Prosperity

“Hard workers get rich.” Proverbs 10:4

By John E. Schrock, Businessman

Underline the key concepts found in this principle.

It is hard to believe that such a statement would be made in the Bible; it really sounds worldly. But, God desires to bless His children "openly." We should never doubt God’s desire and will to prosper those who follow His ways. He said that if we will hear and follow His ways and keep His laws and statutes, He would command blessings on us. He said we will have so much that we will not be able to handle it. He would bless every good thing we do, and will make us the head and not the tail. He also said He will bless us in the city or in the country, family and community (Deuteronomy 28). God’s desire is to bless and prosper us, to show the world that it pays to follow His ways. God is not a stingy, hard-nosed boss with unfair rewards. He pays well for obedience and dedication to His principles. He said if we follow His law and discipline ourselves to the rules of the game of life, we will win. We will become like the trees planted by the waters, and when drought comes our leaves shall not wither, and whatsoever we do shall prosper (Psalm 1).

This Proverb not only reads "hard workers get rich," but also "The Lord will not let a good man starve to death, nor will He let the wicked man’s riches continue forever." Lazy people are soon poor - hard workers get rich. What a balance. Sometimes it looks as if the wicked are the most prosperous, so we have a tendency to pattern our lives after them. But this Proverb says that the Lord will not let the riches of the wicked continue forever. If we get our riches by cheating, lying, or manipulation, they will soon disappear. God knows that the laws he established will accomplish life, liberty, and prosperity. But they will also bring failure if violated. To follow His system is to choose the good life.

Somehow, people think that riches are wrong and poverty is good, especially among religious believers. That’s a lie. Nowhere in the Bible do we find this to be true. Jesus rebuked Peter for that attitude when He said, "There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30 KJV).

Jesus also said that "... the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, to bring good news to the poor, bring freedom to those in bondage, recover the sight of the blind, and bring deliverance to the oppressed" (Luke 4:18 KJV). If those in bondage are made free, the blind see and the oppressed are delivered, then the good news to the poor will be prosperity, not poverty.

There are principles of patience and hard work that go hand-in-hand with lasting prosperity. When we work hard and follow godly principles, He will bless us and will magnify our efforts to put us ahead. He will give us favor that will maintain and nurture our productive spirit. A desire will develop within us that will lead us toward good goals - goals that will influence and affect others. This is how God develops His people. He places a vision within them that gives them a burning desire for achievement. They love to work because they like the feeling of self-worth. Hard work will bring profits, but talk is cheap and brings poverty. When you work hard and follow good principles - you will be rewarded with lasting success, because it is so designed by God.

This principle is part of the one year character development program: Foundations For Achievement.

Thoughts to Ponder:
If you don't believe in prosperity, don't worry; you won't have to handle it.