Last time we looked at the first three helps for the season of prosperity. Flavel taught we are to remember that (1) “Few, very few of those that live in the pleasures of this world, escape everlasting perdition,” (2) “It may keep one more humble and watchful in prosperity, to consider that among Christians many have been much the worse for it,” and (3) “God values no man by outward excellencies, but by inward graces.” Many profess to be saved who have their hearts captivated by worldly pleasures. We ought to be sober-minded because we know that prosperity can come as a trap for many, many Christians, who suffer greatly for it. And it is not wealth or anything of the world that pleases God, regardless of what we do with it, but a heart after God that is obedient and humble before Him. In the end, keeping the heart is all that matters to Him.
Here are three more helps for seasons of prosperity.
4.) Consider how bitterly many dying persons have bewailed their folly in setting their hearts upon these things, and have wished that they had never known them. How dreadful was the situation of Pius Quintus, who died crying out despairingly, “When I was in a low condition I had some hopes of salvation; when I was advanced to be a cardinal, I greatly doubted; but since I came to the popedom I have no hope at all.” An author also tells us a real, but sad story of a rich oppressor, who had scraped up a great estate for his only son: when he came to die he called his son to him, and said, “Son, do you indeed love me?” The son answered that “Nature, besides his paternal indulgence, obliged him to that.” “Then,” said the father, “express it by this: hold thy finger in the candle as long as I am saying a prayer.” The son attempted, but could not endure it. Upon that the father broke out into these expressions: “Thou canst not suffer the burning of thy finger for me; but to get this wealth I have hazarded my soul for thee, and must burn, body and soul, in hell, for thy sake; thy pains would have been but for a moment, but mine will be unquenchable fire.”
It is so easy to go through life thinking that we can, at a later time, pursue the things of God; when we see ourselves giving up the sinful lifestyles that we now embrace, and when we make those difficult, but godly, choices that we have perhaps been thinking about for some time. I can tell you now that such a future time will never come to those who put it off and put it off. Here is a translation of what such people are saying to God: ‘I hear that you are good, God, and that is all well and good, but what I really treasure is what is before me. Why can’t I just be happy with where I am now?’ Treating God as though He were a burden or as though following Him would take away your peace, happiness, or joy is not only a big lie; it is treating God with contempt: as something to be hated and despised, with much lesser things being preferable to Him. Whatever our present idol(s), they entail the demotion and contemptuous treatment of God. And this realization ought to cause us great regret: a life spent pursuing the pleasure, entertainment, and riches of prosperity is a terrible and contemptuous life indeed. And you do not need to be rich at all to do this! Even the materially poor lust after such things. For us now who wish to put off the keeping of the heart, we are no different than the one dying in regret except for one thing: the one dying knows of his imminent death, while we remain ignorant of our day. Such folly! We can die tomorrow! Heed the words of Christ: “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. But if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come against you” (Rev. 3:3). The Christian strives as though each day were his last. To look to some future time when we may turn from our wickedness is to be as one who gets drunk on the world’s excesses and forgets that Christ is coming in judgement. Such a one will be caught unaware, and “must burn, body and soul, in hell.” Set your hearts, then, on God, and live a life that you will never regret. Keep those who put off growing in holiness and repenting from wickedness as examples to avoid, remembering that every moment we spend on earth is precious to God for our service.
5.) The heart may be kept humble by considering of what a clogging nature earthly things are to a soul heartily engaged in the way to heaven. They shut out much of heaven from us at present, though they may not shut us out of heaven at last. If thou consider thyself as a stranger in this world, traveling for heaven, thou hast then as much reason to be delighted with these things as a weary horse has to be pleased with a heavy burden. There was a serious truth in the atheistical scoff of Julian when taking away the Christians’ estates, he told them “it was to make them more fit for the kingdom of heaven.”
For those keeping the heart in obedience, the distractions of earthly things from God serves to stifle, clutter, and corrupt our blessed communion with Him. That is, when our hearts go after other things, things not subjected unto God, these distractions nullify our effectiveness and potency in the kingdom of God. There is a reason why the Bible teaches that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective! Such a one is set upon the things of God! But one distracted by worldly things is one whose allegiance is divided. Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:22-23). The word translated “good” is literally “single,” referring here to singularity of allegiance and loyalty. The idea is that one who is singularly loyal to God is good and full of light, while one whose eye (referring to the desire and will, much like the heart) is dark is one whose loyalty is in the very least divided, which is why Christ said in the next verse, “No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money” (“money” here refers to anything desired of the heart other than God). Giving in to distractions of the heart then shows mixed loyalty! No wonder it stifles and clogs our spiritual life! Remembering this truth can help us to remain humble and watchful for these distractions.
6.) Is thy spirit still vain and lofty? Then urge upon it the consideration of that awful day of reckoning, wherein, according to our receipts of mercies, shall be our account for them. Methinks this should awe and humble the vainest heart that ever was in the breast of a saint. Know for a certainty that the Lord records all the mercies that ever he gave thee, from the beginning to the end of thy life. “Remember, O my people, from Shittim unto Gilgal,” &c. Yes, they are exactly numbered and recorded in order to an account; and thy account will be suitable: “To whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required.” You are but a steward, and your Lord will come and take an account of you; and what a great account have you to make, who have much of this world in your hands! What swift witnesses will your mercies be against you, if this be the best fruit of them!
We are but stewards of all we possess, be it things, our relationships, our children, our family, or our time. Nothing that we have now is in any capacity outside the present ownership of God. What, then, are we doing with all of this wealth and prosperity? For prosperity is not just limited to things, even as God Himself calls for our loyalty to Him in all. Loyalty to God is recognizing that all we are, and everything we have, is God’s, and entails striving to live as good stewards of those things in Him and for Him. That is our duty, and God has amply supplied us with the means of doing so. Our assignment is to do with such things what our Master desires. That is our life. And what a life it is! So, we will better keep our hearts when we remember that we are His stewards, and that nothing we have is truly ours.
Next week we will be looking at one more help for the season of prosperity: observing the lives of believers whose circumstances emboldened and strengthened their hearts upon God.