“Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people…that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones.”
Psalm 106:4-5
For many people, achieving financial prosperity seems like wishful thinking. Maybe you feel the same way.
Perhaps you’ve dreamed of getting ahead, but never seem to be able to move beyond making ends meet—even while those ends keep moving further apart.
Contrary to common perceptions in the Body of Christ, God wants His children to prosper!
Throughout Scripture, we see that God not only gives His people opportunities to prosper, but He also delights in their prosperity.
Indeed, the King’s children shall enjoy the wealth of the wicked (Proverbs 13:22), live an abundant life (John 10:10), prosper (3 John 2), and succeed (Joshua 1:8).
The fundamental principles that release God’s provision to His people are clearly outlined in His Word.
Firmly grasping the rules that govern heaven’s economic system will not only equip you to take authority over your own wealth—but also to tap into the limitless resources available for Kingdom growth and advancement.
“Follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.”
Deuteronomy 29:9
Throughout the Bible, God uses everyday examples to illustrate these laws, yet we sometimes miss their significance because we don’t live in the cultural context of that era.
The blessings listed in Deuteronomy 28 are a case in point. Here you’ll find a wealth of insight about financial prosperity and how to grasp hold of it.
“The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand.”
Deuteronomy 28:8
As outlined in the writings of Moses, the Hebrews farmed and measured what they needed each year in terms of storehouses.
These storehouses were where they housed and kept their produce safe until another harvest could be gathered to replenish the previous year’s storehouse.
Storehouses were built to store what God had provided through the productivity of His people.
The Israelites were used to living with at least three storehouses of grain at all times—two or three years of income stored away to cover their needs. To have less was foolhardy; to have more was unnecessary.
Two to three years of reserves were all the grain they needed at all times unless there were catastrophic problems like multiple years of drought, war, or famine.
Wisdom dictated they have at least three storehouses…
…faith and their relationship to God would take care of the rest.
People didn’t live hand-to-mouth unless they were beggars.
They didn’t spend this month’s paycheck to pay for this month’s rent or have to wait until payday to buy groceries because they had nothing in their checking account (yes, bank accounts are a form of storehouse).
Storehouses set very real limits.
There was only so much grain in the storehouse—once it was empty, there was no more.
In that respect, storehouses are very different from bank accounts today. If we need more, we can always borrow—and that is where many of us get into trouble.
“The borrower is a slave to the lender.”
Proverbs 22:7
This is why budgeting is so important. Each budget category is like a storehouse if we keep our budgets correctly. When the money in that category is gone, we stop spending.
At the same time, our budgets should include bigger “storehouses” for things such as an emergency fund, a college fund, and a retirement fund for the day we can pay ourselves to do what God wants us to do.
The more wisdom we obtain in this area, the wealthier we will be.
Think of Joseph who built storehouses in times of plenty in preparation for times of drought.
When Jesus tells the parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:16-21, the audience knew that storehouses were important for survival. They knew they had to save in order to have several months of reserves in case of a calamity.
At the same time, they knew that whatever they had beyond that amount was more than enough—and could be used to build God’s Kingdom and help others.
Today, we should have the same mentality of saving.
We should not only have money to take care of ourselves no matter what we face—but because we’ve predetermined what the size our storehouses should be, whatever else can be given away or invested in Kingdom endeavors.
Next week we will talk about what you need to know to give and invest strategically.
As Deuteronomy 28:8 makes clear, God blesses you and everything you set your hands to when you follow His mandates for how to manage your money—or, rather, His resources.
To learn more about how to live a richer life, get a hold of The Prosperous Soul!
And enroll now in Kingdom Economics and Biblical Finance—one of eight power-packed intensives at Kingdom School of Ministry!
When you learn to tap into heaven’s provision, it will change the trajectory of your life, business, and ministry.