And So He Prospered

“He sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” 2 Chronicles 31:21

Hezekiah, about whom this verse is written, was one of the godliest kings of Judah. He restored much of the temple and Passover practices, motivated out of deep devotion to God. This verse sums all it up by telling us that he prospered as a result of this wholehearted love.

Success and prosperity are subjects that conjure up so many images it is difficult to talk about them without a bit of definition. If we did a free-association test by asking people what they thought of immediately upon hearing the word “success”, we might not be surprised. Words like “fame”, “money”, “popularity”, “cars” or “power” would probably be among the list. It is not surprising, then, that many people have a tough time understanding what it means for God to prosper someone.

There is no doubt that Hezekiah won many wars, accumulated riches, and had great power. These are all a result of his obedience to God. But, other kings had accumulated riches as well; so we can’t assume that God means for us to equate financial success with His view of prosperity. In fact, Hezekiah “prospered” so much materially, that God had to bring him down a notch when he began to boast and be proud of all of “his” accomplishments.

Yes, success and prosperity are tricky concepts. Extreme poverty, or even voluntary poverty, are not necessarily examples of God’s definition of prosperity either. Even though someone gives all they have, without love, even that sacrifice is nothing according to 1 Corinthians 13. Though riches may accompany a godly person, and another may be dirt poor and still be deeply devoted to God, we cannot measure a person’s prosperity based upon their bank account.

For the purposes of this short blog, I think prosperity is a deep inward contentment with a person’s present relationship with God. Hezekiah did many things that pleased God. The first part of this verse tells us he did everything in accordance with the Law and the commands. But I’m not sure it is the deeds that God is rewarding; I believe it is the “wholehearted” nature of his work that pleased God.

Hezekiah worked for God from his heart, not from a sense of duty. It is like a mother who cares for her children, providing for them to the best level possible because of her love. Love performs the most burdensome duties with all its heart, especially if they benefit the one it love more than itself. A mother may hold her sick child late into the night, rocking him and soothing him without complaint because of love.

I think we would call that mother prosperous. It wouldn’t matter if she lived in a mansion, was a servant in that mansion or dwelt in a third-world hut; the love expressed to her children is prosperity without measure. So it is in our service to God. From the beginning God has asked for a love relationship with mankind. His first command is well-known, that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Jesus added that the second was similar; that we love our neighbor as ourselves. The Apostle Paul wrote that love is the fulfillment of the law.

So, near the end of his life, we see King Hezekiah prospering greatly. His prosperity is a direct result of his wholehearted devotion to God. Seeking Him in love, he found as many ways possible to express that love. He acted, not because of religious bondage or pride, but from the freedom of love.

What if we looked at the work God has provided us with the same passion as this king? What if the Creator of the stars and space asked us directly, “Will you do this for Me?” What if, because we loved Him so dearly, our immediate response was, “Yes, no matter the cost.” Hardship or aversion fade in the background as devotion to Jesus takes center stage.

When we love someone, we stay up all night talking to them. Or, if they are gone, we wait up all night until they return. We want to see them every moment of the day. We want to hear from them, and we want to tell them everything about ourselves. We do things for our beloved we would do for no one else. In fact, the deeper love grows; it is the “less than romantic” actions that prove our love. We once brought flowers, now we rub her aching feet. She once wrote him poetry, now she holds his hand as he faces the next round of chemotherapy.

Love has great power. It is the power the created the universe, that sustains all life, and that renewed the relationship of humankind with God Himself. It is also what makes the soul, once impoverished with no aim or direction, now prosperous in devotion to the God who gave all.