Two Ways to LiveSample

The Prosperity of the Godly

The godly man who shuns the evil leaven of this world and instead delights in the word of God is a fruitful man. The Psalmist likens such a man to a tree that is firmly planted by God Himself and is constantly nourished by the living water of Christ that wells up to eternal life (John 4:14). Such a tree has life in all seasons for it is nourished by God’s streams. Likewise, the man of God who devotes Himself to holy pursuits and thirsts for righteousness will be satisfied (Matthew 5:6) and his life will be a blessed reality. 

The proper result of a pure life lived to the glory of God is abundant produce of righteousness and blessed fruitfulness. The godly man will not always bear fruit. There will seasons of bare branches. There will be times of emptiness. However, such times are not a sign of barrenness for inevitably at the appropriate season of the Lord’s choosing, there will be fruit. William Carey toiled in India for seven years before seeing the first Hindu convert to Christ and Adoniram Judson labored for seven years before seeing the first Burmese convert. One’s life might look bare and all one’s effort futile, but the Lord who planted the garden of Eden is at work. The task of the godly is to patiently expect fruit in the Lord’s timing for He has promised it.

An unproductive tree is lifeless for it is not watered by the streams of the Lord. Such a tree is cursed by God (Mark 11:14) and cut down (Luke 13:7) in judgment. One can be spiritually productive only if there is life within wrought forth by the Holy Spirit. No tree in the vineyard of the Lord can ever be dry and barren. Likewise, no Christian in the church of Christ can ever be without the blessed life of God within. The godly life is not one of perfection without sin or one of material prosperity with the riches of the world. Rather the godly life is one of holy productivity in the service of God. This is true prosperity.