When I was nineteen years old, I moved to Oklahoma to attend Bible college.
I remember hearing the phrase “broke college student” frequently throughout my college years and I always had a problem with that phrase. I repelled the phrase.
As the old saying goes, if I was rubber and the person saying it was glue, the phrase would bounce off of me and stick to them.
Many would joke around about their grocery list as a ‘broke college student’ being ramen noodles and eggs. But my conviction was that I would NOT be a worldly statistic. First off, I did not even like Ramen noodles because they are HIGHLY unhealthy due to the massive amounts of sodium and preservatives.
Secondly, I knew the scripture 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself” therefore, I did not want to dishonor God by eating unhealthy food.
For the record, if you eat Ramen noodles, I am not saying you’re sinning. Choose not to be offended and continue reading because it will be worth your while.
I frequently thought to myself, “How would a rich person eat?” They would have chicken, salmon, steak, fresh veggies, and fresh fruit. Therefore, I envisioned myself in the kitchen cooking and eating these items with my roommates as RICH college students.
My conviction was wealth, not poverty. Therefore, my heart was set that I would eat like a wealthy person.
One day when I was reading my Bible, I came across a scripture that confirmed to me why I always repelled adopting "broke college student" to my identity. That scripture was 2 Corinthians 8:9 which said, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake, He became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
As I read that scripture, it was as if a light bulb went off in my mind and gratitude rose within my heart. I read the scripture again. And again. And again. With tears welling up in my eyes and gratitude multiplying in my heart, I had evidence for my conviction!
God’s Word confirmed my conviction of prosperity!
The Word of God is the will of God therefore, it was HIS WILL, not just my own, to adopt to my identity prosperity and wealth; even in the manifestation of food. God was the one responsible for enabling a shield on my heart and mind to rebuke the ignorant, ‘broke college student’ stereotypes.
To clarify, I am not denying contentment. Contentment is applicable and biblical but, the context of this scripture is not referring to contentment. So please, do not misunderstand me. Rather, receive God’s shalom as your identity and live in the completeness, wholeness, peace, soundness, and prosperity that God brings to a believer in Jesus Christ.
God IS prosperity. He IS wealth. Psalm 50:10 says, “Every animal of field and forest belongs to me, the Creator. I know every movement of the birds in the sky, and every animal of the field is in my thoughts. The entire world and everything it contains is mine.”
God owns everything. He doesn’t owe anyone money and He’s not in debt to anyone. Therefore, He trumps the ‘wealthiest’ person in the world, who currently is Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon.
According to Revelation 21:21, Heaven is paved with streets of gold and one gate is made from an entire pearl, “The twelve gates are twelve pearls—each gate made of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, clear as crystal.”
Now that is some serious wealth. Therefore, God is not lacking, nor will He ever lack in the prosperity department.
How is this relevant to you?
2 Corinthians 8:9 reveals that though Jesus (who is God) was rich, for YOUR SAKE became poor so that through His poverty YOU might become rich. Jesus became poor in every way, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, financially and physically, so that through His poverty, YOU could become rich spiritually, mentally, emotionally, financially and physically.
How?
Through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is grace?
A simple definition of God’s grace is undeserved favor.
We don’t deserve spiritual, mental, emotional, physical or financial prosperity.
Why not?
Romans 3:23 tells us, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
Every one of us has sinned, thus disqualifying ourselves from shalom (spiritual wholeness, mental soundness, physical and emotional peace, and financial prosperity).
That is why it is through the UNDESERVED FAVOR of Jesus Christ that we inherit God’s prosperity.
Another word for favor would be love. It is through the undeserved love of Jesus Christ that we inherit God’s prosperity.
How do we inherit God’s prosperity?
By believing in and receiving the undeserved favor and love of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
John 1:12 and 13 says, “But to all who believed him (Jesus) and accepted him (Jesus), he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”
The Bible calls believing in and receiving the undeserved favor and love of God as becoming born-again.
If you have never believed and received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior but would like to, say this prayer out loud:
“Heavenly Father, I believe in my heart Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe Jesus died for my sins. God, I’m sorry for all my sins and I ask you to forgive me. I believe that you raised Jesus from the dead and I say with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Now I am saved, I have chosen life and I am Heaven bound. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”
Now you are spiritually born of God. He is your Father now and you are His child according to 1 John 3:1, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”
Since God is your Father, you have inherited His wealth as a child of God. What is His is yours, and what is yours is His now. You have it better than Prince Charles of the UK! The ‘riches’ of the Royal Family are pennies in comparison to your inheritance as a child of God!
1 Peter 1:3 and 4, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”
In order to receive an inheritance, one must be blood related. Your blood relation to God is the blood of Jesus! If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you have been washed and cleansed of all your sins by the blood of Jesus! You are BLOOD-related to God through Jesus Christ!
1 John 1:7, “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
A son or daughter receives their inheritance upon the death of their parents/guardian. You have received God’s inheritance upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Therefore, your Heavenly Father’s prosperity, wealth, and increase is YOURS! You don’t have to rely on this world's system to provide for your spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, or financial needs because you are not of this world!
You are born of Heaven therefore, rely on Heaven’s endless supply and system of prosperity!
Philippians 3:20, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.”
Heaven will never go bankrupt! You have a secured inheritance in Christ. Don’t put your trust into the world's strategies of obtaining wealth, rather, place your trust in the Kingdom and system of Heaven because your Heavenly Father promises to meet all of your needs from His supply of riches!
Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”