Some young students were asked in a Sunday school class why they wanted God to prosper them. Many answers were given, but one stood out. One student said, “I want God to prosper me so I can take care of the less privileged.” Everyone, including the teacher, looked at him in surprise. They saw a young person who was thinking differently.
Friend, God wants you to be a channel of His blessings and not a destination of it (Genesis 12:1-3). God does not have any problem blessing you. He only wants to be sure that you will use it for the right purpose. Whatever God does is with a purpose, including His blessings. If you don’t align with God’s purpose, you won’t enjoy His blessings (Isaiah 46:10-11).
The day Hannah changed her reason for asking for a child was the day her prayers received divine attention (1 Samuel 1:11). She started out by asking God for a child to prove a point. But God does not bless anyone to prove a point. God blesses us to fulfil His purpose. When her purpose for asking for a child aligned with God’s purpose and agenda, Samuel was born (1 Samuel 1:27-28).
Why are you asking for what you are asking for? Is it to prove a point or to advance God’s purpose (Psalm 35:27)? Is it just to meet your needs or to advance God’s purpose? One way to get things from God easily and speedily is to tie that thing to divine purpose (Genesis 15:1-6). Tie your job, marriage, child birth, building project, academics, etc. to divine purpose, and you would get God’s attention.
Whatever God cannot pass through you, He cannot pass to you (Philippians 4:15-19). Rather than asking God to give you a million Naira, why not pray to be able to give a million? Instead of desiring to be a millionaire, why not desire to affect a million lives for God? When God sees that you’re genuinely invested in people, He would invest in you and what you do in order to affect lives (Esther 10:3).
God prospers us for these main reasons; to further his kingdom, finance our purpose, fix our responsibilities, and fund our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:6-10, 19). It is in that order of importance. Most people only see the enjoyment. Whereas God is not against our enjoyment, He wants us to prioritise His kingdom as we bless lives with what He blesses us with (Matthew 6:33).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria