It is true that prosperity can and may include temporal and material success. But in God's economy, prosperity means so much more. Things are not the substance of success, and certainly not of one's life. Jesus said, "one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15ff.). He spoke in the context of warning against covetousness and greed, and followed this up with the parable of the rich man who prospered so much materially that he intended to build bigger barns to store all his crops and goods. He thought he'd then have it made and would sit back and enjoy life. "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'" Jesus followed up with the point of the parable: "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
That phrase, "rich toward God," captures the God-ward dimension of prosperity. It gives us a God's-eye view of what is really important in this life, for all eternity. Lasting riches consist in God Himself. For this reason, the Bible speaks much about God-focused treasure, and that in relation to the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. There's a world of difference between laying up for yourselves "treasures on earth" compared to "treasures in heaven." The former fades, while the latter lasts. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:21, 33). God and His reign and righteousness in Christ is to be our treasure, and thus foremost in our hearts and minds and lives. This is the secret and substance of Christian prosperity. How then is this lived out in the midst of a world that seeks temporal treasures "first"? The answer: only by true faith in Jesus Christ, and thus according to the truth of God's Word.
Consider the testimony of the psalmist: "The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver....Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!....I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure" (Psalm 119:72, 27, 162). Do we recognize how radical such statements are amidst a world driven by the pursuit of gold, silver, and other things? Our intent is not to pit needs of the body over against needs of the soul, for Christ has redeemed us body and soul. Nor do we mean to imply that it's wrong to be rich or to pursue things related to temporal prosperity (e.g. vocations, money, possessions), for Christ taught us to pray and work for our daily bread, and sometimes blesses us richly. Rather, our aim is to keep our priorities in line with how God speaks in relation to success and prosperity, and thus pursue the treasure of His truth! As the school year begins, what ought to distinguish Christian parents and children is the desire for prospering in the truth.
In his third epistle, the Apostle John writes with years of life and ministry experience:
"To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 2-4).
Obviously, John had a deep affection for Gaius as a dear friend. Perhaps John had been Gaius' pastor at one time-even God's instrument for Gaius' spiritual birth through faith in Jesus Christ. His expression of love for Gaius arose out of the bond they had "in truth." This is that unique bond of Christian brethren-whether of pastors to parishioners, or parents to children. Notice that John sincerely prays for Gaius' temporal prosperity, to "prosper in all things and be in health." It is an aspect of love to have such desires for one another-to be healthy, do well in school, excel in gifts and abilities, have good jobs and happy marriages. Christian parents naturally desire their children to be successful in life, to get along well, and to be well. It is good and right that we pray for one another in this way.
But that is not our supreme desire or joy. Even as John desired for Gaius to prosper in all things, his greater joy was for Gaius' prospering in the truth more than anything. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." That's a joy that resonates with every pastor and parent. John's prayer for temporal prosperity and health presupposes soul-prosperity-a life of thriving in the truth, and characterized by truth-walking in Christ. This involves knowing and confessing the truth of Scripture and seeking to live consistently with the truth we confess. Nothing thrills our soul more than when our children walk in that way. And nothing deflates our joy more than when they don't. It is a sad reality that some covenant children know the truth but pay it casual lip service in their lives. Theirs is a life of bypaths that lead them away from the truth. Though confessing to be Christians, their priorities and pursuits betray them as those not walking in the truth.
Sometimes Christian students will speak of their goals with reference to positions attained and money made, with seemingly little thought of, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that" (James 4:14). You can be successful in the eyes of the world, but if you are not walking in the truth, are you truly prospering in God's eyes? You can be materially rich but spiritually bankrupt. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" (Matt. 16:26). God doesn't guarantee us health and wealth in this world. But He does promise that as we walk in His Word, we will know a prosperity in Him that is out of this world. Many voices seek to sway us to bypaths. Listen to the voice of God-the voice of truth-and walk therein.
By way of more specific application to our back-to-school theme, we recognize that the readers of this essay will vary as to educational spheres. Students may range from younger grades to college age. Parents may home-school, have their children in Christian schools, or in various forms of public schools. The covenant triad of home, school, and church may or may not be functioning in unity. It follows that the more they do coincide, the more prosperous in the truth we will be. To that end, consider five truth-principles from Scripture that are to function in every sphere of our faith as Christians, including in relation to what we learn:
The Primacy of God's Word
Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). Multiple passages could be given relative to this truth concerning Scripture. In all our learning, far from being a mere textbook, the Word of God is primary as the very Word of life. Read and memorize and study the Bible to know and live by every word. For example, the learning of God's truth from the Scriptures (and as faithfully summarized in the Confessions) should not be an afterthought or addendum to our schooling. Sometimes that is the impression given by parents and children in catechism classes, as something fitted in, tacked on, remembered at the last minute after all other subjects and activities are done. Such protocol does not reflect the primacy of God's Word. Better to seek first God's Word of truth, if we would be prospering in the truth. "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (Joshua 1:8).
The Sovereignty of God
"For in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:24-31). In this passage we learn of God as our sovereign Creator who "gives to all life, breath, and all things," and who has providentially determined for all men "their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings." His purpose in His creation of and providence over men is "so that they should seek the Lord," though by nature in sin they seek idol-gods. But He "now commands all men everywhere to repent" and to believe in the resurrected Christ in view of the judgment day to come. Every sphere of our existence is to be lived in light of God's sovereignty in creation and providence, and in view of our salvation in Christ from our guilt and condemnation in sin. So for example, we would do well to learn history in relation to God's sovereign, providential dealings with men and nations, including a thorough history of Christ building His church from Adam onward. This will nurture a God-centered perspective on time and life in the past, present, and future.
The Love of God
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). As with all things in life, our schooling functions in the light of the gospel of God's redeeming love in Christ-body and soul. His electing love from eternity past, manifested in our redemption through Christ's blood at Calvary, and personally realized in time by Holy-Spirited power, moves us to grateful love to God with our whole being. Learning is an act of loving God with our mind, as well as our heart, soul, and strength-a daily expression of worship in response to His love for us. For example, we are loving God rightly when we have no other gods before Him-including gods of the mind like unredeemed human reason. So that what we learn, for instance, in geology must exalt God over Darwin; or in ethics, God over ‘choice' (e.g., abortion) and ‘rights' (e.g., gay marriage).
The Preeminence of Christ
"That in all things He may have the preeminence" (Col. 1:15-18). In this passage we learn that all things were created "by Christ, through Christ, for Christ, and in Christ all things consist....that in all things He may have the preeminence." We know that the unbelieving world acknowledges nothing of this reality. But as Christ is head of His church, we as His body are to practically live out His preeminence in all things. It follows then that the education of covenant children ought to reflect this truth as much as possible. For example, learning science in relation to God as the Creator and Sustainer of all things made by, through, for, and consisting in Christ, is most consistent with His preeminence in all things. To the degree that this truth is omitted from any science curriculum, the lesser His practical preeminence and the harder parents and students will need to work to counter this.
The Glory of God
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). Man's purpose for existence is to glorify and enjoy God. Redeemed in Christ, we have been made willing and able to do so, though imperfectly because of our remaining corruption in sin. However far short we fall, we strive nonetheless to "do all to the glory of God," including the ‘what' and ‘how' of our schooling. For example, we seek to glorify God in learning math, ultimately because He is the God of order; in grammar, ultimately because He is the giver of the gift of language; in the arts, ultimately because He is the Master Craftsman; in political science, ultimately because He is the Ruler who ordained and appoints government; in ethics, ultimately because He is the Holy Lawgiver. The more God is abstracted and isolated from any of these realms, the lesser practical glory He receives. Should not our aim in learning always be for His greater glory? Moreover, our attitudes and approaches to such subjects ought to reflect an awareness of the truth of His Lordship, with gratitude for our redemption in Christ. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col. 3:17).
These are some thoughts offered on how our faith relates to what we learn. Hopefully they will provoke some thought and discussion in our homes, schools, and churches and be helpful in promoting practice consistent with what we confess. It is our desire in the education of our covenant children that they prosper in all things. But our supreme joy is that they prosper in the truth as their treasure more than anything. Let's go back to school then, seeking to acknowledge Scripture's principles and precepts, Christ's preeminence, and God's sovereignty, love, and glory in all things-and prosper as Christians!
