What if I told you that you could enter into an abundant, prosperous life, even if you currently don’t have any money? The steps to prosperity don’t require material resources. Resources are a fruit, not a root of prosperity. Consider the following spiritual principles:
1. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7)
Begin with how you see yourself. How do you think about yourself and your life? Do you have a victim mentality? Do you expect others to take care of you? Do you see yourself as poor, needy and at the mercy of circumstances? If so, that is going to be your future. Everything begins with what is going on in your heart.
“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” (Matt. 12:35) Prosperity begins within. This is the most important and fundamental aspect of the abundant life. If there is no abundance within, there will be lack in your world. Fear, depression, anxiety and worry all work against abundance and prosperity. The condition of your heart right now is a picture of your future!
2. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33)
It doesn’t cost anything to seek God and His kingdom. Understanding how the kingdom works is incredibly important if we want to enter in God’s abundant life. Understanding righteousness is equally important. The revelation of righteousness establishes us in a place of peace with God. Kingdom principles give us God’s wisdom for building our lives in Him. There is no substitute for spending time in God’s Word and having Him reveal the secrets of the kingdom to us. The seed of the Word when planted in the good soil of our hearts (see #1) will produce according to its nature. And the nature of God’s Word is always increase, wisdom, grace and abundance. And the things of life shall be ‘added’ to you!
3. “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.” (Psalm 67:5-6)
A life of praise and thanksgiving is a reflection of a heart filled with hope and joy. This is an extension of #1 as well, but is more focused. Do you praise God and give thanks for His goodness? Do you understand His grace in giving you air to breathe, water to drink, food, clothing, a place to live and people who love you? You may be saying that you don’t have some of those things, but the condition of your heart is the reason why you don’t. Begin to offer up the sacrifice of praise. See God as your Source and begin to thank Him for your life, your eternity, your purpose and your potential. Praise releases the increase of God into your life!
4. “A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.” (Prov. 18:20)
Your words spring from your heart. “for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:45) Your words can create wealth and abundance. Your words can create opportunities, open doors of favor and blessing, and release faith into your circumstances. Words cost nothing but carry within them prosperity or poverty. You can be satisfied in the material world through the power of the words you speak! Are you speaking life, blessings, peace, love and abundance into your circumstances? Or, are you cursing your future with words of doubt, fear and lack? Your future is being shaped by your words.
5. Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. (Prov. 3:9-10)
We only now begin to get into the realm of our current resources and how we handle them. True prosperity begins with principles 1 through 4. But, that being said everyone has something they can give to God. Honoring the Lord from your increase is an extension of a thankful heart which recognizes God’s goodness, and that He is the Source of our lives. I cannot imagine thinking about prosperity without honoring God from what I have. Without getting into specifics, honoring God is simply giving to the Lord from your increase. How do we give to the Lord? Usually this refers to supporting the work of the Lord that is blessing and feeding us spiritually. Giving to your church or to the ministries that build you up is a way to honor God. This is not a debt you owe but rather an opportunity to release His grace into your life.
The Philippian church gave repeatedly and sacrificially to Paul, and this was the promise that accompanied their giving: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:15-19) Prosperity and abundance are an extension of your heart relationship with God.
6. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38)
Giving isn’t just a formula we must follow, but is truly the extension of the very nature of God Himself. God so loved the world that He gave. Giving is an expression of love. When our hearts are filled with God’s love, giving will be an automatic expression of that love. Jesus gave Himself for us. He promised that as we give, we will receive. Giving is an act of faith. Giving is the very nature of God. In every act of giving there is a seed that is programmed for increase. That is how the kingdom works (Mk. 4:26).
I could write much more about each of these areas, and add many more points as well. Prosperity involves working a job, being diligent and faithful, budgeting, etc. But everything begins with the condition of your heart. A prosperous heart will guide you into decisions that bring forth God’s abundance. You don’t need anything to start on the road to abundance other than a heart that is truly transformed by the love of God.
Barry, a graduate of Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, has been serving the Lord since 1972. He and his wife, Betty Kay, have served on the mission field in Mexico, Guatemala, and Chile, where they spent almost 12 years before returning to Texas in 2001.
While attending a large Spanish-speaking congregation in Carrollton, Texas, Barry was the director and principal teacher at a Spanish language Bible institute, Instituto Avance, where he served for five years. The Bennetts also spent two and a half years ministering to Cambodian refugees in Dallas, and they have ministered in home groups, churches, and on short-term mission teams.
Barry came to Andrew Wommack Ministries in 2007 and worked in the Phone Center as a prayer minister before accepting a position answering the scriptural and doctrinal questions that would come to AWMI via mail and email. He later became the Dean of Students and is now the Dean of Instructors. Barry is also an instructor at Charis Bible College in Colorado and teaches at domestic and international CBC satellite campuses.