Scripture tells us that God will take care of us and that we should take care of others. God is the one who gives us power to get wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:18
18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

There were many people in the Bible who became poor so that we could become rich. Jesus left His home to preach the gospel. Paul left his profession to preach the gospel. Barnabas sold his land and property to take care of the poor. They laid down their lives to make others rich. Jesus wants us to be poor in the sprit so that others can be saved and become rich.

Grain must fall into the ground and die in order to bear fruit (John 12:24). When a person lays down their life and sacrifices their money in order to preach the gospel, they will become very rich. That’s what Jesus died. He died to Himself to produce much grain. He didn’t keep anything. He gave His blood, His body, even His clothes.

Some people are poor for no reason – they don’t make themselves poor in order to make others rich.

If you are going to be poor, it should be for a purpose, to make others rich.

God wants His people to have money so that they can do His work or enable others to do His work. It takes money to build the kingdom of God so God wants to bless us with money. But we should use that money to build His kingdom.

If we obey God and remember God always, we will prosper and God will bless us.

There was a time that England ruled the world. They were a very powerful nation. But now they are not. Why? They have forgotten God. They have put many idols before God.

The Bible tells us over and over to remember God, to remember how He loves us, delivers us, watches over us, and takes care of us. Always give thanks to God. Do not be obsessed with money. Do not be obsessed with things. Be obsessed with God and the things of God.

The key to remaining in the blessing of God:
1. Remember God’s love and provision and care for you
2. Thank God for your salvation
3. Thank God for His blessing and prosperity, for what He has given you
4. Thank God for trials

We need to remember that God wants us to have dominion over all things. In the very beginning, when God created us, in Genesis 1:28, He commanded us to have dominion over all things. Many times we forget that God has commanded us to take dominion. When we hear a bad report about sickness or financial struggle, we become beggars in the face of that trial. Instead, we must take dominion over that situation, over that report.

Genesis 1:28
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

We must have faith and take action to take dominion over everything in this world.

How does God prosper His people? He prospers them when they take dominion over sin, sickness, and poverty.

He prospers nations that serve God. This has been shown throughout history. Consider South Korea. Many years ago, South Korea was very poor. In the 1970’s, 80’s, and 90’s Christianity started to grow. Now South Korea is very prosperous. Why? The people started to pray and cry out to God. They started taking dominion over sickness and poverty. God prospered them as they turned to Him.

God has promised to prosper His obedient children. Prosperity comes from God. It’s not a sin to wear good clothes. It’s not a sin to drive a good car. It’s not a sin to have a nice house.

Mark 10:17-22
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

When we read this story, we may think that it’s better to not be rich. But let’s consider this young man. He called Jesus, “Teacher” not “Lord.” That shows where his heart was. He didn’t consider Jesus his savior, but a good teacher.

The rich man totally misunderstood God’s heart and plans for him. He didn’t realize that if he gave his possessions to the poor that he be blessed back. He probably would have ended up with more, but he wanted to hold onto what he had so he even lost his chance at salvation. Many rich men throughout history have been blessed many times over because of their giving. It is a spiritual principle.

God created humans to prosper them, not for them to live in poverty.

When God first created man, He knew that they would need to eat. So He created everything that they would need before He created them. (Genesis 1:28-29)

God promised Abraham in Genesis 12 that if he obeyed His voice He would make His name great and prosper him. (Genesis 12:1-4)

When we obey God, He will prosper us. If you walk in prosperity, you fulfill the promise of God.

So why did Jesus answer the rich young man this way? His idol was his money. He had to first give up his idol in order to receive Christ. Then, when he received Christ and was obedience to God, he could have been blessed again.

Matthew 5:3
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Bible says that blessed are those who are poor in the spirit. What does that mean? When you give your money away and sacrifice yourself to give to the poor, you are blessed. When you sacrifice yourself, you are poor in the spirit. This is not talking about physical poverty.

2 Corinthians 8:9
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Christians should live a healthy and good life with Jesus. We should prosper in every area. We should walk in divine health. Jesus gave everything to save this world. Jesus lived and died to give us life.

How does God see those who live for themselves and use their money for themselves? What will happen to them?
1. Their riches will choke them – they will always live a fearful life
2. Their riches will always tempt them with the idea of being their own god
3. Their riches will cause blindness
4. Satan will use their riches to control them and pull them away from God
5. Misusing riches will bring judgment to their lives

If you want to remain prosperous and blessed, use what God gives you for His glory. Do not live life for yourself. Do not misuse your finances for sinful things. Take care of the poor and needy. When you take care of God’s business, He will always take care of yours.

God bless you,
Pastor Sun East

More in this series:
Part 1: God wants you to prosper and here’s the key
Part 2: Was Jesus poor?
Part 3: God didn’t create beggars in the Garden of Eden
Part 4: Take dominion over yourself first
Part 5: What are the keys to remaining prosperous?
Part 6: Poverty is a Choice
Part 7: Givers are more blessed than takers