This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. A couple of days ago we started to walk through the passage I provided for you from Ecclesiastes 5. Let’s go back to it this morning. King Solomon, a man who had access to both divine wealth and divine wisdom, said this about wealth, health and life:
“Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NLT).
So what does this mean to you today? I will focus on the phrase “It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it.” So, allow me to ask this question: is wealth and health good or bad? It will take me more than a day to answer it. Let’s get to it.
1. God is not opposed to wealth and health. Solomon said, “And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it” (Ecc 5:19).
2. It takes church people to confuse clear issues. If you ask any person on the street if it is better to have or not have money, anyone with any sense will tell you that having money is better than not having it. Likewise, if you ask anyone on the street if it is better to be sick or healthy, any person with any sense will tell you that being healthy is better. But for some reason, in the church, some preachers have confused people. Some have vilified money to the point where they think it is somehow “holy” to be poor and others have told people that God put certain sicknesses and diseases on them, in order to teach them something. Solomon said this very clearly, “It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it” (Ecc 5:19).
3. Anyone who thinks poverty is a blessing is someone who has never actually been poor. My wife and I both grew up poor and I can tell you, from first hand experience, that poverty is far from a blessing.
4. Anyone who think sickness is a blessing is obviously someone who has never been sick. It only takes a few moments at the bedside of a sick person to know that sickness is not a blessing.
5. God does not need to make you sick to teach you a lesson. God has give you His Word, His Spirit, and His leaders to teach you.
6. If you believe God put a sickness or disease on you, then you shouldn’t go to the doctor, because you should want everything God gives you. If you really believe it came from God, then keep it, but I can tell you that your belief is not based in scripture.
7. The Bible is pretty clear on what is part of God’s blessing and what is part of the curse brought into the earth through Adam. As part of The Blessing God has promised to:
— Satisfy us with long life (Ps 91:16).
— Forgive our sins and heal our diseases (Ps 103:3).
— Renew our youth (Ps 103:5).
— Keep us from deadly diseases (Deut 7:15).
— Heal our sick through the prayer of faith (James 5:15).
— Use us to lay hands on the sick in order for them to get well (Mark 16:18).
So while I know bad things do happen to good people, let’s not confuse the issue by attempting to claim that something bad is actually something good. Sickness is bad, period. Poverty is bad, period. Don’t let any Christian confuse you. This was clear in your mind before you came to Christ.
8. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to “Destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8). The Bible also teaches us that Jesus “went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38). If sickness came from God, then why would this same God heal people through His Son Jesus? And if sickness came from God and Jesus went around healing the sick, then wouldn’t He be working against the Father? No, sickness is part of the curse, not The Blessing, and it IS NOT a good thing to be sick.
I will stop here for today and we will discuss this further tomorrow.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace, about Your purpose for my life, and about true success. I pursue success in life by pursuing it Your way, which is found in the center of Your will. You brought me into the earth WHEN you did and WHERE You did, because of WHY You did. I am here for a reason and that reason is my divine purpose. I am determined to maximize my purpose and potential. I will complete my divine assignment by Your grace. To do so I will need resources, and I trust You to get them to me. You can open doors of favor for me, where people fund my projects completely by grace, without me having to earn anything. You also give me wisdom and insight to earn resources and generate the wealth required to fund what You have called me to do. So whether the resources come by me earning them through the power and wisdom You have given me, or completely by grace through the favor You give me with others, I trust You to ensure I have everything I need to be successful in life. And part of it Father, is divine health. You give me the physical health and strength to do what You have called me to do. You grace me to live long and strong. I will remain on this earth as long as I need to remain, in order to accomplish what You birthed me to accomplish, and I will do it by Your strength. I agree with Your Word and say, “It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it.” This shall by my testimony. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
