Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Jesus: The Power to Get Wealth

Deuteronomy 8:17, 18

Let it be known that there is no such thing as a “prosperity gospel”. That term is tossed about by saint and sinner alike, to describe the message that God gives wealth. In truth, there is also no “health gospel” or “faith gospel”; there is only the “gospel of Jesus Christ”, for gospel means “good news” and He is the only true Good News!

With that said, there is an undeniable and beautiful part of God’s goodness that is called “the power to get wealth”. In Paul’s great description of the gospel of grace, he says that the gospel is the “power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). The Greek word used for “salvation” includes all deliverance, preservation, safety and wholeness. When you enter into a relationship with God, it is no more by your own power, but by the power of Jesus Christ who has saved you. This salvation brings wholeness into every area of your life.

Within the context of our scripture God is not emphasizing the wealth, but rather the fact that all wealth and prosperity that they have will not have come by their own achievement but by His goodness. They will see their herds and flocks multiply, and their silver and gold as well (verse 13), but it will be God that does all of the providing.

For the blood-bought, covenant child of God, the blessings of heaven are just as inevitable, while the warning remains the same: you and I have the full assurance of heavens blessings, but none of them will come as a result of our own righteousness or consecration. As a son, you have all rights to the shoe, the ring and the best robe that your Father has to offer (see Luke 15 for the story of the Prodigal). It is always Him that gives the increase and then gets the glory, not because He is a glory hog, but it is so that all of your blessings will reaffirm covenant, “that he may establish his covenant” (verse 18).

Christ’s work at Calvary has entered all of us into a better covenant, with a whole new set of better promises. Jesus has taken the wrath of the Father against sin and thus we have righteousness imputed to us. We can now walk freely in His abundant grace and provision, knowing that He has given us all things freely and has done so through the finished work of Christ. Every blessing that God grants your way is His way of reminding you of His covenant of grace.

Give honor to God’s grace for every little thing that goes your way today. Even if you have a habit of thinking that these little things are coincidental; break that habit and see your loving Father behind all good things (James 1:17). As you praise Him for His abundant grace you can expect to see even more; for grace is most abundant when it is freely received (Romans 5:17).

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