JANUARY 24: “BENEFITS OF INTIMACY WITH GOD: THE SECRET OF PROSPERITY”

One of the pictures the scriptures consistently revealed to us about God is that our God is a good God who wants all His children to prosper. John the beloved in his epistles to believers revealed this intention of God to us: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3John:2). However, the prosperity believers will experience in life and ministry is a direct function of their intimacy with God.

This truth is further revealed in our text today. Joseph was a young man who must have had a good ambition and vision for his life. However, he suffered hatred, cruelty and wickedness from his half-brothers. His brothers sold him to Egypt as slave in the house of an Egyptian officer named Potiphar. Nevertheless, as a slave, he had a very good, personal, intimate and functional relationship with God to the extent that it was evident to Potiphar and his household. When God is with a man, his societal status becomes irrelevant. Although Joseph was a young man and a slave, the Lord was with him.

Have you ever asked yourself what the scripture means when it says that Joseph was a prosperous man? Is it in terms of human currency or accumulation of properties here and there? I want to believe that Joseph did not have millions of dollars, but he had unhindered access to the presence of the One who owns everything both in heaven and on earth. He probably may not have many clothes and shoes to wear, yet the bible said he was prosperous. This makes us understand that, having a deep intimacy with God is the secret of prosperity in God’s kingdom. Joseph eventually became the prime minister of Egypt from age 30 until he died at the ripe age of 110. What prosperity indeed!

Beloved, how will you describe your personal relationship with Christ – cordial, fluctuating, routine and boring, strong and progressive? A man with a cordial relationship with God cannot be stranded in life. Joseph understood this secret and he was so committed to this course. No wonder, no scheme of man or power of hell could hold him back from fulfilling destiny. In this New Year, yield yourself to the Lord and seek Him more intimately. Please note again that your prosperity in life and destiny is a direct function of your intimacy with God. May the Lord strengthen your feet in this New Year in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to develop a personal, cordial, intimate and progressive relationship with you. Deliver me from anything that distracts my relationship with you, Amen.