The debate as to whether it is right or wrong for Christians to acquire prosperity has been going on since time imemorial. Different schools of thought have advanced theories for or against the rectitude of the acquisition of prosperity by Christians. To the antagonists of prosperity for Christians, their stance on the issue is informed by the view that a Christian’s desire for prosperity stems from an unholy affinity with the world—the very thing the Bible cautions  against. On the other hand, the protagonists believe that prosperity in the life of a Christian is a reflection of God’s blessing, and as such should be desired and encouraged. Ofcourse then, there is a third group which advocates moderation—a middle position between the two groups earlier mentioned. Which group is right?
   Much as each of the above-mentioned categories is well-intentioned in its views, the Bible remains the the court of last resort. The Bible is the word of God and He has made it available as the means by which we can know His will. Therefore, to trust in God is to believe everything the Bible says about God, mankind and every other thing that God created. God has exalted His word above His Name  (Ps138vs2), as a demonstration of how precious His word is to Him. Therefore, let us see what the Bible has to say on the issue.
GOD’S VIEW OF PROSPERITY
   The misconceptions that surrounds the propriety and necessity of a Christian’s being prosperous, results from looking at prosperity from the natural man’s point of view—the world’s view of the concept. This view of prosperity considers it as basically and ultimately the acquisition of monetary and material wealth for the purpose of satisfying one’s whims and caprices. The parable Jesus told His audience in Luke 12:15-21, illustrates this point. Another scriptural passage that reflects the parochial nature of the carnal view of prosperity is Revelation 3:14-22. Both passages of the Bible cited above, point to the ostentatious, selfish intent of the wealth acquired. It should be clear, then, that the world sees prosperity differently from the way the Lord does (Isa 55:6-9).
   God’s view of prosperity is far beyond the acquisition of financial and material success, though both are a part of it. By God’s definition, “prosperity is God’s empowerment of a man or woman to: be fruitful, advance, progress and  succeed in fulfilling God’s plans and purpose for his or her life” (Deut 8:18, Prov 10:22, 2Cor 9:8, Eph 2:10). God looks at prosperity as a wholistic experience, that includes the spirit, soul and body (1Th 5:23, 3 Jn vs 2 ). A person who has financial and material wealth but who also is in poor health and lacks peace of mind is not truly prosperous in the divine sense of the word. Furthermore,  the definition of prosperity given above, underscores the centrality of pleasing God in both securing and using wealth. This precludes selfishness.
   God prospers people, as they choose to obey Him. He is not a respecter of persons, but accepts all men and women from every nation who fear and serve Him (Acts 10: 34,35). God never destined anyone for failure, poverty or sicknesses. According to Deut 15:4 (NIV), poverty is unnecessary. The first  sentence of that verse is: “there should be no poor among you…”. We can therefore say without equivocation, that God’s perfect will for His people is prosperity. From the dawn of human history, those people who have done as God instructed them, have known by experience that He keeps His promise to prosper those who obey Him. The following points will further prove that it is God’s will to prosper His people.
Our God Himself personifies prosperity. We know this because the first sentence in the Bible is: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1:1). Apparently, God was the only entity that existed before there were heavens and an earth. It follows then that the heavens and their magnificent splendour and the earth with its vast array of wealth came out of God Himself. He simply spoke everything into existence.
    Secondly, God provided prosperity for man, by creating everything he would need, before creating him. Mankind was the last of God’s creation, which implies that Adam began his life from God’s rest. The garden where God placed him was the epitome of prosperity. God gave Adam a wide variety of fruits from which to choose for food, with the exception of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:16,17). Animal and plant lives; arieal, aquatic and terrestrial were at man’s command. Man himself wore the glory of God for clothing. If this does not describe prosperity, I do not know what does.
   The third point that proves God’s desire for man to prosper is the fact that His first words to man according to Genesis 1:28, were words of blessing that went as follows:”…Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” We know God’s blessing is the means by which He empowers. In fact, the Bible says, “The blessing of the LORD makes [one] rich, And He adds no sorrow with it” (Prov 10:22). God even planned for man to replicate his prosperous environment all over the earth. Does that  sound like prosperity? I think so.
    Finally, it is important to note that, it was when man sinned that he first experienced emotional turmoil, in the form of fear, lost the glory of God and began his descent into poverty, sicknesses and death. None of these was part of God’s blue print for him. For, when God made him in His image and likeness; strong, healthy, peaceful and joyful, He saw that it was according to His plan. Remember that man in the garden of Eden was in his noblest state: spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically prosperous.
 However, in as much as God has provided for His people to prosper, they can enjoy the experience only if they are willing and obedient to Him (Isaiah 1:19).
 Shalom.