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Holes in My Moneybag from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

There are many things in scripture that have been misunderstood or blown out of proportion over the centuries. Two of them are prosperity and abundance. There are many promises of God concerning these, but it's a bit deeper than "name it and claim it" or "blab it and grab it." We have to be submissive to Him and obedient for His promises to come to pass.

(Psalm 1:1–3 NKJV)  Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Notice the progression of slowing movement: He walks, stands, then sits. The opposite was the one who meditated on the scriptures and kept moving. They were like a tree planted by a river that has no lack of water. They have everything they need.

In the Bible, "to prosper" means to succeed in what the Lord has given you to do. To prosper conveys "a successful venture." While having "an abundance" means that you have all your needs taken care of, and some left to help others. This is the Kingdom way.

Jesus Christ had a prosperous ministry and an abundance of everything He needed to accomplish the task given Him, though He had no earthly possessions to speak of. In the same way, the Lord provides what we need to complete the assignment given while we do the work.

The Lord's provision comes as it is needed. Jesus couldn't have carried 10,000 pounds of gold around with Him, so it appeared when there was a need for it. Like on the day they needed to pay a tax, Peter caught a fish carrying the tax money in its mouth (Matthew 17:27). There was never a shortage or lack, yet Jesus didn't have pockets full of gold with Him.

God never has a money crisis. Never. Poverty is a curse, and being flat broke isn't "Godly." Deuteronomy 28 lists great blessings that come on the obedient, and great curses that come on the disobedient. You may say, "Oh, but that's the Old Testament." But it's dangerous to pretend His word doesn't apply to us. Jesus said, "Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46). Sure we are under a better covenant, and many things have changed, but our obedience isn't optional. We need to rightly divide the word of truth.

During the Middle Ages, monasteries required monks to take vows of poverty and chastity. Soon all clergy were expected to take these vows to demonstrate their high spirituality. But poverty and chastity have never been biblical, ever. God's chosen people like Abraham, Moses, and David all married, had many children and were wealthy. David left Solomon 7,500,000 pounds of gold to build the temple from his personal treasury. And Solomon's kingdom, wealth, and wisdom are nearly beyond our comprehension today.

Poverty and lack are a curse. The Kingdom way is having an abundance: Meaning you have all your needs met, and some to help others. And prosperity: being successful in what He has given you to do. This is the way.

The Apostle Paul had a prosperous journey to Rome, but he traveled there as a prisoner, was shipwrecked on the isle of Malta, and bitten by a snake. Yet, he accomplished the will of God for him at that time. Prosperous doesn't mean easy street, and abundance doesn't mean rich.

The Lord has used financial pressure to correct our course in the past. For example, to push me into ministry, He first dried up our computer business. Typically, when there is a season of lack, I find there is something we need to change. We should seek the Lord and inquire as to why it's happening instead of ignoring it.   

God is honest and speaks very plainly, but mankind can be spiritually deaf and blind. One of the clearest curses in the Bible came on those who refused to tithe, meaning, giving 10% of all your increase to God's work:

(Malachi 3:8–11 NKJV) "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts;

 When the Lord's temple sat unfinished, and the people lived in their comfortable houses and ignored His, the prophet Haggai told them this:

(Haggai 1:3–9 NKJV)  Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! "You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes."

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD. "You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house."

There should be no long-term lack at your house. The Lord is more than able to provide all that is needed, but sometimes He wants to get our attention. As in the verses above, He can put a hole in the bottom of our money bag. It's far less expensive to tithe than to pay endless repair bills because things keep breaking, almost like they are cursed...imagine that.

"Oh, but that's the Old Testament!" Jesus said:

(Luke 6:38 NKJV)  Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

The Apostle Paul said:

(2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NKJV)  But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

The Lord wants His children to prosper and have an abundance, as outlined in this message. To prosper means to be successful in what He has given you to do. You do the work, and He provides what is needed. An abundance means enough for your own needs, and some to help others. There should be no poverty at your house. If there is, we need to seek the Lord and ask what we need to change.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the life You have given me. Please guide me and help me make the right decisions. Help me understand Your word, and protect me from deception. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!