Beware Prosperity!
I apologize for being so sporadic recently with the Closer to Christ blogs. I’ve been so embroiled in a book launch and such a heavy speaking schedule this fall (it’s like the post-Covid dam has broken and I’m on the road more than ever). This week we’re taking a break from William Law’s book summary, because I want to feature an amazing section from John Owen (1616-1683) and his classic book Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of It. This section stopped me cold this morning and reminded me of why I love spending time in the Christian classics. The “prosperity Gospel” was, and in some places, still is all the rage on television. Yet John Owen explains how prosperity is particularly dangerous for believers. What follows is all him, with a few abridgements (he writes in an old style).
“A season of unusual outward prosperity is usually accompanied with an hour of temptation. Prosperity and temptation go together; yea, prosperity is a temptation, many temptations, and that because without eminent supplies of grace it is apt to cast a soul into a frame and temper exposed to any temptation, and provides it with fuel and food for all. It has provision for lust and darts for Satan.”
“The wise man tells us that the ‘prosperity of fools destroys them’ (Prov. 1:32). It hardens them in their way, makes them despise instructions, and puts the evil day (whose terror should influence them into moral improvement) far from them. Without a special assistance, it has an inconceivably malignant influence on believers themselves. Hence Agur prays against riches because of the temptation that attends them: ‘Lest,’ says he, ‘I be full and deny you, and say, Who is the Lord?’ (Prov. 30:8-9)—lest, being filled with them, he should forget the Lord; as God complains that his people did (Hosea 13:6)…”
“As, then, unto a prosperous condition. I shall not contradict Solomon’s counsel, ‘In the day of prosperity rejoice’ (Ecc. 7:14). Rejoice in the God of your mercies who does you good in his patience and forbearance, notwithstanding all your unworthiness. Yet I may add to it, from the same foundation of wisdom, ‘Consider,’ also, lest evil lie at the door. A man in that state is in the midst of snares. Satan has many advantages against him; he forges darts out of all his enjoyments; and, if he watch not, he will be entangled before he is aware.”
“You want that which should poise and ballast your heart. Formality in religion will be apt to creep upon you; and that lays the soul open to all temptations in their full power and strength. Satisfaction and delight in creature-comforts, the poison of the soul, will be apt to grow upon you. In such a time be vigilant, be circumspect (attentive and cautious) or you will be surprised. Job says that in his affliction ‘God made his heart soft’ (Job 23:16). There is a hardness, an uncomprehending lack of spiritual sense, gathered in prosperity, that, if not watched against, will expose the heart to the deceits of sin and baits of Satan. ‘Watch and pray’ in this season. Many men’s negligence in it has cost them dear; their woeful experience cries out to take heed. Blessed is he that fears always, but especially in a time of prosperity.”
So, it’s not a sin to be prosperous; just recognize that it is a heavy spiritual challenge as much as it is an earthly blessing. If you’d like to read this book in its entirety and for yourself (which would be a good thing to do), I highly recommend the edition edited by Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor, HERE. (Gary Thomas is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Church Source Affiliates Program, advertising programs designed to provide a means for Gary to earn fees through customized links to these sites.) They’ve done a fabulous job making this book more accessible to modern readers.
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