- Prosperity
Psalm 1. 3
And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
A third conditional promise is based on the same conditions in vv. 1-2. If a person avoids sinners and delights in the Law he will prosper in whatever he does, whatever he (like a tree) produces is good, and he will be successful in all endeavors. Without trying to succeed this kind of person naturally prospers. This is quite a promise and it strains our imagination and challenges our belief. Can it really be true? Whatever he does? Does God really mean in all spheres of life, whatever activity or pursuit one is engaged in, that he will prosper, succeed and produce something good? We have to answer, Yes! It may depend on one’s definition of “prosper, succeed and produce,” but no one is permitted to make up exceptions to the promises of the Holy Spirit of God. Whatever means whatever. Any act that flows from the new Adam must prove successful; man is the instrument, God is the doer, and He will accomplish His purposes through the new man.
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:17, 18). Joshua 1:8: “This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
The challenge is most likely to arise in the condition: do you actually like God’s rules and laws and commandments, his kind of integrity and uprightness, and God Himself above all things? Do you have a heart for God, like David? Do you love a broken spirit when you’ve offended your loving Lord with your sins? Do you hate sin? Sinner, do you love Jesus? Ask and answer these questions to see if you qualify. Then lay claim to the “prosper, succeed and produce” promise. This is not “name it and claim it” prosperity; it is “enjoy it (the Word) and enjoy the consequences” prosperity. Let God define the prosperity; you just trust and obey.