PROVERB 10:22; 2 CHRONICLES 26:1-23 (NIV)

“Prosperity is a great blessing if it originates from God and is used for his glory and his purposes. However, prosperity is a great danger if one does not guard against pride.”

SHOULD LEARN ABOUT

1.     THE PRIME MOVER OF TRUE PROSPERITY: PIETY                                                                              

Seeking God                                                                                                                                            

Soliciting wisdom from godly men                                                                                                                             

Standing firm in one’s calling                                                                                                                         

Psalm 34:10; Proverb 8:17-19; Isaiah 45:19 (NLT); 2 Chronicles 20:20; Proverb 12:15; 19:20; Luke 21:19 (ESV); 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT); Hebrews 6:10-15

2.     THE PURPOSE OF TRUE PROSPERITY: PROFITABILITY                                                                                                        

Make God popular                                                                                                                                   

Do more for God’s work                                                                                                                                      

Manage whatever one is entrusted with for God’s glory and his Kingdom

3. THE PERILS OF TRUE PROSPERITY:  PRIDE                                                                                        

Pride (arrogance, conceit, and superiority) is always the biggest peril exposed by prosperity                                                                                                                                                       

People who enjoy a degree of prosperity tend to succumb to:                                                                                                       

a. Self-reliance                                                                                                                                                        

b. Self-centredness                                                                                                                                                       

c. Self-worship                                                                                                                                 

This kind of pride is destructive in a number of ways:                                                                                         

a. It stands opposed to God                                                                                                                             

b. It demeans others                                                                                                                                                 

c. It creates strife                                                                                                                                                          

d. It shuts the capacity to listen and learn

e. It takes away the desire to serve others