When I was a teenager, I thought that the Bible was a book for old people and that many people could be interested in it, but I was not interested at the time. I thought there was nothing in that book to attract me to take it in my hands and dedicate my time to read it.
I never thought during that brief time of my life that the Word could be as impressive as it was for me during my time as a student in mission school.
Every time a new subject started in the program of studies in the Colombian mission school, it opened the doors to a new world to discover. I was eager to learn something new about the world. And who wouldn’t be if in every subject the “book” came to life and always had something interesting to tell us. I learned about every area of the human being regardless of how unimportant it seemed, and this gave me much happiness.
For God every area of the human being is important: spiritual, social, physical, financial, emotional, and intellectual. He desires our complete growth.
Through the Bible we realize that the Lord cares for the welfare of his children in each one of these areas. And we can see biblical examples of many people who were blessed in many areas because they applied the principles that the Lord had given to His people. An example of this is found in Deuteronomy 28 and 29.
Even though the Bible isn’t a book of sociology, economic science, mathematics or any other of the sciences, it is a book that provides principles about all the areas of human knowledge.
The Scriptures say, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. But why is it that someone who is seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness may have so many shortages in his life? This may happen if he is ignoring some principles contained in the Holy Book.
In the first place, we make it clear that God desires man’s prosperity. Then let the Lord speak to us through His Word:
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3
In context, this text is talking about righteous people, and at the end of the verse 3 there is a beautiful promise: “Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
About Joseph it is said in Genesis 39:2:
“And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”
Joseph was a prosperous man because the Lord was with Joseph. God desires to prosper everything our hands touch if we allow Him to lead our lives.
Another text is in the book of Joshua:
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8
God desires our way to be prosperous and whatever we undertake to work well:
“We hope you may be prospered of God. If we have His care and His approval, we shall make a success wherever we are and in whatever we may engage. Without the blessing of God, any amount of prosperity will fail to be a success. Our first anxiety should be to secure God as our friend. ‘Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me’ (Isaiah 27: 5).” –This Day with God, p. 367
But this prosperity is achieved through submission of our will to the Lord in the observance of His commandments:
“Temporal and spiritual prosperity are made conditional upon obedience to the law of God. . . . Obedience to God’s Word is our life, our happiness.” –Child Guidance, p. 80
However, we also need to be aware that many who are obedient to the law of God are not always blessed with temporal prosperity. Christ was one of the poorest on earth. He had no place to lay His head. He had no temporal goods.
“There are many who urge with great enthusiasm that all men should have an equal share in the temporal blessings of God. But this was not the purpose of the Creator. A diversity of condition is one of the means by which God designs to prove and develop character. Yet He intends that those who have worldly possessions shall regard themselves merely as stewards of His goods, as entrusted with means to be employed for the benefit of the suffering and the needy Christ has said that we shall have the poor always with us, and He unites His interest with that of His suffering people. The heart of our Redeemer sympathizes with the poorest and lowliest of His earthly children. He tells us that they are His representatives on earth. He has placed them among us to awaken in our hearts the love that He feels toward the suffering and oppressed.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 535
This principle applies in all the biblical situations where the servants of the Lord are mentioned.
Here are more texts about this aspect of prosperity:
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2
“And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20
“Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 2:20
God has a plan for you and it is prosperity. I don’t mean a life of selfish luxury that comes from the world, but the Lord really wants to bless you with richness that comes from heaven. You are made to reach prosperity under the parameters of God.
“The marked prosperity which attended everything placed under Joseph’s care was not the result of a direct miracle; but his industry, care, and energy were crowned with the divine blessing. Joseph attributed his success to the favor of God and even his idolatrous master accepted this as the secret of his unparalleled prosperity. Without steadfast, well-directed effort, however, success could never have been attained. God was glorified by the faithfulness of His servant. It was His purpose that in purity and uprightness the believer in God should appear in marked contrast to the worshipers of idols—that thus the light of heavenly grace might shine forth amid the darkness of heathenism.” –Conflict and Courage, p. 74
It should be emphasized that Joseph applied the principles such as “industry, care, and energy” for his success. It is mentioned in the text that was quoted before that his prosperity and success wasn’t the “result of a direct miracle.”
The balanced approach of this issue is found in what the Lord says through the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” The text ends by saying “whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”
Every purpose that is started with this principle in mind is marked with the seal of divine approval.
Now, let’s walk through the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 11, to discover some principles of economic health.
- Principle of Investment
“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1
This was literally done by Solomon. He cast his bread upon the waters. Isn’t it curious?
“For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.” 1 Kings 10:22–23
Doesn’t it seem curious that Solomon did this? Remember that there wasn’t a man after the Lord Jesus wiser than Solomon. He was an investor and knew how to make the most of the resources, and he multiplied them.
The text mentions that he had ships in Tharshish. The ships of Tharshish were ships of great size, able to make long trips and transport plenty of merchandise.
During three years these ships were doing business and multiplying the possessions of King Solomon; at the end of the three years the ships came back full of wealth, making the kingdom of Solomon the greatest known in that time.
I am not a businessman or an accountant, much less a stockbroker. I am only a student of the Bible, and my task is to show these kinds of principles hidden in the words of the Bible; but the principle practiced by Solomon applies in our days as much as it applied in the days of his kingdom.
Invest! Search for advice on how to do this; go to the people who apply this principle and get advice. Remember what the parable of the talents says; God won’t only ask for what you get but also for how you used it to help in God’s work. Don’t forget that the Lord has done everything for you and has given His own Son in propitiation for our redemption (1 John 4:10); and because of Him, we now have everything, and grace for grace (John 1:16). Once more surrender your life to the Saviour and consecrate yourself for His glory.
The next article will expand on this principle.
Elder Hernandez
Canada