Many years ago, there was a ruler who had a dream.  In the dream God asked him: “Ask whatever you want me to give you.”  The ruler replied: “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around.  And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted!  Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”  God said to him, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—  I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”  This story is found in I Kings chapter three and II Chronicles chapter one about King Solomon.

If the typical Christian had the same dream today how many would have requested security?  Would we want to be protected from harm, not worry financially and have good health?  Others may request fame, power and a successful career.  Wouldn’t it be better to have the mind of Christ and heavenly wisdom?  If we could only see everything through the eyes of Christ and see life from God’s viewpoint we would probably make different decisions.  Would it not be better to understand God’s ways which are different from the ways of the world?

What have we made the most important things in our lives?  Is our mind still on the things of the world or do we have the same mindset as Christ?  We are to imitate Christ in how we live.  How many believe they have reached that point?  Actually, if we are spiritually mature we would say none of us.  Yet, this is what we are told we must do, is to develop the “mind” of Christ and the wisdom that comes with it.

We know if Christ were in our place God would be first, family second, others third and then the career would follow.  How many Christians really place God first and truly trust Him?  We can judge ourselves by our love for Him, are we committed, obedient to Christ’s teaching such as tithing, serving, etc.  How about our families?  Do we spend time with them doing things as a family?  Too many guys put jobs or careers first and playing golf or another hobby or spending time elsewhere.  The family gets whatever time is leftover and that is not always quality time.  It is difficult to change from having a worldly and selfish mind to having a mindset as Christ.

Visions, ideas and a complete confidence can bring prosperity.  Wouldn’t you want the wisdom that only God can provide?  Many Christians have never learned the rules or put into practice what the Bible teaches.  You may have attended church all of your life but even if you know some of the rules you have never really put them into practice.  You may wonder why you are not prosperous or why there isn’t more joy and peace in your life.  If you know the rules and put them into practice you realize there are a lot of things you really do not need.  As a good steward you would always earn more money than you spend.  How much money do you need to feel prosperous?  Could it depend on how much you trust God to meet your daily needs?

God wants every one of us to live by His rules because they are able to provide what is missing in every non-believers heart.  He also knows that if we reach a spiritual understanding and spread it to others everywhere, it will make life as He has always wanted for everyone He has created.

James 1:5 – 6 – “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”

Do you realize most unhappy people are those who are wealthy?  Having prosperity without the wisdom to handle it properly can lead to being unsatisfied, stressed and unhappy.  According to Scripture a person’s career, finances, power or fame can only bring temporary satisfaction.  Anytime God is not first in a person’s life pride can screw life up.  Only God can give us the wisdom to manage what we have the best.

What I have learned from so many older people.  Those who have become prosperous have spent much of their lives planning for the future.  When they get this much they will buy this.  When they get more they will do something different.  They have big plans for what they will do in retirement.  Some never make retirement and some do not have the health to do what was planned once they retire. God’s ways are to have a balance in life.  That only comes when we put God first and we have the heavenly wisdom to know how to live life from God’s viewpoint.