3 John 1:2-4 (NKJV) 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.
COVID 19 has presented countless challenges to us. Not only do they reveal the state of our spiritual lives, our relationships with loved ones, our priorities, and our values in life, but they also take a heavy toll on us emotionally, physically, and mentally. Studies have shown that the effects from pandemic management include anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness, and even increased domestic violence. If we don’t want to waste a crisis in our lives, we must walk intentionally in the truth and Spirit.
In the above prayer by the Apostle John for his disciple Gaius, he expressed God’s heart for us too. It is God’s desire for us to prosper holistically—in every aspect of our lives and experience the fullness of God’s truth. Biblical prosperity is not just financial prosperity even though it is wonderful to be well-provided for by the Lord so that we can be a blessing to others. Godliness with contentment is great gain indeed because discontentment will make us frustrated due to the loss of opportunities, live in regrets and impatient with the hindrances brought about by the prolonged pandemic. We don’t need to become multi-millionaires to be content, but to have more than sufficient. When we are content with what we have, we will be willing to give to others who are in need, but not if we are discontented with what we have or in lack.
The scope of holistic prosperity also includes growing spiritually by walking in the truth, as well as physical health and emotional wellness. Not only do we need physical health to serve the Lord well, but neither can we serve Him effectively if our soul is full of bitterness, unforgiveness and hurt in our lives, because we need to walk in love and forgiveness to be effective in ministry and to love others.
The abundant life is to have love, peace and joy that is found in the Lord. Isn’t that what we would all want for those we love? The greatest joy of any spiritual leader is to hear that their disciples are walking with the Lord, growing spiritually, imitating Christ, and experiencing holistic prosperity. Likewise, not only should we pray this prayer for holistic prosperity for our loved ones and friends, but those who are parents should also model to their children what true prosperity in the Lord looks like.
Sermon Series: Work on Your Well Being
兴盛不只关乎金钱
约翰一书1:2-4 亲爱的兄弟啊，我愿你凡事兴盛，身体健壮，正如你的灵魂兴盛一样。 有弟兄来证明你心里存的真理，正如你按真理而行，我就甚喜乐。 我听见我的儿女们按真理而行，我的喜乐就没有比这个大的。
新冠肺炎疫情给我们带来了无数挑战。它们不仅揭示了我们的属灵生命状态、我们与家人的关系、我们的优先事项和我们的生活价值观，而且还使我们在情感、身体和精神上付出沉重代价。研究表明，大流行病管理的影响包括焦虑、抑郁、创伤、孤独，甚至家庭暴力增加。如果我们不想浪费生命中的危机，我们必须刻意地行在真理和圣灵中。
在以上使徒约翰为他的门徒该犹所作的祷告中，他也表达了神对我们的心意。神希望我们在生活的每一个方面都能全然兴盛，并体验神真理的丰满。圣经上的兴盛不仅仅是经济上的繁荣，尽管我们能得到主丰盛的供应是一件美妙的事，这样我们就能成为别人的福气。敬虔再加上知足就是大利了，因为不知足会让我们因为失去机会而沮丧，会让我们生活在遗憾中，会让我们对长时间的疫情带来的阻碍感到不耐烦。我们不需要成为千万富翁之后才能知足，有余就已足够。当我们对我们所拥有的感到满意时，我们会乐意地给予其他需要帮助的人。如果我们对神的祝福感到不满或生活匮乏，我们就不会付出。
全然兴盛的范围还包括行走在真理中的属灵成长，以及身体健康和心智健康。我们不仅仅需要身体健康来好好事奉主。如果我们的魂在生活中充满了痛苦、不宽恕和伤痛，我们也无法有效地事奉祂，因为我们需要在爱和宽恕中行走，才能有效地事奉和爱他人。
丰盛的生命就是拥有爱、和平和唯有在主里面才能找到的喜乐。这不正是我们为所爱的人祈求的吗?属灵领袖最大的喜乐，就是听到他们的门徒与主同行，属灵成长，效法基督，并经历全然的兴盛。同样地，我们不仅要为我们所爱的人和朋友作这个祷告，也祈愿那些父母们能成为孩子的榜样，让他们的孩子知道什么是主里真正的兴盛。
讲章系列: 为你的幸福而努力