[3 John 1:1-7 KJV] “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. [2] Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. [3] For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. [4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. [5] Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; [6] Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: [7] Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles”.
In 3 John 1:2, it is the desire of the apostle John that we would prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper. It is important to state clearly that this desire will only remain a wish, until we arise to engage with the truth.
1. The first secret to prosperity and health is to walk in the truth:
There are many in these last days who suppose that gain is godliness. I pray that each of us would rather determine to walk in the truth than to be rich. The greatest joy of every pastor is to find his church members walking in the truth. Proverbs 4:21-22 teaches that the word of God is health and healing to the naval, bone, and marrow of those who find it. The word of God heals and is a source of health.
2. The second secret is to be faithful at whatever your hands have found
Faithfulness and loyalty is the secret to true riches, to your own business, and much more. The apostle admonished the church to do whatever they do faithfully. The Bible tells us that he that is faithful in little shall be trusted with much; he that is faithful in that which is another man’s shall be trusted with his own; and he that is faithful with unholy mammon shall be trusted with true riches.
3. The third secret is to work hard;
Hard work pays, especially when you work with wisdom and skill. The Bible tells us that whatsoever our hands have found to do, we should do it with all of our might. The harder we work with wisdom under the grace, the greater the profit.
4. The fourth is to trade value for value:
When the master was traveling, he said, occupy till I come. And the Bible says, they traded with the capital. Money answers all things under heaven.
[Ecclesiastes 10:19 KJV] “A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things” .
It is important to trade value for value.
5. The fifth secret is to plan your spending:
Be frugal with money. Those who create wealth are frugal with their resources. Frugality is the master word. The riotous eater of flesh and wine bibber, and a friend of a harlot is a great waster.
[Proverbs 23:20-21 KJV] “Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: [21] For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags”.
They shall come to poverty, all that love oil and perfume.
[Proverbs 21:17 KJV] “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich”.
Frugality is the secret to prosperity and increase.
6. The sixth secret is to bring your tithes and offerings into the storehouse of God:
Tithing is a spiritual thing. It is that act of worship that;
- Moves God to open the heavens.
- Moves God to rebuke the devourer that scatter our fruits.
- Moves nations to favour us and call us a delightsome nation. (Malachi 3:10-12)
A tithe is a tenth of your increase. It is an act of worship and an acknowledgement that God is partner with you in your finances and in your career. We tithe to acknowledge that God is the source of our increase, and our helper. Tithing is part of worship. We don’t tithe in fulfilment of any law, but as an act of worship; and God blesses us as a result.
Under the New Testament, we are redeemed from the curse of the law but not from the wisdom it teaches. The fact that I am redeemed from the curse of the law does not mean I should have sex with my father’s wife. We have been redeemed from the curse of the law, but we must walk in the steps of faith of our father Abraham.
“And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised”. [Romans 4:12 KJV]
The apostle was exhorting Gaius to give to the missionaries and support the work of God. It is my prayer that God will rebuke the devourers. I pray for everyone of you, that you will prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers. I pray that all those that walk in the truth shall do well. May God be your defence and help. Be blessed!
I love you;
