Hebraic Musing – How to have the “Abundant Life”!
Edited reprint of
an August 2011 musing. Enjoy!
There has been controversy and concern regarding the “Prosperity”
message being preached in many growing churches. If preached as “entitlement”, then concern is
appropriate. BUT prosperity that is the
result of ‘faithfulness’ is scripturally supported.
How do we know God wants us to have a prosperous and abundant
life? Well, He says so specifically in
his Word and here are only a few of the examples: (NKJV)
·
Gen. 39:2-3 “The
LORD was with Joseph, and …made all he did to prosper in his hand.”
·
Dt. 29:9 “Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper
….”
· Ps. 122:6 “Pray
for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’”
·
3 John 1 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper
in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
· Ps 86:5 “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to
all those who call upon You.”
·
Isa.55:1-2 An Invitation to Abundant Life “…And
let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
However, to keep the prosperity message in
perspective, maybe we need to put it in context. We need to listen to David’s charge to
Solomon. “And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in
His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His
judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of
Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you
turn…” 1 Kings 2:3 BTW – the “Law of Moses” is the Torah (Pentateuch
or first five books of the Bible).
But let us also confirm this by exploring it logically.
God is a loving Father who gave us a
book of instruction in the Torah which includes 613 Mitzvot (lit. “Good Deeds”,
translated as Commandments, Ordinances, Laws). Thus, Our Father provides us with advice for our
good AND for the good of His chosen people; like us! After all, everything a good parent tells
their children to do is for the child’s own good. So it makes sense for us to listen to the Word
of God, the Father. We need to know it
and faithfully obey it.
In the original Hebrew, Moses gave us “Ten Words” (commandments)
from God in Deuteronomy 5. The word “Words”
has been translated into “Commandments” in most translations. And then Moses passed them on to Joshua
saying - “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has
commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD
your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well
with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you
shall possess.” Deut. 5:32-33 (That’s worth reading again!)
Point to Ponder
In 1962 Prayer was removed
from school classrooms….
and in 1980 Ten Commandments were removed ...
What has that done to our “abundant life”?
Everything a good parent
tells their child to do is for the child’s own good!
Does Father God want us to
also study the Torah (first five books of the Bible)?
Are we commanded to actively
listen to and obey His Words? All of
them?
♫ Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in
His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow
strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.. ♫
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd
June 14, 2022 (1st published in 2011, over 10 years ago)
“Biblical Marriage” Weekly “Hebraic Musings” InsightsByYosef.blogspot.com
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