God wants His people to be well and live wholesome lives. He has such an interest in His people living in relationship with Him and being blessed in His goodness, that in the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament, eight Hebrew words are used to convey the whole sense of what God considers to be prosperity.
gadal advance, increase
tsalach push forward, be profitable
yatab make well, happy, successful, right
sakal make intelligent, prosper, have good success
shalah to be secure or successful
shalvah security, abundance, peace, prosperity
shalowm welfare, health, prosperity, peace, favor
towb goodness, favor, prosperity
RELEVANCE
Paul caught hold of the goodness of God. He saw God from a multi-dimensional perspective. He prayed that believers “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19).
If you can apprehend such a strengthened view or multi-dimensional view of God, you can appreciate how awesome God’s power and ability is to bless you with a wholesome life. Paul continued his prayer: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Living filled with all the fullness of God is real prosperity.
REFLECT AND RELATE
What is prosperity to you? How do you define it?
How can your understanding of prosperity be enhanced by gaining such a strengthened view or multi-dimensional perspective of God?
REFERENCES
Psalm 118:1-29