PROSPERITY IN 2013
During Christmas we celebrat Emmanuel, ‘God with Us’. For if this Christmas Babe is ‘Emmanuel, God with us,’ then without this Babe, Emmanuel, we be without God. “Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ†(Eph 2:12-13). If without Him with us, it will beEmmanu-hell. If we have Him, and God by Him, we need no more; Emmanu-el and Emmanu-all. May God be with all of you and let Him be all for you throughout the New Year 2013!
Seeds of Prosperity: “Isaac sowed seed in that land, and in the same year reaped a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him†(Gen 26:12). At the beginning of a New Year we receive New Year greeting cards wishing us Prosperous New Year. Just like Isaac let us sow divine seeds and we will reap divine harvest in a bountiful measure. We will be spiritually prosperous.
What is this prosperity? We all want to prosper in life. Even Word of God wants us to prosper and increase. “The Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give you†(Gen 28:11). God wants us to prosper and increase in every aspect of life. “You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last…†(Jn 15:16). When created the human beings he said to them “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth†(Gen 1:26). God desires His people to prosper and be rich. But pursuing material prosperity only can be disastrous spiritually. “But God said to him (foolish rich man), “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?â€(Luke 12:21).
Spiritual Prosperity: The prosperity and wealth Emmanuel wants to give us in the New Year 2013 is not as world gives. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should be saved. Our salvation is the wealth and prosperity showered upon us by God. If someone fooled you that you would be physically, and financially rich, wake up! Jesus wants to give us peace that lasts, not as the world gives along with the worldly wealth. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid†(John 14:27).
Saint Lawrence (225-258AD) was one of seven deacons of Pope. He was in charge of giving alms to the poor and the needy. When a Roman persecution broke out, Pope St. Sixtus was put to death. As he was taken away for execution, Lawrence wept bitterly, “Holy Father, where are you going without your deacon?†“I am not leaving you, my son,†said the Pope, “in three days you will follow me.†Full of joy, Lawrence distributed all the riches of the Church to the poor. The Prefect of Rome, a greedy rich man wanted all the wealth of the Church. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church’s treasure to him. Lawrence agreed that he would, in three days. Then he gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church and showed them to the Prefect, “This is the wealth of the Church!†In terrible anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow and cruel death. Lawrence was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire to be roasted little by little. But Lawrence had Emmanuel experience that he was glad to suffer the great pain. That is why peace and joy filled his heart as he even joked. “Turn me over,†he said to the persecutors. “I’m done on this side!†At last he said, “It’s cooked enough now.†Then he prayed for Roman Empire to be converted to Jesus and died a martyr. “I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church†(Col 1:24). When God blesses us in this New Year, we will go through all sufferings with joy, peace and serenity.
Demonic Prosperity: Jesus promised us spiritual prosperity and clearly not the demonic prosperity. Let us be aware of the worldly prosperity preached by the false prophets and modern preachers who disobey the church authority. “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and wealth†(Col 6:24). Jesus said “I have come that you may have life, life in abundance†More, and abundant! That’s what we hear from many preachers. Let us not be deceived. Let us think about the kind of life God wants us to have. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life! Our physical bodies have an expiry date stamped on them somewhere. This life is brief.
Abundance of Life: God promises you abundance of life in this year. Only condition is, “But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well†(Mat 6:33). That would be a life that does not end! False prophets tell people that Jesus shed His blood on Calvary so that they can be healthy and happy! Do not be deceived. Jesus did not become Emmanuel to spread the wealth. He came to shed His blood as a payment for the sins of humanity. Jesus has said again and again “Heaven and earth will pass away….†(Mat 24:35). Some are blessed with wealth and good health but others are cursed with the same thing! When you lack health and wealth, you remember God. Abundance of wealth and health can make you a slave of false pride of life. “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God†(Mt 9:24). We have a great number of saintly men and women who were born in rich and noble family who gave up their wealth and status to become poor and gain priceless life.
“And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus†(Phil 4:19). In this New Year He will provide you from His riches in glory! Those riches come to you in Jesus Christ. Jesus is Christ, Saviour. God knows all your needs and he is the provider, he provides for all your needs. But Jesus did not come that you might be worldly rich! But that you may be spiritually rich, having a Saviour. “For in one hour all this wealth has been laid waste! And all shipmasters and seafarers, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea… cried out …. threw dust on their heads, as they wept and mourned†(Rev 18:17-19). But when you receive Jesus in your life, you are the richest. May Jesus bless your New Year with spiritual prosperity to last eternity! Praise the Lord.