Proverbs 3 & 4
Chapter 3:
Trust and honor God,
Consider the values of Wisdom,
Be kind and generous with others.
3:10 - Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats overflow with new wine.
Trust God enough to give Him the first, even if you don't know if there'll be any more.
Chapter 4:
Acquire wisdom,
Avoid bad company,
Watch yourself --
your heart (thoughts and attitudes),
your mouth (words)
your eyes (what you focus on), and
your feet (where you go, what you do).
4:20-23 - My son, pay attention to what I say; Listen closely to My words.
Do not let them out of your sight, Keep them within your heart;
For they are life to those who find them And health to a man's whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart, For it is the wellspring of life.
We are to focus on what our Father God tells us and pay atention to His very Words; we are to think about them continually, and memorize them. It is by God's Word (His Breath) that we have life, that gives good health to our bodies and minds and spirits. Most of all, we are to guard [our] heart, put a guard on our attitudes and thinking processes, for that is where everything else in our life comes from, it all starts in our minds.
When we read His Word, study it, think about how it all works together, how God designed this Earth so that we could form the World of our societies on it, and how, when we're "in tune" with how He designed things to run, then we will experience the benefits He built into it.
Whenever the Nation Israel obeyed God and followed His Laws, then they experienced prosperity. But when all the wealth they created turned their thought processes to thinking that they did it all themselves, then things started to go sour until they lost their prosperity and were enslaved to other Nations. We saw this play out over and over in the Book of Judges.
God has told us all these stories so we can learn from them. When they recognized God as Lord over them, and obeyed His rules, then things went well for them. But when they forgot God, and/or disobeyed His commandments, giving their alegiance to other gods (anything else other than God), that's when things started to fall apart.
When we align ourselves to His ways, and obey the principles He laid down, then we will also experience the prosperity that comes from this Earth. I've seen that even people who don't recognize God, but do follow His ways, then even they, in obeying His Laws, will find that benefit. But even if they prosper so much to gain everything this World offers, in the few days of their life in this Realm, but never realize that God sent His Son for them; then what will they profit, in losing out for the forever of eternity?
How much better it is to know God, to reverence and respect His authority over us, and learn and follow His guidelines. Then we will find that "rose garden" of prosperity in our lives (remember that roses have thorns, too), and also have all the spiritual and actual gifts He gives to His children, to reign with Him forever!
God has already met all of our needs: physical, emotional, relational, financial, spiritual, every need. We only need Him. It's simple, but not easy. Only He can accomplish it, in His power and in His time. We can't do anything of lasting value of ourselves, only in Him can we accomplish our purposes in life.
And God will receive all the credit, all the honor, all the glory, for He has done it all, He has accomplished all His will, all His purposes are fulfilled, and everything redounded into His Kingdom, to reign Supreme forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
