Psalm 66:8-12
Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept our soul among the living
and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the net;
you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
12 you let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
The gist of the prosperity gospel is that if you give your money to God, then he will reward you with riches. There have been many people, tired of their poverty and trial, that have given all they had to gain jets for the TV preacher. Here the psalmist, most likely David, knows whereof he speaks. He faced a lion, a bear, a giant named Goliath, a king named Saul, and his son Absalom,in addition to many armies. And yet…
David could say that God brought him through it all. God did not make David’s life easy. He tested him on the run and let David’s sin bring dire consequences for his family and the nation. And yet, God blessed him. There is no prosperity gospel. There is a grace gospel, in which we trust in the Lord the way David did, worshiping him for his mercy and forgiveness of sins. No matter how much we give or do for the Lord, these trials will come. And yet, he is faithful. He will never leave you, but will bring you to abundance.
O Heavenly Father, thank you that our abundance is your gift, not our reward. Help us to trust in you in our trials today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.