The Test of Prosperity

Adversity is a painful teacher!  Who hasn’t felt its sting?  It can be the stress of unfavorable working conditions or the discouragement of losing a job.  It can be the shock of an unexpected injury or the frustration of failing strength due to age.  It can be the disappointment of unrealized goals or the regret of unwise investments.  It can be the betrayal of a supposed friend or the hurt of a jealous enemy.  Yes, adversity is painful, but it also teaches us.  Some of its lessons include humility, patience, the importance of wisdom, and the need for priorities.

However, there is a test that is even greater than adversity: It is. . . .  prosperity!  That statement may sound strange at first, but it is TRUE!  
Thomas Carlyle, the Scottish essayist and historian, once declared: “Adversity is hard on a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand ADVERSITY.”

Few people can live in the lap of luxury and maintain their spiritual, emotional, and moral equilibrium.  Prosperity often causes a person to feel proud – even arrogant – and to have a sense of self-sufficiency.  But beware!  These are the things that lead to a fall (see Proverbs 16:18).  It’s ironic, but more people can handle ADVERSITY than prosperity!

Prosperity can cause one to forget or even ignore the fact that every good thing comes from God (James 1:17) and that our abundance should cause us to be more benevolent to others in need.  Consider a story told by Jesus concerning a rich farmer (Luke 12:16-21).  The ground of this rich man produced a good (bumper) crop.  Instead of giving thanks to God and considering how he could help others, he thought to himself, “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.”  Then he said, “This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I'll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’”  However, he died that SAME night, without being able to enjoy any of his selfish plans. God refers to this man as a " FOOL."  Jesus made application to OUR lives with these words:  "SO IS HE - who lays up treasure for himself, and is NOT rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).

The rich farmer failed the test of earthly prosperity.  How will YOU do?

Observe carefully what Jesus said.  TRULY rich are those who are rich toward God, NOT necessarily the ones who may have abundant and overflowing earthly riches.  
The TRULY prosperous are the children of God - who have been born into 
God’s family through baptism (Galatians 3:27), having trusted in Jesus, God’s Son 
(Acts 16:31), and repented of their sins (Acts 17:30). 

TRUE prosperity is found in a right relationship with God - recognizing that the good things in life are blessings from the heavenly Father, blessings which are NOT to be selfishly enjoyed but shared in service to God and others.

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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