Prosperous

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8

Prosperous – Bank accounts, luxury cars, private jets, resort homes, diamond rings and lots of stock options.  If I do everything that God tells me to do in the tora, I will be prosperous.  Isn’t that what it says?  I will have plenty of all the good things of life.  So, why don’t I have all those good things?  Well, the answer is obvious.  I must not be doing all the things God instructs me to do.  If I were just more “spiritual”, I would get all these things.

If this thought crossed your mind, raise your hand and say, “God, help me understand.”  He will whisper in your ear, “It’s not about you.”

The Hebrew word seleah really means, “to accomplish what is intended”.  It is the success and prosperity that comes from reaching the goal.  So, what is the goal?  The goal of God’s tora is all about God’s character.  It isn’t about us.  The goal is to become a reflection of the character of God – the one who is merciful, patient, kind, long-suffering, willing to sacrifice, forgiving and faithful.  The reason that we listen, memorize, contemplate, act and watch is so that we will become like Him.  It has nothing to do with green pieces of paper.  God’s goal is to give you something that can never be taken from you.  God’s goal is to give you Himself.

America preaches the gospel of gain.  Do what God says and your life will be blessed with lots of stuff.  But what God considers prosperity has little to do with the world.  Overcoming the world means gaining what cannot be lost.  Take one minute to write down your goals.  Then ask yourself if they are things that can never be lost.  In the end, nothing else really matters, does it?  Now cross out every goal that can be taken from you.  Is there anything left on your list?

Be prosperous, says God.  Gather for yourself those things that cannot be taken from you.  Did you notice that it is something you have to do?  “You will make your way prosperous.”  God isn’t going to give it to you.  He won’t have to.  When you act in agreement with the design of His universe, you will accumulate treasure that will never fade.  You will know the Creator.

The next 24:  Today I will evaluate my goals.  I will ask if I am chasing things that can be lost.