Ouch -- why do you keep calling me "Lord Lord" when you don't do as I say? Let that one sink in for a minute. You show me a life built upon the listening and understanding of the Word followed by obedience and I will show you a life that weathers the storms this world throws at it. You show me a life that is based on superficiality when it comes to the Word of God and I will show you a disaster waiting to happen.
The fifth consideration from the key verse today is the payoff! God does not reward as the world does beloved -- with fleeting happiness based upon circumstance. He provides real joy that resides deep inside of us and a peace that transcends all human understanding. The payoff is prosperity and success. Two things we all seem to desperately search for in this world. One of the greatest forms of heresy in the modern church is prosperity preaching, which equates prosperity to the material wealth of this world. God however measures prosperity differently. There may be some temporal benefits but true prosperity is when we have our health, our family, and are serving the purposes of God providing the meaning in our life we all pursue. The God we serve isn't short of cash beloved. Do not fall for the forced and guilt ridden tithing churches. Do not fall for the "plant your seed" nonsense. Do not be bullied by the very people who are supposed to be shepherds unto you. Prosperity is in the Lord -- not the wallet. We are supposed to be pilgrims passing through this world not seeking to make a habitation in it. One day the Bible shows us that Lot was merely looking upon
But in God there is not only prosperity and success but the key verse promises it will be in everything we do! Think about this for a second. The prosperity the world sells is always material in nature and carnal to its core. But how many rich people do we see dying every year miserable and beaten down in other areas of their lives. How much money did Whitney Houston have? How much fame did Heath Ledger have? Amy Winehouse, Mindy McCready, Junior Seau -- and the list just goes on and on. Worldly prosperity is fleeting and empty. But when we live our lives according to the Word of God, obeying it after understanding it, after really listening to it, we can be assured of prosperity in everything we do -- not money -- prosperity and success. Fourteen times Jesus said "he who has ears to hear, let him listen and understand." He obviously was trying to get our attention. The Words and instructions from God should be approached with reverence and diligence. There is so much truth for us to learn in His Word beloved. This one key verse gave us five teachable points alone and there is more if we keep digging. Don't approach it haphazardly. Study it continually. Meditate on it so you understand how to obey it. Then you will see true prosperity and success in everything you put your hands to. He/she who has ears to hear -- let them listen and understand.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- April 2, 2013
