POSTERITY

And God sent me before you to preserve a POSTERITY for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance – Genesis 45:7

Prosperity is a blessing; a key part of the Believer’s covenant right. God desires that we prosper spiritually, mentally, and physically. Prosperity is not measured only in monetary or material terms. Knowing and walking in the fundamental truths about prosperity liberates us from the tortuous and tormenting trap of poverty. Above all, true Prosperity is for POSTERITY. That’s what distinguishes materialism or worldly prosperity from godly prosperity. The Purpose of Prosperity is not about us, but about the Kingdom of God. It is not so much for temporal gratification as it is part of our eternal preparation. The early Church – the first century apostolic kingdom – engaged prosperity to profit all: to promote and project spiritual growth; to practice divine love and to glorify God (Acts 2:41-47). Perfect Prosperity embraces the human spirit, mind and body.

Biblical Prosperity is transgenerational in benefits and impact. Abraham passed all that he had to Isaac; Isaac to Jacob and Jacob to the patriarchs. Each passed on more than material stuff. They transferred living legacies. Jesus called the Twelve and empowered them to multiply and empower the whole world. He gave us the power of attorney, to “occupy” till He comes (Lk.19:13). That’s productive prosperity. The Pauline sideline is in 2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” That’s transgenerational: Paul to Timothy to faithful men and to other believers. Prosperity is not just about transferring material possessions. It embraces the transgenerational exchange of batons of grace, insight, values, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.

The Prosperity that counts is for Posterity! God prospers His people in order for His covenant to be established: “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Dt.8:18). He wants to establish His covenant of dominion, godliness, holiness, righteousness, and justice; hence He gives us power to get wealth. The prosperity that counts gives primacy to divine purpose: you commit to make God and His purpose prosper in your life and beyond. You seek first His Kingdom and righteousness (Mt.6:33). That Joseph became Prime Minister in Egypt was not the pinnacle of his prosperity. That he preserved posterity for his father and brethren and thereby established God’s Covenant, was the ultimate purpose of his lifting to greatness. Beloved, what is the relevance of your “prosperity” to God’s eternal purposes?

Compare these two testimonies: “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain…” (Isa.49:4a); and “For David served God’s purpose in his own generation…” (Acts 13:36a, LB). Now, what is your own testimony? I pray for you: You shall not labor in vain; but you shall serve God’s purpose in your generation and beyond, in Jesus name! What are you laboring for in life – money, wealth, fortune, fame, popularity or political power? What are your life’s main goals – enjoying temporal pleasures or obtaining eternal treasures? What do you cherish more in life – a vault full of gold or a heart filled with God’s Spirit? Living only to accumulate or consolidate an earthly estate is a short-sighted goal. A wise use of time is to build and establish an eternal legacy: “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom.14:12).

For you to have an enduring and lasting prosperity, you must learn to abide at God’s ordained divine place, fight the divine battle, run the divine race, and win the divine prize. Your Purpose defines your Prosperity, which should serve Posterity!