What does the Bible say about prosperity teaching?

We are living in the days of the "health and wealth gospel" and professing Christians are building false securities. Self-supported and self-sufficient, Laodiceans do not really need the Lord: I "have need of nothing." Today we build our own systems, not only of materialism but also of rationalism or ritualism, fundamentalism or exclusivism, modernism and ecumenicalism. In all those cases we have managed to organise and control things ourselves, and we don't need the Lord (of course, we don't say that). That is why I am always reluctant to consider a set of rules, as if it were possible to set out all God's principles in a simple list. No, when we think we have things quite under control, then we are very much mistaken.

We are living in the days of the “health and wealth gospel” and professing Christians are building false securities. Self-supported and self-sufficient, Laodiceans do not really need the Lord: I “have need of nothing.” Today we build our own systems, not only of materialism but also of rationalism or ritualism, fundamentalism or exclusivism, modernism and ecumenicalism. In all those cases we have managed to organise and control things ourselves, and we don't need the Lord (of course, we don't say that). That is why I am always reluctant to consider a set of rules, as if it were possible to set out all God's principles in a simple list. No, when we think we have things quite under control, then we are very much mistaken.

It was not until Jesus came that men learned about treasure in heaven. Saints of God had learned to count upon Him, and to look to heaven for blessing on earth, and treasure on earth had been the evidence of divine blessing, as in the case of the patriarchs, and the nation of Israel, who had received from God a land “flowing with milk and honey.” The coming of Jesus had altered all that for His disciples. They were no longer to look upon material prosperity as a sign of divine favour, or to consider wealth on earth as a divine blessing; but they were to be followers of a rejected Christ, who had become poor, and they were to view heaven as the place for depositing their treasures.

Nor did the Lord offer present prosperity to His own in this world. Even when the Lord was here Peter was able to say, “we have forsaken all, and followed Thee” (Matt. 19:27), and the Lord told him to look for his prosperity “in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory,” As His disciples in this world the Lord promised them “tribulation” (John 16:33), but their part, and ours, will be with Him in His coming kingdom, and in His Father’s house.

Then follow the details of the prosperity that would follow. But, all was strictly provisional. It is, "If ye walk … then I will give." All depended upon their obedience and that "If" proved fatal. The blessings promised were of an earthly and material sort. They may be summed up as, fruitfulness, peace, victory and the realized presence of God in their midst. Jehovah had broken the bands of the yoke, imposed on them in Egypt, so that they went upright instead of being bowed down under heavy burdens. His presence would be their continued salvation. There is no mention of heaven or of the life to come. How great the contrast with the Christian's portion - blessed "with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3), and that without the introduction of any "if."

Israel had the promise of earthly blessings if they were to keep the law faithfully (Deut. 6:3, 7:13 vv). We as children of God do not have any promise of material blessing or prosperity; actually, we do not have any promise of spiritual blessings either. Because you are no longer promised something you already have. As Christians, we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing! This is how God's Word puts it. And God does not say this for nothing!

Mark this, as you give, you reap. The apostle seems to say to the Corinthians, "You have said fine things about the great collection you are going to make, and while the Philippians have done it, you are still in the talking stage. I have thought it wise to send some of my brethren in advance. Don't you think it is time the thing crystallized into something definite?" The apostle sent on some brethren, so that all might be ready. He says, "I want it ready as a matter of bounty, not as of covetousness. I do not want to come down and drag the money out of your pockets. I want you to present it cheerfully and bountifully to the Lord. If you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully." It does not mean that if a man puts a pound into the collection box, he will necessarily reap five pounds, or indeed reap any pounds at all. It means that when we are prepared to sacrifice ourselves for the welfare of the people of God, for the progress of the work of God, for the help of the service of God, God is prepared to allow us to reap blessing in our own souls.

The governmental results of giving are shown in 2 Corinthians 9. He that sowed sparingly should reap also sparingly, and he that sowed bountifully should reap also bountifully. God was able to make all grace abound towards the saints, so that they, having all sufficiency in all things, might abound in every good work, etc. These blessings were not given with the object of making the saints comfortable in this world, but that they might be enriched in everything unto all bountifulness; that they might have to give to him that needeth. (See vers. 5-11.)

of giving such as is contemplated here. The effect upon the giver varies. If he gives sparingly he reaps sparingly; if he gives bountifully he reaps bountifully. Still, he reaps; and usually in spiritual things. He who sows seed by dispersing abroad what he has to give has to do with a God, "who is able to make all grace abound." ALL grace, be it noted — grace of every kind - grace in spiritual things and grace in material things. The consequence of this is that the liberal giver is "enriched in every way to all free-hearted liberality" (2 Cor. 9:11, N. Tr.). He is enriched by God so that his giving may go on and expand. This enrichment may not take the form of material things; it may please God rather to enrich him in spiritual things, so that he who began by giving a little money may end by dispensing a rich store of spiritual blessing. There is also, of course, the reward which the future will bring, the increase in the fruits of righteousness which may be expected in the coming days, but this is not the main point here.

The last matter now of which he speaks, and which is so necessary to be pressed upon saints, is found in verses 6 to 15. It is the question of the lasting results of present conduct. Paul is concerned about that which is for their own eternal good. It seems the people of God need constant, pressing reminders of this, or they quickly forget. The one who sows sparingly cannot expect to reap otherwise. It is not either that the reaping will be realized only in eternity: such results are often seen in our lives too. As to sowing "bountifully," it has been observed that this specially emphasizes the liberality of the spirit shown in giving, the individual glad to give as unto the Lord. The reaping will be that of true blessing also.