5 ways the “prosperity gospel” quietly seeps into your work
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7–12)
This passage is a favorite of preachers of the so-called “prosperity gospel.” Commenting on this passage, pastor Creflo Dollar says, “God loves us and wants the very best in life for us—this is His will.” And that “best life,” is often interpreted materially. Dollar says, “God wants us to live abundant, prosperous lives, including in our finances.”
Yeah, not so much.
Jesus didn’t have a denarius to his name (see Mark 12:15 and Luke 9:58). Job was “blameless and upright,” and yet God allowed him to lose everything. Why? Because God only gives “good gifts” to his children—and often the best gift for us spiritually is to be lacking materially.
I’m confident that if I surveyed you all and asked, “Do you believe in the prosperity gospel?” you’d say no. But while statements like “God wants us to live abundant, prosperous lives, including in our finances,” are easy to spot as false, there are plenty of other common phrases that reveal an inadvertent belief in prosperity thinking.
Here are just 5 common prosperity-gospel-lite phrases that I beg you to watch out for.
#1: “God wants to bless you.” Maybe! But maybe not—at least not materially. God’s primary goal isn’t your comfort but your conformity to the image of Christ (see Romans 8:29).
#2: “God honors those who do business his way.” That’s absolutely true in eternity (see Colossians 3:23–24) but not always in this life (see Matthew 5:45).
#3: “God doesn’t want you to stay where you’re unhappy.” Tell that to Jesus who begged the Father for an easier way to redeem us, and then bore the cross (Matthew 26:39).
#4: “There’s no conflict between biblical principles and good business practices.” Really? Try loving your enemies and competitors and giving in secret (see Matthew 5:43–44 and 6:1-4). That’s not how to win market share or build a brand.
#5: “God wouldn’t give me this vision and then let it fail.” He might—especially if failure sanctifies you more than success ever could (see Romans 8:28-29).
And I think that is what Jesus is trying to get us to see in today’s passage. God doesn’t allow financial and professional hardships because He is cruel but because He is kind. He knows what is best for me better than I do.
So yes, “ask, seek, and knock” for the desires of your heart—because God does want to bless you. But don’t be surprised if his definition of “blessing” is radically different from yours. And trust that every gift He gives—whether success or suffering—is for your ultimate good and growth in Christlikeness.
