Psalm 35:27 *Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant*
*SOME MISUNDERSTOOD SCRIPTURES*? (B)
Again, I need to restate that God blesses and prosper his children. Anyone who says otherwise is myopic and hasn't walked with God to understand his omnipotence. Also, we cannot deny that we need money to live well and do ministry properly. Without good money, we cannot do certain things in the kingdom.
If our understanding is within the ambit set by bible and modesty, we won't be found guilty of greed and avarice masquerading as "prosperity gospel". The gospel we read about in scriptures is simply the Gospel of Christ.
Romans 1:16 says, *"For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST, for IT IS THE POWER of God TO SALVATION for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek*"(NKJV).
This is Paul stating that the gospel revealed to him is the GOSPEL OF CHRIST not prosperity or any other gospel. The function of that gospel is to save from sin. This is what we found in the bible and we must remain faithful to the word.
*The problem with what is dubbed as 'prosperity Gospel' today is that it focuses on materialism and even equates having those things as a measure of one's spirituality. Also, it uses gimmicks and manipulation to extort people of their hard earned money on the pretext that it is the surest way to blessing*.
Let's look at another scripture that has been interpreted wrongly to push this unbiblical teaching.
3 John 1:2 *"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth*"( KJV)
The scripture above is an epistolary salutation common to the Greco-Roman letter writing style of that day. Just as it is in our day when we write letter and say things like: "Hope this email/ letter meets you in good health".
What apostle John stated above is not a doctrine as some have made it look. Some have taught that text to mean that spiritual prosperity automatically will lead to financial prosperity. The danger of this is that the salvation of a poor believer becomes doubtful because he has no material thing to show for it.
This brings us to the problem materialistic gospel has created. In that circle, salvation is seen as a ticket for wealth and whoever is not wealthy, his/ her salvation is doubtful. This is totally unbiblical and wrong. Some are poor not because they are not saved, some do not just have opportunities that can make them wealthy.
The term "prosper" in that text is from the Greek "Euodoo" which literally is talking about having a prosperous journey just as we say "Safe Journey" in our days not necessarily material wealth. Let's examine how that word is used in other texts.
Romans 1:10 says, *"Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a PROSPEROUS JOURNEY by the will of God to come unto you*"
It means a safe journey without hindrance.This is so because of persecution that was rife in that day.
Romans 15:31-32 says, *"That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
[32] That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed
"Prosper" in context of 3 John 2 and other text shared is not used for material possessions. If one has to preach about material prosperity, one should look for other text not 3 John 2.
We should be careful not to corrupt the word of God for personal gains. Jesus is enough.