The widespread corruption and injustice that exists in today’s society can certainly make one think that “money is the root of all evil.” It wouldn’t surprise me if many believe this adage. I, on the other hand, don’t. I know that money isn’t really everything in a person’s life but material wealth isn’t so bad. After all, many of the basic necessities in life can only be obtained through money. Besides, God wants man to prosper and be successful and prosperity includes material wealth. How do I know this? The following prosperity scriptures prove my point:

• Genesis 13:2, 3. In Genesis, God promised to bless man and make a great nation for him. He also vowed to curse those who curse man and to bless all families.

• Deuteronomy 8:18. In this scripture, remembrance of the God who gives man the power to get wealth is emphasized. Wealth here is considered as a means to establish God’s covenant.

• 1 Chronicles 4:10. This part of the bible tells us of Jabez’s plea for God to bless him with abundance and how God granted his request.

• Matthew 7:7-8. This scripture encourages us to knock on heaven’s door and ask for God’s blessing because God gives to those who ask.

• 3 John 1:2. In the New Testament, John tells us of how the Father wishes, above all, for man to prosper and to be in health so that his soul may also prosper.

See? The Bible says that God desires for us to prosper materially and that He wants us to succeed. These prosperity scriptures imply that God, because He is our Loving Father, would never want us, His people, to be in peril. Like any father, God only wants the best for His children. But, even if prosperity is indicated in the aforementioned prosperity scriptures, we are still warned that prosperity is not limited to what’s financially tangible. Prosperity is encompassed by many things – physical, spiritual, mental, social and of course, financial.

To relate prosperity to money alone is very narrow-minded. Moreover, these prosperity scriptures also clarify that though God wants His people to prosper, He only promises its occurrence if we obey His commandments and if we trust Him. He also reminds us that in our search for prosperity, we have to remember to not become greedy and to be contented with what is ours because we are always given what is due us.