Does God intend Christians to be healthy and wealthy? Is the prosperity gospel on target? I say no. Here’s an explanation.
The argument I most often hear for the prosperity gospel is that God loves his people and knows how to give them good gifts. Thus, he gives them prosperity and health. I agree that God loves his people and knows how to give them good gifts. However, what is good?
When Christmas rolled around when I was a kid, the thing I thought about most was gifts. The gifts I wanted were toys, and candy was OK too. However, the gifts my parents wanted me to have were things like clothes or perhaps a Bible. I remember when I opened the gift that turned out to be my first Bible; it was quickly set aside in favor of opening other gifts, hoping for a good toy! My perspective and that of my wiser parents was not the same. I had to grow to appreciate the gifts they knew to be better for me than toys or candy.
Similarly, what gifts does God value for us? According to Romans 8:28-29, the good that God works in our lives as we are called according to his purpose is to conform us to the likeness of Christ. In preparation for eternity, God uses the events of our lives to shape us into the likeness of his son. Another gift that God values is that we come to know him. John 17:3 says that eternal life is to know God, and Jesus whom he has sent. Another scriptural perspective is that God intends us to be “oaks of righteousness” – a display for his splendor and glory (Isaiah 61:3). Similarly, scripture is quite clear that while God cares for us and will provide what we need as we seek first his kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:25-34, he gives us no promise of either health or wealth in this life. Consider Job. Consider many of the prophets. Consider the apostles. Other than Elijah, they all died. Some suffered physical ailments. Most were not wealthy by worldly standards.
So, what can we count on as Christians if we are obedient to God? We can count on coming to know God. We can count on being changed to become more like Christ, displaying the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). And we can count on God providing for us what we need. We can count on God redeeming the trials we face for his good and eternal purposes.
On occasion, when he knows it will not cause us more harm than good and undermine the things he values most in us, God will bring prosperity – even great prosperity. I don’t believe God casually inflicts his people with ill health or physical problems, but he certainly brings great good from such on occasion as he redeems the difficult experiences of those who struggle with health issues. He may choose to heal physical problems when it suits his greater purposes to do so, and give us health. He may choose to let the trials and problems shape us to be more like his Son.
Prosperity in this world and health in this world will both pass away; they will not last into eternity. The things of prosperity in this world will come to dust, as will our present-day physical bodies. In the new heaven and new earth, we will have new, healthy bodies and live in a heavenly city of plenty. The life we build on the foundation of Christ will last into eternity. The life God builds in us will be shaped like Christ and last into eternity.
We Christians need to get over our fixation on toys and candy… er, health and wealth, and seek the better gifts that God desires us to have in this life and in eternity. What trial am I willing to endure to become like Christ and give glory to God? What trial would I undergo if it meant that I came to know God more nearly and clearly, like Job did? What storm am I willing to ride out in order to display peace and joy that passes understanding and brings God glory because it is not based on my outward circumstances?
I trust you, God – but help me to trust you more. The truth is I don’t relish the idea of trials! Something in me still wants the lesser things, even though I can’t lie to myself and claim these are God’s priority or even what is best for me. May His name be honored. May His kingdom come. May His will be done.