#HeartCheckTuesday: Prosperity Redefined: Why Everything You Know About Success Is Wrong.
When we think of prosperity, our minds often rush to bank accounts, possessions, and material wealth. But Scripture challenges us to see prosperity through a different lens, one that is not tied to what we have but to who is with us.
Genesis 39 introduces us to Joseph, a man sold into slavery and bought by Potiphar. By all worldly standards, Joseph was at his lowest—stripped of freedom, status, and possessions. Yet, the Bible declares something profound: “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man” (Genesis 39:2). Joseph had no money, no earthly power, and no control over his circumstances, yet he was prosperous because God was with him.
Is it possible that true prosperity is not about the abundance of possessions but the presence of God in our lives? Joseph’s story doesn’t end there. When he was thrown into prison, a place of even greater hardship, the Bible repeats, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man” (Genesis 39:23). Twice, in the most unlikely of circumstances, the Bible calls Joseph prosperous. This is no coincidence; it’s a divine revelation.
Does this mean God is against wealth? Certainly not. Psalm 23 beautifully portrays God as our Shepherd, the One who ensures we lack nothing. It reflects a God who is intimately concerned with our needs and desires, one who leads us to green pastures and still waters. Yet, there is a crucial distinction that must be made: God does not want us to chase after wealth. He does not want us to serve gold. Instead, He calls us to serve Him, the source of all provision.
The dichotomy is clear: when we serve God, wealth serves us. God’s desire is to bless His children abundantly, but He wants us to seek Him first, to desire His presence above all else. In His presence, there is fullness of joy, peace, and yes, prosperity—but it’s a prosperity that transcends material wealth. It’s the kind of prosperity that sustained Joseph in slavery and in prison, the kind that comes from walking with God.
Dear HeartCheckers, be careful what you call prosperity. Don’t measure it by the world’s standards. True prosperity is found in the presence of God, and when He is with you, no matter your circumstances, you are truly prosperous. Let us seek Him above all, knowing that in Him, we find everything we could ever need.
©RCNLagos