FROM POVERTY INTO PROSPERITY

“And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground…” – Deuteronomy 28: 11a

Among the realities of redemption is our translation from POVERTY into PROSPERITY: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col.1:13). PROSPERITY is a vital part of God’s Covenant of Blessing; whereas poverty is always on the curse side. The first fourteen verses of Deuteronomy 28 are a list of blessings: experiencing overflow and more than enough. However, verses 15-68 are the very opposite. They describe situations of poverty: never having enough, not having a home, being hungry, thirsty, and naked.

Some religious traditions believe that it is God’s will for His people to be poverty-stricken, crushed, wretched, sickly, sorrowful, and defeated. They liken poverty with piety, and almost venerate wallowing in poverty as a route to humility and godliness. Some even believe that sickness and suffering would make them avoid arrogance and pride. They suggest that pain, lack, penury, and poverty are gifts from God to teach humility, patience, and submission. These assertions are absolutely unscriptural. Poverty is not God’s teaching or training tool; it is not a vow we should take; and it is not a blessing-in-disguise. Poverty is a negative thing; it is terrible, burdensome, and a cause of grief and pain. God’s Word likens poverty to a thief: “so shall your poverty come on you like a robber, and your need likean armed man” (Pro.6:11). This brings to mind the thief of John 10:10a. Poverty is destructive: “the destruction of the poor is their poverty” (Pro.10:15).

Poverty is never in God’s perfect will. Even ungodly parents would wish good and prosperity for their children: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Mt.7:11). Will God be callous and less loving than earthly parents? Certainly not! God is neither wicked nor confused. He delights in seeing all of His children enjoying His abundant blessings. Prosperity attracts while poverty repels: “The poor man is hated even by his own neighbour, but the rich has many friends” (Pro.14:20). Prosperity empowers and gives one a voice; whereas poverty enslaves and makes one’s voice a noise: “the rich man’s wealth is his strong city…” (Pro.10:15a). Rather than humbling a person, the bondage of poverty can make one ineffective and unfulfilled.

All the wealth of the universe belongs to God; hence His children have no reason to go hungry, sorrowful, poor, and sickly. Christ’s gifts of wealth and health are salient parts of His Salvation package: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isa.53:5). Jesus took our infirmities and carried our afflictions and sorrows, leaving us with only the “burden” of grace. Unfortunately, some people profess Jesus as Lord and Saviour, but still deny His Blood-purchased provisions of wealth and health. Some of such people overlook the many promises of prosperity for those who are committed to carrying out God’s gospel on earth, and still peddle about the religious traditions of “thorns and thistles”!

Christ has redeemed us from “thorns and thistles.” We have been delivered, not only from Sin, but also from the three-fold curse of the law: poverty, sickness, and death. Instead of the curse coming upon us, Jesus was made to be a curse for us! He didn’t go to the cross for Himself – He did for us! 2 Corinthians 8:9 declares: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2Cor.8:9). Although poverty is an undeniable fact of fallen humanity, believers are not to be conformed to the world, but be transformed by God’s Word (Rom.12:1-2). To the extent that we believe His promises, to that extent we’ll walk in Prosperity!