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Money is nothing but servant that can only be of any good when controlled by a good Master. Money can do nothing on its own, except it's put in the hands of someone who's ready to use it.
Until we understand what money is, only then it can be possible to brake out from the societal deception of "Wealth & Prosperity is Money", which is the mindset, lots of people carry in our society.
In an interview, Bob Marley was asked, "do you consider yourself rich?".
"rich? What do you mean by rich?" Bob replied.
"Do you have like possessions, say Millions of dollars?", he was asked again.
And Bob replied, "possessions make you rich?, I don't have that type of riches...
my riches is life... forever..."
From Bob's response, it's clear he also understood that money is not wealth, neither is it the definition of prosperity. Rather, money is just one of the emblems of prosperity.
And it's important to know that, prosperity is first of all an inward richest (wealth), before it's physically manifested.
Hence John's statement, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your Soul prospers" (3 John 1:2).
The soul is conscious of the mind - that means, true prosperity begins with a mindset.
Moreover, John used the term "Health" not Wealth, because a Man's health occupies the highest ratio of his wealth. In other words, health is wealth, wealth is power, and power is the people.
Therefore, the prosperity of an individual is determined by the calibre of people he has as his own people. (Mind you, your people are those who are there for you, during your "thick and thin" moments).
A young rich Man who claimed to have kept the commandments, right from his youth - inquired of Jesus what more he can do.
And Jesuses response got him so sad, as he walked away;
"if you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor....."
The rich Man was sad because he felt prosperity is about "amassing material possessions for yourself". So that will require him to forfeit his hard earned wealth. Little did he know that Jesus was only trying to introduce him to the real prosperity, which is "making and amassing prosperous people to yourself. And thereby ensuring a posterity in Eternity, all to yourself".
Of course, Jesus lived a prosperous life here on earth. But he didn't amass wealth and material possessions. Rather he lived his life for others, and invested his time and gifts on people, which resulted to him having lots of people with influence, wealth & power as Secret Disciples (speaking of the likes of Joseph of Arimathaea, Nicodemus and more).
These people stood by him, even through the unimaginable journey to the cross. And they had him buried like a king in a tomb that was never been used, despite he was crucified like a criminal (and this was after his closest Disciples fled for the fear of their own lives).
So imagine if Jesus never invested in a lot of people, how will He have accomplished his ultimate purpose?.
I'll borrow the "carbon and steel" connotation for the illustration of "persistent" by Napoleon Hill, to explain this;
"What prosperity is to fulfilling purpose, is as what carbon is to steel".
That is to say: if you count yourself prosperous, while failing in fulfilling purpose, then that isn't prosperity.
Thanks for reading!!!!
