “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth” (v.3). Perhaps Gaius needed this assurance of his spiritual prosperity in the light of whatever else he was facing health-wise or in terms of material provision. On this account John addressed him with words of encouragement – words delicately but powerfully conveying the apostle’s confidence in his spiritual state, while assuring him of his unflinching support in supplications and prayers. His words emphasise the value of spiritual prosperity over and above material or social progress. Generally, prosperity can be described as a state of being prosperous, rich or successful. Specifically, Christian prosperity is balanced, all-round prosperity: of the soul, in health, and in “all things.”

Secular prosperity is highly desirable. For our personal sake, for the sake of families and acquaintances, for the sake of our usefulness in the Body of Christ, and the collective welfare of nations and humanity, prosperity in temporal things is needed. Wealth is a wonderful power; and in the hands of a wise man it is a great boon both to him and to others. Also, physical health is not only desirable, but essential. Health of the total person – spirit, mind, and body – is, for many apparent reasons, one of God's best gifts to humankind. It is important also for other reasons which are not obvious to all. For example, the state of the body exercises a great influence upon the spirit, soul, and mind. Much of the comfort of life depends on health. The body is the organ and agent of the soul and mind; and, if it is unhealthy, the impact would be far-reaching. Our spiritual frame, feelings and mental expressions are considerably toned and coloured by our physical condition.

Unless spiritual prosperity is at least commensurate with temporal prosperity, the latter ceases to be a blessing. All the worldly wealth a person could amass which is more than proportionate to the prosperity of the soul, he will do well to share, get rid of at once, or by Divine grace bring the wealth of his soul into proportion with it. Without this consciousness, wealth will be abused, resources will be misused, riches will injure, and the material will crush or suffocate the spiritual within. When outward riches are given priority above godliness and grace, they may become a curse to their possessor. Many pampered sons and daughters of riches and luxury would come to poverty and want. But when there is a balance between the two, wealth is a blessing worthy an apostle's prayer. Then, many of the indigent would pass from the abode of penury to the palace of ease and plenty.

For believers in Christ, prosperity is a covenant blessing – a covenant right. We must understand, embrace, and enjoy all dimensions of the covenant of prosperity. It is God’s Will that we prosper spiritually, mentally, and physically. It is vital that we carefully learn the purpose, principles, and practices of prosperity, so that we can be free from the curse, philosophies, and traditions of poverty. We must come to know that the injury of riches is in the motive for which we desire them!