Martha

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2

I have heard and read so many messages on prosperity and while some align with God’s will for His children, many miss the mark by portraying a view that does not speak to the prosperity of our souls. There is so much focus on how well God wants us to live here on earth, that we forget why Christ truly died. His death was more than a meal ticket or healed wound for us. He died to restore our souls to God for us to have life in abundance and spend eternity with God.

The disconnection in Eden separated man from God but it did not stop God from healing the sick and blessing His people and it does not stop Him from doing the same today. Before Christ’s birth, God’s children enjoyed earthly blessings. Deuteronomy 30:9 says, “Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors.”

However, since the fall of Adam and Eve, man has been searching for the perfect peace that comes from walking with God. A longing that is ingrained in the fabric of humanity to enjoy garden chats of Eden with our creator. And regardless of what He blesses us with, there is always a quest for more. We want more kingdoms to rule and more gold to adorn ourselves with, in place of our communion with God.

If all we seek or spend our lives chasing after as believers is wealth and physical healing, we’ll miss the bounty of the prosperity of our souls. But for the salvation of our souls, Christ did not have to abandon His majesty, suffer at the hands of His creations, and be crucified on a cross. As the Yahweh, He leveled the walls of Jericho, conquered nations that rose against His people, parted a raging sea, caused a fire to fall from Heaven, and provided for the Israelites in the wilderness.

John says, “even as your souls prosper.” Being blessed with earthly things is part of our inheritance but the tip of the iceberg of God’s intent for our salvation. Yes, He wants us to prosper but we can only flourish when our souls prosper. God wants us to enjoy our reconnection back to Him through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. He wants our lives to reflect the beauty of Heaven, that even when we pass through the muddy waters of life, we’ll still be symbols of the true prosperity of Heaven’s splendor.