3 John 1:1-4 (NKJV) The Elder, 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 is a letter from the Apostle John, an Elder, to Gaius, whom he loved as a brother in Christ. Gaius walked closely with God because he lived in the truth. This brought much joy to John. John prayed that Gaius would prosper in all things and enjoy good health, just as his soul prospered. He was wise not only to pray for financial prosperity, which in isolation can be meaningless.
As Christians, we understand that we are journeying through this life as pilgrims and sojourners. Life on earth is only temporal; we have a destiny in heaven where we shall spend eternity in the presence of God. We did not bring anything into the world, so we cannot take any material blessings with us when we die. In fact, why would we need to bring anything to heaven where even the roads are paved with gold! Therefore, why do we devote so much of our time and energy to material possessions and earthly accolades?
The original word for “prosper” is euodoo, which includes material prosperity as well as physical and spiritual health. Therefore, the word “prosperity” in the Bible differs significantly from the world’s definition. According to the Apostle John, biblical prosperity is more holistic as it covers spiritual, physical, and material health. Hence, the biblical definition of prosperity should be the yardstick for measuring whether we are genuinely prospering in God’s way rather than in a worldly sense. Therefore, the question you should ask yourself is, “Am I prospering holistically?”
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
We all want to have many nice things in life, but the above Scripture says that God will supply all our needs, not all our wants in life. God does not promise that all of us will be multimillionaires. Instead, the Bible advocates godliness with contentment as a great gain. Therefore, we must be careful not to let the spirit of the world influence us.
We worship a God who created heaven and earth. If good earthly fathers know how to give good gifts, how much more will our Heavenly Father provide for all we need? He will supply all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus when we journey with Him.
Sermon Series: Prospering In All Things
敬虔与知足
约翰三书 1:1-4 作长老的写信给亲爱的该犹，就是我诚心所爱的。 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更大的。
《约翰三书》是使徒约翰—一位属灵的长者—写给他所深爱的弟兄该犹的信。该犹因活在真理中，与神同行，使约翰深感喜乐。因此，约翰祷告求神使该犹凡事兴盛，身体健康，如同他的灵魂兴盛一样。他的祷告并不仅限于物质上的富足，因为孤立地为经济繁荣祷告可能毫无意义。
作为基督徒，我们明白我们是以朝圣者和寄居者的身份走过这一生。今生是短暂的，我们的命运是在天上，要在神的同在中度过永恒。我们没有给这个世界带来任何东西，所以我们死后不能带走任何物质上的祝福。事实上，我们在天上根本不需要带任何东西，因为那里连街道都是用金子铺成的！那么，我们为何要把如此多的时间和精力投入到世上的财富和成就中呢？
圣经中“兴盛”一词的原文euodoo，它不仅指物质的富足，也包括身体的健康和灵性的兴盛。因此，圣经所讲的兴盛远远超越了世俗的定义，它更关注全人的祝福——灵命、身体和物质的全面兴盛。因此，我们衡量自己是否真正按照神的方式在兴盛时，应该以圣经的标准，而非世俗的眼光。我们应当扪心自问：“我的生命是否正在全方位地兴盛？”
腓立比书 4:19 我的神必照他荣耀的丰富，在基督耶稣里，使你们一切所需用的都充足。
我们都渴望拥有美好的生活，但这节经文告诉我们，神应许供应我们一切的“需要”，而非我们所有的“想要”。神并没有应许让每个人都成为千万富翁，而是教导我们“敬虔加上知足的心便是大利”。因此，我们必须警醒，避免被世界的价值观所左右。
我们所敬拜的神，是创造天地万物的主。地上的父母尚且知道如何把好东西给自己的儿女，更何况我们的天父呢？当我们与祂同行，祂必按着自己在基督耶稣里荣耀的丰富，供应我们一切所需，使我们在祂的恩典中得满足。
讲道系列：凡事兴盛
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