Walking in Truth Prosperity

Evaluating 2023 and Thinking About 2024

At the end of the year, it is a wise person who looks back. The purpose of this is to be honest about what was done that matters and that will last. I’m not referring to big accomplishments, although those may be a part of the review. Rather, I am thinking about the small day-to-day decisions, conversations, gifts, efforts, and focus of life. At the end of the year, I encourage you to look back.

But looking back is only half of the equation. The other half has to do with looking forward. What is it that you and I should desire for 2024? For some it might be retirement. For others it may be a wedding. It could be some financial goal, or it could be something related to health and personal care. But perhaps the most important thing is the thing we tend to ignore. It has to do with the wellness of our souls.

The disciple John wrote the following to a dear friend in his third epistle. He told Gaius what he was praying for regarding his future. He said, “The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:1-4

Walking in Truth

Notice that John is encouraged that Gaius has a life focused on truth and that his life walk was one of the pinnacles of joy for John. It wasn’t his financial prosperity that was of primary concern. Rather, it was the hope that his physical health would be as good as his soul’s health. He was also praying that “all may go well with you” as well, again as connected to the wellness of his soul. This is connected to knowing and living the truth. What is our purpose? What is the most important part of life?

Alistair Begg Devotional

As I have been thinking about these things, I read Alistair Begg’s devotional, as I usually do each morning. He talked about 3 John 1:2. Some of the sentences in the devotional jumped out as I read his words of reminder and encouragement.

“Does God desire that you prosper? Does He want you to succeed? Does He want you to do well?”

The answer to this question is “yes.” But we need to define prosperity from a biblical perspective. Prosperity in health, wealth, and the other things everyone desires is not the highest form of prosperity. Alistair reminds us that “God is not our personal vending machine, Jesus Christ is not our butler, and the Holy Spirit is not our genie. God has not promised us that faith leads to health and wealth in this world.”

He also shares this important reminder: “Perhaps we might even say that it is only insofar as we prosper spiritually that we can genuinely prosper in any other way. In the words of our Lord Jesus, ‘What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?’ (Mark 8:36). Your portfolio can burst at the seams, and you can have the endurance of a triathlete, but unless your soul is fit, then your monetary and physical prosperity amounts to nothing in the end.”

Jesus came that it might be well with my soul and your soul. But there is a response that is required. The Apostle John tells us why he wrote his gospel. He said this: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31

Our Souls

Part of my 2023 review is regarding my soul. Is it well with my soul? There is a well-loved hymn that has the title “It is Well With My Soul.” It was written by a man who had just lost his daughters.

“It Is Well with My Soul” is a hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. Spafford wrote this beautiful hymn as a testament to the salvation he found in Jesus through the good and bad times in life. How blessed it is that even in times of hardship and sorrow we can look to Christ and say, “It is well with my soul.” – SOURCE

Reviewing 2023 and Setting 2024 Goals

If the Lord allows me to enter 2024, I hope to write some more about 2023 and then what I have for 2024 goals. Understand that my goals will include spiritual, personal, and financial in light of “It is well with my soul.”

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.

It Is Well With My Soul LINK

Katy Nichole – “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” (Official Music Video)