Success and prosperity are at the heart of the American Dream. We’re told that if we work hard and make wise decisions we will prosper financially. We’ll be able to climb the economic ladder, own a home, provide for our families and be able to retire comfortably. But what we are not told is that prosperity comes with its own set of problems.
God pointed this out to Hosea, “How prosperous Israel is — a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit. But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build. The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful their sacred pillars. The hearts of the people are fickle…” (Hosea 10:1-2).
Like the people of Hosea’s day, we tend to see prosperity more as an opportunity to have a good life than to do good with our life. We can see this when our homes become temples of materialism instead of places of refuge for the needy, when our vehicles become trophies of our success instead of tools for God’s service, and when we travel exclusively for our own enjoyment and never for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
Now don’t get me wrong, God doesn’t begrudge us owning a home, having reliable transportation or enjoying special time with our friends and families. In fact, Paul told Timothy that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17). The problem with prosperity isn’t that our lives improve, it’s that our hearts don’t. If we aren’t growing more compassionate and generous then there is something amiss in our hearts.
So Paul gives us the antidote to a heart poisoned by prosperity. He tells us, “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others” (1 Timothy 6:18).
What impact are your finances having on your heart today?
God pointed this out to Hosea, “How prosperous Israel is — a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit. But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build. The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful their sacred pillars. The hearts of the people are fickle…” (Hosea 10:1-2).
Like the people of Hosea’s day, we tend to see prosperity more as an opportunity to have a good life than to do good with our life. We can see this when our homes become temples of materialism instead of places of refuge for the needy, when our vehicles become trophies of our success instead of tools for God’s service, and when we travel exclusively for our own enjoyment and never for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
Now don’t get me wrong, God doesn’t begrudge us owning a home, having reliable transportation or enjoying special time with our friends and families. In fact, Paul told Timothy that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17). The problem with prosperity isn’t that our lives improve, it’s that our hearts don’t. If we aren’t growing more compassionate and generous then there is something amiss in our hearts.
So Paul gives us the antidote to a heart poisoned by prosperity. He tells us, “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others” (1 Timothy 6:18).
What impact are your finances having on your heart today?
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