Good morning. It’s Friday, February 6th, aka National Bubble Gum Day.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Job 42:7

The prosperity gospel is everywhere. Social media is full of it. It’s easy to get sucked into. It’s easy to preach. And it’s even easy to back up with Bible verses.

So what is the prosperity gospel?

And what does the Bible actually say about it?

The Bible never specifically uses the term “prosperity gospel.” You won’t find that phrase word for word anywhere in Scripture. But that doesn’t mean the idea isn’t there. The Bible talks about it clearly, and it debunks it.

The prosperity gospel is the idea that the gospel is a map to prosperity. It almost treats obedience and faith like a one-for-one trade for blessing.

The Bible doesn’t say that.

The book of Job is one of the clearest places this shows up. Job is described as “blameless and upright” (Job 1:1). God Himself affirms this, saying, “There is no one on earth like him” (Job 1:8). Before anything bad happens, Job’s faith is already established. And yet Job loses everything. His suffering wasn’t punishment. It wasn’t because of a lack of faith. God allows it anyway.

Job’s friends respond by basically preaching the prosperity gospel. One of them asks, “Who, being innocent, has ever perished?” (Job 4:7). Another says, “If you were pure and upright, even now he would rouse himself on your behalf” (Job 8:6). Their assumption is clear. Faithfulness leads to blessing. Suffering must mean failure. But at the end of the book, God tells them, “You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7).

This doesn’t mean prosperity doesn’t exist in the gospel. It does. There is prosperity, and there is suffering. The Bible shows both.

Think of it like this.

The prosperity gospel is like listening to that weatherman who’s always wrong. He always predicts it’s going to be sunny and 75. Sometimes he’s right. Sometimes he’s wrong. There are sunny days, and there are rainy days.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: God, You are faithful and true.

Confession: Forgive us for wanting faith to control outcomes.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for Your honesty and presence in every season.

Supplication: Help us trust You in both sunny days and rainy days.

In Jesus name, Amen

“Lord I Give You My heart” by GT Worship

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God