Thrive in Christian Living by John Fairfull
Introduction
In general, the Christian life comes with the promise of prosperity, not suffering.
Ecclesiastes says:
24) There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.25) For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
26) For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 (KJV)
In addition to His material provision, God gives Christians wisdom, knowledge, and joy. These traits provide us with power and influence with the world, as a worldly man seeks to emulate them.
The added scrutiny Christians receive from God’s blessing can lead to opportunities to witness or influence others.
With this in mind, it’s important to consider four areas of the Christian life where we should succeed in order to achieve a more significant impact on our sphere of influence.
Material Prosperity
I look good, I feel good, I am financially secure.
God calls His people to be good stewards of what we have, including our bodies, health, possessions, and finances. Thriving in these areas is a prerequisite for prosperity in other areas.
Your health significantly affects your thought life and ability to love and relate to others. When you are in pain, it’s hard to consider the pain of others. When you can’t function well, it’s hard to help others. Meeting people and sharing your testimony is impossible from your bedroom.“Christians need to be the type of people who abstain from instant gratification and plan for the future.”
You can add years to your life by not drinking or smoking, drinking plenty of fluids, sleeping at least seven hours a night, and walking ten miles a week.
The effects of a healthy life are additive, so once you achieve those goals, go further. Try to build muscle and endurance. Improve your diet. Take vitamins, and feel good. Feeling good is looking good because others perceive you’re doing well. You’re thriving. You’ve got something we all want.
Christians need to be the type of people who abstain from instant gratification and plan for the future. Create a five-year plan, a simple list of goals you want to accomplish in the next five years. Don’t be afraid to dream big, and don’t sweat the timeline.
Talk to your spouse, and create goals together. It’s fun. Once you set long-term goals, keep them in mind, and you will be amazed at how you change course to move toward those goals.
According to data from the Federal Reserve, almost 40% of Americans lack the cash on hand to cover an unexpected expense of $400 or more.“When you thrive, you can abundantly bless others.”
As Christians, we must arrange our affairs so that we are not in this group. Getting out of debt is the key to achieving financial security.
Dave Ramsey recommends the debt snowball method, which was effective for me, but many techniques exist to get out of debt. The important thing is to choose one and stick with it.
Psalm 37 says:
21) The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.Psalm 37:21 (KJV)
Once you get out of debt, you will experience more freedom and have the ability to save and invest for the future.
Once you have planned long-term goals, you will have the tools to progress and thrive. When you thrive, you can abundantly bless others.
Psychological Prosperity
I am pursuing my goals; I have earned what I have.
The world seeks happiness, and Christians are no different.
We all want to feel accomplished and content with what we have and with our prospects for the future.
Indeed, it’s hard to function without these things, yet how often do we neglect to consider what happiness and contentment look like for us?“Our culture robs us of our success with the spurious notion that we are somehow stealing it from our ancestors or making it on the backs of others, but that’s not the case.”
In this regard, acquiring goods is a top priority for many people.
Physical possessions provide some level of security, but do they feed the soul?
Research indicates that what humans crave is earned success, not necessarily more possessions.
Our culture robs us of our success with the spurious notion that we are somehow stealing it from our ancestors or making it on the backs of others, but that’s not the case.
We can see from Joshua 1:7-9 and Ecclesiastes 4 that the source of a Christian’s success is our walk with the Lord, and we may rejoice in that success.
Just like how many of us struggle with clutter build-up in our homes, clutter in our minds consists of repetitive thoughts, past failures, and doubts.“Be goal-oriented, stretch to reach those goals, and enjoy the fruits of your labor without feeling guilty.”
Perhaps someone abused or wronged us. However, life doesn’t stop, and neither can we.
We must progress and improve to overcome, but many fail for lack of a plan.
Be goal-oriented, stretch to reach those goals, and enjoy the fruits of your labor without feeling guilty (Ecc. 2:24).
It’s ok to feel good.
Relationship Prosperity
I am important to others, I am dependable, I add value to my loved ones’ lives, and they add value to mine.
The most significant determining factor in the life of a Christian (or anyone) is the people in their life.
In short, relationships can make or break your life.
In Matthew 22, Christ said the greatest commandment was “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’…And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
God created human beings in his image, and many seek a way to love God, yet they forget that loving others is one of the main ways we love God.“The most significant determining factor in the life of a Christian (or anyone) is the people in their life.”
Jesus may not be physically standing before you, but who is? Love that person.
We cannot love Jesus unless we embrace fellowship with our neighbor.
Today, pandemics, technology, and perceived political or social divisions often keep us from even interacting with others, let alone loving them.
If someone has problems, do we turn away? Do we say, “I can’t handle that person right now,” or “I don’t want to get involved; that person will burden me.”
Don’t be shortsighted or arrogant enough to think that you won’t have your share of trouble.“Be the person that shows up on time for your friends and neighbors, and do so when it may not be convenient. In an atomized society, there is scarcely a better way to embody the love of Christ in your life.”
If you’re only there for the good times, don’t be surprised to find yourself alone for the bad times.
Beyond practical considerations, being there for people is not optional for a Christian.
Christ commanded us to go the extra mile and give out of Christian charity (Matt. 5:41-42).
Someone said, “80% of success is showing up.”
Be the person that shows up on time for your friends and neighbors, and do so when it may not be convenient.
In an atomized society, there is scarcely a better way to embody the love of Christ in your life.
Spiritual Prosperity
I am doing God’s will, accomplishing my purpose; I am growing closer to God.
Spiritual prosperity is what we seek, but what is it?
The word spirit comes from the Latin “spiritus,” meaning “breath” or “wind.”
The idea is your life force, a power separating the living from the dead.“If prosperity is a house you’d like to live in, consult the Master Builder to lay the foundation.”
Christians believe God gave mankind our spirit. In creation, God breathed life into Adam; but Adam’s spirit died in sin.
Faith in Christ resurrected Adam’s spirit, as it resurrects our spirit today.
Given this fact, the first step to spiritual prosperity is belief in Christ as Lord and Savior.
In Matthew 7, Christ gave the parable of the wise man who built his house on the rock.
Through human effort, we can likely achieve material prosperity, prosperity in our thought lives, and healthy relationships.
Still, without Christ as Saviour, they will collapse along the way as we build them on a faulty foundation of sand.
If prosperity is a house you’d like to live in, consult the Master Builder to lay the foundation.
I have already laid out the building blocks of spiritual prosperity.“Following God’s will is spiritual prosperity, which is not a mystery. It is in the commandments of Scripture.”
Listening to God and his commandments is what helps us grow spiritually. It exercises our spiritual life force.
Spirituality is not separate from our body, mind, wealth, or relationships but a holistic approach to all aspects of our lives.
God commands us to treat our body as a temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20), which is material prosperity in your health and physical activities.
God commands us to invest wisely (Matt. 25) and to get out of debt.
God commands us to love one another and to have a clear mind (Rom. 12:2).
Following God’s will is spiritual prosperity, which is not a mystery. It is in the commandments of Scripture.
It is also crucial for a Christian to join and attend a local church.
Don’t look for a perfect church but for a church preaching the Bible, which is not necessarily easy to find.“Our Lord’s peace and prosperity are a magnet for broken people who need a Savior.”
When you find it, stick with it. Stay at your church even if it does something that offends your sensibilities.
Our churches weaken today, for Christians are quick to leave if someone does something minor that triggers them.
The church is not about you but the worship of your Lord, and thank God for that because we all need something that’s not about us.
Conclusion
I write this as many institutions, including churches, fail us today.
Polls show that public trust in Congress, the media, the courts, and even religion are at all-time lows.
It’s a dangerous time.
As Christians, we cannot withdraw from society because of adverse conditions. We can’t put our light under a bushel.
The greater witness for Christ is in our conduct, not always in what we say.
Christians need power and influence in their personal lives.
People should know we have joy despite the world, which will naturally cause an attraction for those in need.
Our Lord’s peace and prosperity are a magnet for broken people who need a Savior.
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