The Poison of Prosperity
When Blessings Become a Burden
Today in my reading, Deuteronomy 8:11–14 jumped out at me:
“Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
Prosperity, in and of itself, is not sinful. Abraham was very rich (Genesis 13:2). Joseph was tested with both poverty and prosperity and came out with integrity. David’s life ends with honor and riches (1 Chronicles 29:28). Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy man who used his status to honor Jesus (Matthew 27:57). Lydia, a successful businesswoman, is remembered for her generosity and godliness (Acts 16:14–15).
Prosperity’s Pattern in Israel’s Story
Nevertheless, as we read Israel’s story in the Old Testament, we see a pattern. The people don’t typically fall away during drought or disaster—they fall away in times of ease and abundance. In exile or persecution, Israel repents and seeks God. But in prosperity, they lean into idolatry, immorality, and injustice. They forget their former bondage and begin to oppress others. As an old pastor of mine used to say, “Israel often served the Lord better when they were being kicked to the head than when their pockets and bellies were full”.
The minor prophets speak to this vividly:
Amos 6:4–7 “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory… who drink wine in bowls… but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile.”
Hosea 13:6 “When they had grazed, they became full… their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.”
Zephaniah 1:12–13 “I will punish the men who are complacent… Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them.”
Haggai 1:6 “You have sown much, and harvested little… he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.”
Riches Without Reverence
The tragic truth is that prosperity, when not grounded in reverence for God, is a snare. When you’re rich and sick, you can afford a doctor. When you’re rich during famine, you live off your surplus. When there’s unrest, you stock up. But in these very things, the rich often place their trust—not in the Lord.
The poor, by contrast, are often better positioned to be “poor in spirit.” They rely on God’s provision because they have no alternative. They intercede because they know only God can intervene. It is not that poverty sanctifies, but that dependency does.
My Own Journey with Prosperity
I’ve been abased, and I’ve abounded. Most of my life has been lived paycheck to paycheck. But the last three years, my podcast has done well. My family has lived comfortably. Still, when I think back to the seasons when I felt closest to the Lord—when I had powerful encounters with His presence—it was in the lean times.
I know it sounds wild, but sometimes I miss being poor. I miss the constant awareness of my need. It kept me clinging to Jesus.
And let’s be clear—poverty brings its own tests. Proverbs 30:8–9 puts it perfectly:
“Give me neither poverty nor riches… lest I be full and deny you… or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”
Consider Job. It was in his poverty, not his prosperity, that his faith was tested.
And let’s be real—by global standards, I’ve never been poor. I’ve owned a car. My kids have never gone hungry. I’ve had a smartphone most of my adult life. Even in my leanest seasons, I’ve lived more comfortably than King Solomon.
So how do we, the comfortable Christians of the West, posture our hearts to stay dependent on God?
Practicing Poverty of Spirit in Prosperity
1. A Practice of Gratitude
Deuteronomy 8:17–18 “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.”
Gratitude is a safeguard against pride. It keeps us from thinking our hustle got us here. Yes, we worked hard—but God gave us the breath, the strength, the ideas, the opportunities. Gratitude shifts the narrative from “I earned this” to “God entrusted me with this.”
Deuteronomy 8 is clear—God warned Israel not to forget Him when they prospered. He reminded them that their ability to produce wealth was itself a gift from Him. And yet, time and again, Israel forgot. They began to believe their own press. They credited their comfort to their efforts rather than God’s provision.
Cultivating a grateful heart keeps us dependent and worshipful. It looks like pausing each day to say, “Lord, I see Your hand in this paycheck, in this meal, in this roof over my head.” It means reflecting on seasons where we had less but somehow had more—more peace, more presence, more prayer. I remember those seasons when my bank account was empty, but my heart was full from God’s nearness. Gratitude helps us hold onto that memory.
It might be as simple as thanking God aloud with your kids at dinner, or journaling what you’re grateful for each morning. Gratitude doesn’t just keep us humble—it keeps us joyful.
2. A Practice of Generosity
1 Timothy 6:17–18
“As for the rich in this present age… they are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.”
Generosity says, “Everything I have belongs to the Lord.” It’s more than giving out of our surplus—it’s a posture of the heart. Whether that’s serving at the local shelter, blessing a neighbor with a surprise grocery drop-off, or quietly covering the bill for a struggling family, generosity roots us in stewardship, not ownership.
Think of Lydia, the seller of purple. She opened her home to Paul and his companions, creating a hub for early Christian ministry. Or Joseph of Arimathea, who offered his own new tomb for Jesus. These acts weren’t grandiose in scale, but they were sacrificial and strategic.
Today, that might look like a business owner taking a day off to serve meals at Mama T’s. Or someone with extra income buying winter blankets for the homeless. It’s choosing to see your prosperity not as something to hoard, but as a tool for Kingdom impact.
And let’s be honest: generosity breaks the back of materialism. Every time we give, we remind our soul, “I am not owned by my possessions—I am owned by Christ.”
3. A Practice of Justice
Jeremiah 9:23–24 “Let not the rich man boast in his riches… but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me… I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.”
Justice looks like seeking out the weak and marginalized—those who often go unseen and unheard in our communities. It’s standing up for the single mom who’s barely making rent, the refugee family trying to find a home, or the elderly neighbor who hasn’t had a visitor in weeks. It’s refusing to play favorites in the church—not giving special treatment to those with influence or wealth while neglecting the widow or the working-class brother who can’t afford much.
Justice is radical hospitality. It’s opening your home not just to the polished and well-connected but to the poor, the broken, and the overlooked. It’s clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and visiting the prisoner—not because it’s convenient, but because that’s where Jesus told us He’d be (Matthew 25:35–40).
Remember the strong rebuke from Amos 6? They lounged on ivory beds, enjoying the best meats and oils while ignoring the ruin of their brethren. That wasn’t just indifference—it was injustice. And it’s this kind of comfortable neglect that we are warned against.
Justice, then, isn’t a political buzzword. It’s a biblical mandate to reflect the character of a God who “practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth” (Jeremiah 9:24). We practice justice not to earn favor, but because we know the heart of the One who lifted us from spiritual poverty and seated us at His table.
Conclusion
Let’s be a people who prosper well—not just in wealth, but in worship, in generosity, and in dependence on God. May we learn how to steward abundance with humility, and wear prosperity like a loose garment, always ready to lay it down in love for others.
Prosperity, in and of itself, is not poison. It only becomes toxic when it is gripped with sinful desires—when we cling to it as our security, our significance, or our source of joy. The Apostle Paul, writing from prison, declared, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12–13). Paul wasn’t mastered by his circumstances—because he was mastered by Christ.
Whether you find yourself in a season of abundance or in a valley of lack, know this: your soul can still prosper. True prosperity is not measured by bank accounts or property lines, but by intimacy with Jesus. The rich and the poor alike can flourish—if they entrust themselves wholly to the Savior who strengthens them in every season.
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