Prosperity God’s Way

Excerpt from Prosperity God’s Way by David Cerullo

Reversing the Curse

It’s easier to understand what the Bible means by prosperity if you can picture how life was for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: plentiful food, no financial lack, absence of any guilt or shame, and a harmonious relationship with the Lord and each other. Humankind only began to experience such hardships after their sin caused them to be under a curse (Genesis 3:17-19).

However, Jesus came to reverse this curse and grant us access to God’s abundance again:

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us…that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus… (Galatians 3:13-14).

In contrast to this abundance offered to those who follow Him, Jesus says “the thief” comes to rob us of God’s blessings (John 10:10). But there’s good news! While poverty is a work of the enemy, Jesus came to destroy Satan’s strongholds in our lives:

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

The Message paraphrases this:

The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil’s ways.

Do you need the devil’s works in your life to be destroyed? Then please understand: That’s exactly what the Bible means by entering into God’s prosperity—regaining a portion of what was lost when Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden.

We’re Not to Be Paupers!

The next time you’re tempted to criticize someone who’s teaching God’s people the Biblical keys to prosperity, remember how destructive poverty can be. As Solomon points out, “Having no money destroys the poor” (Proverbs 10:15 New Century Version).

Other translations use equally harsh words to describe the impact poverty has on people’s lives: “destruction” (KJV, NKJV), “ruin” (NIV, NASB, ESV, RSV) and “calamity” (NLT). Is this what your Heavenly Father wants for you and His other children?

It’s interesting that the Vulgate (Latin translation of the Bible) uses the word pauperum to refer to the poor. Of course, this is the root of our English word “pauper.”

Think of it: God’s beloved children living as “paupers”! In case you’re a little hazy on what it means to be a pauper, here are definitions from several dictionaries:

One who is extremely poor, without any means of support

A destitute person who depends on aid from public welfare funds or charity

One living on or eligible for public charity God forbid that any of this should be a description of you or loved ones. He hasn’t called you to be a pauper!

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