Prosperity Blog #5: Preparation and Investment
by Pastor Peter Samuels
Based on Chapter 21 of my Discipleship Training Course (http://tinyurl.com/disc-train-course)
Welcome to my fifth blog on prosperity. In my fourth blog we looked at the relationship between salvation and prosperity. We saw how salvation is a gift of grace but that same grace causes us to work which can then lead us to prosper. In this blog we shall look at preparation and investment.
Whilst God gives out His grace and His blessings equally to all who ask Him in faith, talents, abilities and opportunities are diverse and individual. Thus we should not compare our inheritance against that of others but accept and take responsibility for what we have been given in life. However, if our inheritance is painfully small we can still cry out to God in an honourable way like Jabez, “Oh, that You would bless me and expand my territory!” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NLT).
Welcome to my fifth blog on prosperity. In my fourth blog we looked at the relationship between salvation and prosperity. We saw how salvation is a gift of grace but that same grace causes us to work which can then lead us to prosper. In this blog we shall look at preparation and investment.
Whilst God gives out His grace and His blessings equally to all who ask Him in faith, talents, abilities and opportunities are diverse and individual. Thus we should not compare our inheritance against that of others but accept and take responsibility for what we have been given in life. However, if our inheritance is painfully small we can still cry out to God in an honourable way like Jabez, “Oh, that You would bless me and expand my territory!” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NLT).
Whilst our talents and abilities provide us with opportunities to prosper we also need to make wise investments. We cannot reap unless we first sow. Although reaping depends upon the quality of seed, the quality of soil and the conditions the crop experiences (Matthew 13:1-9), increase ultimately comes from God (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Isaac sowed and reaped a hundredfold (Genesis 26:12). God prospered him in a barren land through his covenant relationship. However, the Israelites later sowed much but harvested little because they had ignored the needs of God’s house (Haggai 1:1-11). In Luke 5:1-11 Jesus showed His first disciples that He was Lord of their natural talents.
An education or training is also an investment which can sharpen our talents and open doors for us. We should be prepared to submit to a season of discipline like a farmer patiently waiting for his crops to ripen.
It is good to study but not to wear yourself out in the process (Ecclesiastes 12:12). God will grant us success and increase when we love His Word (Psalm 119:99) and trust Him enough to rest (Exodus 31:13).
Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing again with you soon.
Pastor Peter Samuels
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