More than four years ago I embarked on a meditational journey through the Psalms. My practice has been to move verse by verse through the book asking meditational questions of my readers. You have come up with some great answers over the years, but I have provided few.

I have now finished the journey of asking and I am now beginning the journey of thinking on and answering my own questions through the Psalms. Let’s continue:

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers. Psm 1:1-3

WHAT DO YOU THINK PROSPERITY LOOKS LIKE TO GOD?

While I know I cannot presume to know the whole mind of God, I at least know it enough to know a bit about what prosperity does not look like to God. It is not lots of silver, gold, or precious gems. It is not lots of money in the bank. It is probably not even supreme political influence or control. All of those things are tools to accomplish His ends. They are never ends in themselves. Further God warns us throughout Scripture not to let any of those things gain a place of importance in our lives because then they will control us.

I think prosperity must be connected to a heart attitude of contentment somehow, an attitude which understands there will always be enough to accomplish God’s purposes in our lives. It is a mindset that as Paul the apostle said “knows both how to abase and how to abound” because it is consumed by God’s desires and not the desire of the world the flesh or the devil.

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2for gaining wisdom and instruction;

for understanding words of insight;

3for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

doing what is right and just and fair;

4for giving prudence to those who are simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young—

5let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

6for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

What is instruction?