What people label “the prosperity gospel” is a sad distortion of the true gospel.
Prosperity preachers promise their listeners full physical healing and unimaginable wealth if they just believe enough or give enough. The problem is that God never promises these things to us in such a definitive way in this life. And even if God did promise these things, we could never earn them through our efforts.
Prosperity teaching sounds good and attracts many followers. But it actually undermines grace and pushes an over-realised eschatology that is unbiblical and dangerous.
The Trouble with Prosperity Teaching
As serious as these distortions are, I have realised the main problem with prosperity teaching. It makes a god out of prosperity.
In prosperity teaching, Jesus becomes a means to an end. Our goal is prosperity, and we use Jesus to get it.
The problem is, nobody likes to be used. Especially God.
The great nineteenth-century preacher Charles Spurgeon once told a story of a humble gardener who presented a carrot to the king, out of love and respect for his ruler.
The king was touched, and rewarded the gardener’s gift with a plot of land. A nobleman in the king’s court overheard this exchange and thought to himself, “A plot of land for a carrot—what a deal! I can do much better than that.”
So the next day, the nobleman presented the king with a magnificent black stallion. The wise king, discerning the nobleman’s heart, simply accepted the gift and said, “Thank you.”
The nobleman was visibly perplexed, so finally the king explained: “That gardener was giving me the carrot, but you were giving yourself the horse.”
God is dishonoured when we try to use him for our own ends. Like the king in the story, he will not put up with it.
Thankfully, God has a far greater plan for us.
Gospel Prosperity
Even though prosperity teaching is a distortion of the true gospel, the Bible does talk about a real prosperity that comes from knowing Christ. Through the authentic gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, we become truly rich (2 Cor. 8:9; Eph. 1:18).
We can call these riches of knowing Jesus, ‘gospel prosperity.’
Though they sound similar, there is a universe of difference between the prosperity gospel and gospel prosperity. In fact, you could say the difference between them is the difference between heaven and earth, or the Creator and creation.
The prosperity gospel makes a god out of prosperity, but gospel prosperity understands that those who are truly rich are those who view God as their greatest treasure. To be personally related to the God of the universe and known as his cherished sons and daughters means that unimaginable wealth is ours right now in Christ.
This is what I mean by gospel prosperity.
Gospel prosperity does not necessarily mean we become financially or materially rich. But it does mean we have an affluence far greater than money could ever buy.
- We receive forgiveness of all our sins: past, present and future (Eph. 1:7).
- We enjoy a peace that passes all understanding, knowing God is in control and that he is working all things for my good (Jn 16:33; Rom 8:28).
- We experience a joy that goes beyond circumstances, which allows us to rejoice even in the midst of painful trials (Jam 1:2).
- We feel a love that is infinite and everlasting, which satisfies us to the core of our beings (Ps 63:3, Eph 3:18).
- We inherit a family of fellow believers, like-minded friends from all around the world to whom we are spiritually united (Eph. 2:19).
- We obtain a power that comes from the Holy Spirit, who is a member of the Trinity living inside of us (Eph 1:17-23).
- We find a purpose that bears fruit for eternity and gives real meaning and motivation to our lives (Jn 15:16).
- We possess a hope that endures whatever happens in this life, because we know we will be in heaven with our God and Saviour forever and ever (Heb. 6:18-20).
This list could go on and on. God has never promised us material or physical prosperity in this life. But through the gospel, we become wealthy beyond our wildest imaginations.
God’s Greater Plans
The Bible never says that we will be immune from suffering and hardship in this life. It also never promises that we will be financially wealthy in this world. And yet through the gospel, we are rich in Christ.
As we continue to trust God and to persevere in his ways, then whatever happens, we can say with the Psalmist, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” (Ps 4:7).
This is real prosperity.
