3 John 2:2 KJV
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
As a Christian, I have heard 3 John 3:2 quoted so often that it had the same effect that the ABC has had on children. As a teacher for almost 30 years, this analogy is loaded. Let me let you in the loop. Children often recite the ABC from A to I know it, I know it, I know my ABC. They were unaware of where the alphabet ends and too frequently, could not identify many of the letters.
Today, my aim is to do for you what I have been doing on purpose with learners for years. That is, getting them to know and understand the foundation of literacy . I intend to help you know and understand a truth that I have discovered.
Like many, I have on several occasions, hurried past the first set of words in this verse to the section about good health and the prosperity of my soul. I have totally disregarded these words “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper”
Honestly, I did not come to terms with how negative I was with the notion of prosperity. I had become comfortable and literally covenanted with poverty.
My teen son researched the meaning of the term prosper as used in the verse and it includes wealth.
Let us paraphrase this section of the verse. It would read like this, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest have wealth”.
Mike Murdock in his book The Law of Recognition identifies poverty as a thief. He continues to explain that poverty steals more that our finances, it steals even our worth. Can you relate?
Poverty almost stole my purpose and passion. I have made many decisions paying attention to poverty. I almost lost my way, but God. Upon graduating high school I was deciding to open a cook shop rather than applying for teachers college because I felt that I was too deep in poverty to escape. What if God had not rescued me from that error. What lack the earth would have experienced without my contribution as a committed educator!
You too might have lost your way, lost your passion, abandoned your dream and under-estimated your significance and potential because of your covenant and love relationship with poverty as well as caused you to develop a dislike for wealth, those who are wealthy and for those who are able to guide you in a healthy way along the path to prosper. Be reminded that God wants you to prosper. Prolonged periods of lack can erode your health emotionally, mentally and physically. These issues can impact the health and prosperity of your soul. Let us pay attention to the progression of the bible verse.
· Prosper
· Be in good health physically
· Be in good health in your mind, emotion and will.
Our will is where we make decisions. An unhealthy will certainly will cause an individual to make many bad choices.
Our mind is where we think and our emotion address how we feel. Do the math.
Pause and pray.
Ask God who is rich in mercy to help you deconstruction the stronghold of poverty in your life and generation.
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