In the end, even wealth and prosperity itself is worthless if it is not enjoyed with gratitude and in humble service to the Lord, as well as open-handed generosity to the saints: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it” (Proverbs 15:16). At the same time, however, “the reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).

Years ago, my family saw a documentary that included a clip of prosperity gospel huckster Kenneth Copeland telling his TV viewers that all they needed to do to become fabulously wealthy was to “confess their billion flow.” If his watchers simply believed hard enough, the dollars would pour in. Copeland’s words (and the demented look on his face) really stuck with my four boys, who still repeat them mockingly from time to time. Sadly, however, many have been deceived by men like Copeland into believing that the only reason they are not healthy and wealthy is that they don’t have enough faith.

As absurd as Copeland is, every heretic has his texts. Prosperity preachers can point to any number of places in the Bible that seemingly connect earthly prosperity with faith in, or faithfulness to, God. Did not our savior say: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt 5:5)? Does not Proverbs promise that those who seek true wisdom will find “riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness” (Proverbs 8:18). Jesus, it is claimed, also promised one need simply have faith and the mountains in one’s life will be removed (Matt 17:20; 21:21). Perhaps it really is the case that our lack of material and physical wellbeing is due to our lack of faith. Did not Jesus say to the man whose son was possessed by a demon that “all things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23)? If our faith was stronger, would the tap to the “billion flow” be opened and our health fully restored?

Many Christians know that such teaching is unbiblical. However, despite the errors of the prosperity gospel peddlers (and they are legion), there is a consistent linkage in the Bible of Christian obedience and material blessing from the Lord.

Consider just a few of the many examples from Scripture:

Proverbs 10:6: “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”

Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”

Proverbs 24:25: “…but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.”

It is commonly noted that the Proverbs are not exceptionless promises. This is true and is important to emphasize. Such statements in Proverbs must be understood in light of life in a fallen world. We know from elsewhere in Scripture (and from Proverbs itself) that it is not uncommon for the ungodly to prosper outwardly for a time and the righteous to suffer loss even when they are faithfully serving God. The book of Job is the most sustained treatment of this theme; the Psalms and Ecclesiastes similarly show that life is not always as it should be this side of heaven (Psalm 73:12; Eccles 9:11; etc.).

We must, however, be careful not to swing the pendulum to the opposite end of the spectrum where we sever the connection that exists in the Bible between faithfulness and outward (not merely inward) blessing. How, then, should we understand this relationship between obedience and prosperity? If it is not the case that faith and faith-filled obedience always bring material blessing, how should we make sense of the many biblical texts that seem to link the two?

I have yet to find a better explanation of how to make sense of this connection than that found in the Westminster Shorter Catechism Question and Answer 66, which is a brief explanation of the blessings promised to those who obey the fifth commandment (“Honor your Father and Mother” [Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). The question “What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?” is answered as such:

The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God’s glory, and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.

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