Should Jehovah’s Faithful Children Expect to Prosper Whilst on Earth?

Is prosperity one of the rewards of man’s faithfulness to Jehovah? This is a question that every faithful servant of Jehovah can answer without any problem. However in this old corrupt world where pretense takes precedence many people are looking at the lives of people who are supposable Jehovah’s faithful children who are struggling to survive and are unable to make ends meet. But the question we must ask ourselves is, to whom or to what are they faithful? It is an important fact that most of Jehovah’s professed people are more dedicated to their family, friend, occupation, bosses and even their spouse than they are to the almighty God of the universe: Jehovah, thus they rewards Jehovah's goodness, love and faithfulness towards them/us with ingratitude.

Many people want the rewards of the faithful without the commitment and obedience that ought to accompany such. Our “I want it now” world; have driven us into a life of pretense. Many people rather alter the meaning of Jehovah holy words than to confess their disobedience; they rather call the “I AM” a liar than to admit that they are struggling with certain issues. In our effort to make a good impression our Christian lives becomes a big game of pretence a facade. Those who refused to confesses that they are not totally faithful to Jehovah and are not being blessed as they ought to; are often unfaithful and in their pretense gives new meaning to words such as prosperity. The word prosperity means to increase in wealth, riches, affluence and success. Prosperity in no way means good health you can be healthy but not prosperous. Jehovah know the difference between prosperity and good health. Hence the reason John made it clare when he said in 3rd-John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospereth.

Jesus himself told his children in: Mark 10: 29-30 “and Jesus answered and said, 29: “I say unto you, there is no man that has left house, or brethren, or sisters of father or mother, or wife or children, or land for my sake of the gospel’s.

30: But he shall receive a hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sister and mother, and land with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. In the text above we see Jesus giving his children the prescription for Earthly prosperity.

Jesus the Son of the living God, have tell us as long as we are faithful to him and his Gospel we will be given the privilege to accumulate earthly riches, not just get things, we will get them 100 times what he had or forsake for his sake. In other words there must not be anything standing between the giver of everything and us. To often we allow the gift to become a partition; separating us from the giver. We fail to understand that he who gave good gift, can at any time take away that gift (be it mother, father, spouse, finances, property etc.)

The kind of loyalty Jehovah loves and take pleasure in rewarding the loyalty that moves us to put him before everything and everyone. He declared in Matthew 6: 33

Seek ye first the kingdom of Jehovah and all his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.

Let us take a good look at a few prominent men who consciously chosen to seek and put Jehovah first in and over all things and every human, as a results Jehovah blessed and prospered them. They are Job, Abraham, Joseph, etc. all of these men increase in riches/wealth, affluence and success. If your prosperity is from Jehovah then you will increase in all of the above not just riches, for there is no prosperity without affluent or success. If your prosperity is from Jehovah you will increase in wealth, affluence and success.

How is it with Jehovah and his son Jesus Christ? What happens when we are faithful to Jehovah, when we love and obey his words; not because we have to, feel we should or out of feelings of guilt; but because we want to? The best type of obedience comes from a heart of love.

King David said that he was young but now he is old; yet he have never seen the righteous forsaken not Jehovah’s seed begging bread. Jehovah said that his people should be the head and not the tail. How can you truly represent Jehovah if you are waddling in poverty?

We are to reflect Jehovah’s love in the way we treat others, we should reflect:

• Jehovah forgiveness when we forgive those who do us wrong, say bad things about us, who cause our relationships to break up and who were unfaithful to us.
  

• we must reflect Jehovah Compassion when we are touch by the need and pain of others but more so when we are moved to relief such pain and satisfy the needs.

• We must show that Jehovah is faithful to his words by being faithful to our words.
  
• We must be able to show that our father is the owner of the entire universe and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to him. By being able to satisfy the physical need of those who are suffering around us.

How can I serve such a great God, who is extremely rich in that, he owns the entire universe and all that is in it, he is so loving, that he offered himself to die in my place, one who is so forgiving that he forgive the wicked things I did/do to him and against him. He forgives me each time I willfully participate in his crucifixion anew. Will such merciful, loving and faithful father allow his obedient, faithful children to exist in poverty?

I answering this question I say NO!

Matthew 7:10- What man there is of you whom if his son asks you for bread will give him a stone.

10: or if he ask for a fish will give him a serpent.

11: if ye then being evil know how to give good gift unto your children how much more shall your heavenly father which is in heaven give good things to those who asked him?

We must remember 2-Peter 3: 9 “Jehovah is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Jehovah’s primary goal is for us all to repent for our sins and if we are faithful he will ensure that we all are rewarded for our faithfulness; here on earth and as well as when he return. The scripture said: For Jehovah is not slack concerning his promises, he doesn’t take his words lightly, he dose what so ever he say he will do. Did you notice that all of Jehovah and Jesus’ promises has a condition attached to them? Jehovah was the inventor and the first to use the reinforcement therapy. Here we see the concept of positive reinforcement coming in to play as outlined in his promises and covenants.

All through Jehovah’s word he show us that unconditional obedience to him has its rewards the primary of which is the privilege to live and reign with him in the earth made new, however he also promise to protect us and to prosper us. Let us take a look at what I consider and call the comprehensive Psalms which is Psalms 1: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners not sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2. But his delight is in the law if the lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of many water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither and what so ever he doeth shall prosper.”

Here we see one of the rewards for obedience to Jehovah is: earthly prosperity. Here we can see the parallels in the points and they all point to being blessed with wealth.

David who Jesus call a man after his own heart, in counseling his son Salomon; he did not fail to remind him of the words Jehovah give to Moses 2-Kings “and keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.

There are many reasons why we should be faithful to Jehovah the least of which is personal prosperity. But we must be willing to love Jehovah first because he loved us even before he created us, he loved us even when we rebelled from him and came to die in Calvary’s cross to redeemed us from the hand of the devil, and he provides for use each day.

The Christian Church: A Refuge Or A Place Of Ridicule

During Slavery we have seen the black man or the black male slaves taking control of his family in an effort to gain their freedom; and for their fearless and courageous actions they suffered much. The black male (slave) suffered beatings, amputation of body parts, castrations or the removal of their male genitals, executions, daily whippings, their wives and children were raped in their presence, they were separated from their families and they were (buggered) rapes by their white masters and his other white workers. All these atrocities and other disgusting inhumane actions were inflicted on the black male by his white owners in an effort break or emasculate him: rendering him weak and powerless.

This era was a dangerous era for the black family, more so for the black male and because of the danger that was present during this difficult era the black woman look to the black man for leadership, strength, support, protection, wisdom etc. In this era the black male held a prominent place in his home, for it was the black man who poses a threat to his oppressor; the white oppressor had no fear of the Negro woman, for she was of no real threat to him and his evil system, however the very though of the Negro male send shivers of fear down their spine.

In the post emancipation era, there was a reemergence of the strong black male. The strong black man took the forefront in leading his family, and this once again strike terror into the hearts of his white oppressors who were also the land holders, the chief employers, policy and law makers as well as the law enforcers. Once again it was their plan to emasculate the black male, however due to the changes that was made in the laws to accommodate emancipation and the awakening of many white consciences; the old tactics that were used during slavery could not be used without possible legal consequences, so they embarked on a big elaborate plan which was to emasculate the black man while empowering the black female. There was and is nothing more humiliating then to take away the leadership of the family from the male and put such role in the hands of the weaker vessel the females. This is the sure way to break any men who are by nature a provider and protector. If you do the same thing to the woman as was done to the male; If the male took over the woman’s role of chief nurturer of the family, strip her of her nurturing role while maintaining his provider protector role, then she too will acquire a sense of uselessness in the environs of the home and family.

You have got to understand that although there is an exception to every rule, generally each or anytime you take away any one of the core roles from any man (black, white, or Indian etc.), he automatically fails in the other role: he began to feel less than a man. If a man is unable to protect his family from external forces, this condition puts a dent in the armor, it weakens the very thing that makes him a man, anytime a man is unable to provide for his family, such conditions cause an erosion of his masculinity.

I guess the big question that must be knocking at the door of your minds is; what techniques were employed to emasculate the black male? They took away his ability to provide for his family. They would fire the black man and use the law; their power and every means available to them to destroy every independent means or opportunity for the black man to earn a living. They took away his land, prevent him from trading, and impose any restriction on any lawful means he to earn a living. After they have destabilized the family, destroying the esteem of the head of the home by taking away his ability to provide for and protect his family; they, in the same breath empowered the black women thus adding to her role that of provider also, making her the chief and in most cases the only provider for the home. She was provided with very meager wages, the Negro females were employed to perform the same duties their husbands performed however their wages were far lower than that which was paid to the husband or the other black male.

They (the white masters) use the opportunity to poison the mind of the wife by referring to their husband as lazy and good for nothing, thus planting the seeds of resentment in the hearts of the wives toward their husbands. The ego within us human love to glory in the flatery when we are fed words that elevate us above another, whether such elevation is true and just or not. When our egos are fed we buy into the lies of our enemies and bring destruction to ourselves and our kind.

The unfortunate thing is how easily the women buy into such propaganda about her male counterpart who provide for her and his family from the beginning of time, who never fail to put himself in harms way to ensure that she was safe, who loved her unconditionally and encouraged her consistently ensuring that she is/was excellent in her role as nurturer to her children dedicated wife. You see the black women were no threat to the white powerful landowners, so he removed the threat (the black man).

Our sisters fail to heed to or they forgot the counsel of Proverbs 12:4 which states; “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness to his bones.

Such disrespect manifested it self in so many ways and was responsible for destroying the very things that she love and cherishes her families. But she (the black woman) became so drunk with her new role her newly acquired power that she allow wisdom to evade her. Now such is evident today in the delinquencies of our children, the high murder rate that exist among Negro youths, the alarming rate at which Negro young woman search out the abortionist knife to remedy the problem of unplanned pregnancies, the rise in members of the black community adopting the homosexual life style, the high number of Negro which are infected and die from HIV/AIDS, the lack of desire and interest to gain education proficiencies that is present in black males today, the overflow of the penitentiary with black males, the manifestation of drugs and violent gangs in our homes, schools, neighborhood, the promiscuities that is present among our young girls etc. all this the results of upsetting the chemistry or the natural order of the family and the home.

The Black Church:
Let us take a good look at the black churches, as it relates to the ratio of men to women that holds membership in these institutions and are playing an active role in the spreading of the Gospel of Jehovah and Jesus Christ. Yes you have observed correctly; the male membership is almost none existent. But why is this so?

I will like you to join me as I take a disgusted walk down the corridors of my recent memory; feel free to examine my findings if you feel so incline. I have been attending black churches ever since I was a child, and I am yet to hear a sermon or meet a preacher who is or was dedicated to empowering the black man, or buoying up the esteem of the congregation. Instead of empowering the black male (who ironically is Jehovah appointed priest and head of his home) the preachers systamatically and psychologically beat down his congregation especially the black male from the podium where they (the congregations) are forbidden to reply or challenge him (the preacher). This is done while empowering the women, creating a psychological and a manifested division between the gender and within the homes and the marriages.

When the man decrease in esteem and confidence, the women grows in similar fashion to that of the post emancipation period. The men are emasculated by his Shepard and the woman buy into the preacher ridicule of their fathers husbands, brother and friends: the men. The preacher’s opinions of the black man manifest itself into negative actions, inferences and attitude from the wives of the now belittled man. Her negative expressed and opinions of her man takes on a growing recklessness and such negativity are expressed first in his absence, then to his children and then as a direct attack on his manhood. It is unfortunate that such pointed attacks are done in the presence of the children.

In some cases the Christian woman fail to submit her self unto her husband which was Christ admonished her. Now the black man is bombarded with ridicule when he is at work, he has to compete with his peers for their attention, the sanctity of the church were transform into a place of ridicule and the tranquility of the home is now converted into a bottle field where violent attacks are launched on his manhood, he is belittled in the presence of his children and constancly insults by the one who should be closest to him. The destruction of the man was successful thanks to the insensitivity of the preachers. now the black man is left with no sanctuary: a place of peace and love.

The Christian church should be a place of refuge, a place where members can go to recoperate have after facing backbiting, prosecution, and other hardship at the hands of the wicked heathen whose aim is only to belittle us. There we should find encouragement, be motivated and uplifted, so we can be better husbands fathers employees and people. Unfortunately the church have become a place where the members (but more so the men) are beaten into submission; while the same pastors preach sermons to empower the females. Once again the male gender is emasculated, but this time, by those who were put in place to build and strengthen them. This is an act that is totally contary to Jehovah's will.

This is the primery reason why the black men of today are so weak; this is the primary reason why they fail to live up to their obligations as husband, father, providers and church officials. The black church have to begin empowering their congregation especially the black man.

Why is it that upwards to five thousand men followed Jesus Christ at any one time, yet the church, as the body of Christ, cannot attract a handful of men per congregation?

We have to understand that unlike the church, Christ satisfy the needs of the people who followed him, when they were hurting he reassured them, when they were troubled he brought them calm, when they were afflicted he comforted them, when they were heart broken he heal them, when they were broken he restore them, when they were distressed he brought peace and when they were ill he healed them. Jesus took the time to attend to the need of the people in the so many ways.

1. He said arise to the little maiden and she awaken from her sleep of death and her family and friends were happy again.
   
2. He responded to the voices that said “Son of David have mercy on me” and right there and then the blind was made to see.
   
3. The man sick with the palsy was told to take up his bed and walk.
   
4. Thing of the joy the family of the leper experienced when their skin was healed.
   
5. When they multitude were hungry Jesus ensure that they were fed.

The people felt safe to bring their troubles to Jesus Christ, for they knew instead of a hard ears Jesus had tender ears: he was willing to listen to their troubles, they knew that he had a heart of love, for he harbored no bad thought against anyone not even the rich young ruler who rejected Jesus’ offer to become a disciple and follow him or the wicked church leaders who plotted and later killed him. They knew that he had lips of compassion for he speak tenderly and he speak to the need of the people, they knew that he has hands empathy for he gave, he healed, and he showed love to all he came into contact with.

Even when Jesus rebuked the hypocrite he did so out of a heart of love and to inform his followers what to look out for if they ought not to be deceived and lose their souls. Jesus concerned himself with bringing comfort to the comfortless, help to the helpless, healing to the sick, love to the unloved, understanding to the missunderstood and salvation to every sinners. This should be the mission of the church, to teach the thou shall not base on the thus said the lord: the bible.