The prosperity gospel, also known as the health and wealth gospel or the gospel of success, is a controversial theological belief among some Protestant Christians. It claims that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for Christians, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth and health. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans, in which God is required to bless followers financially and physically in return for their faith and commitment to God.
The prosperity gospel movement originated in the United States in the late 19th century within certain denominations and grew in popularity during the mid-20th century. It became especially popular within Pentecostal and charismatic churches. Prominent leaders and proponents of prosperity theology include E.W. Kenyon, Oral Roberts, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Frederick K.C. Price, Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Creflo Dollar, and Joyce Meyer. However, many orthodox Christian teachers and leaders have strongly condemned this theology as unbiblical, harmful, and exploitative.
What does the Bible actually teach about prosperity and material wealth? A comprehensive examination of Scripture reveals that the prosperity gospel represents a departure from authentic Christian teaching.
Wealth is Meaningless Without God
According to Scripture, material wealth means nothing without a relationship with God. King Solomon, reputed to be the richest man who ever lived, concluded that wealth apart from God is meaningless:
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
Jesus himself taught that life does not consist in an abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15). He frequently instructed that discipleship may require divesting oneself of material wealth for the sake of God’s kingdom (Matthew 19:16-26). And he warned that wealth can be a spiritual hindrance, keeping people from entering heaven (Matthew 19:23-24). The Bible clearly presents material wealth as secondary to a saving relationship with God.
Wealth Should be Used Responsibly
While Scripture does not condemn wealth per se, it does warn against the irresponsible use of money and material possessions. Wealth is to be acquired and managed ethically, avoiding sinful greed and selfish indulgence (Proverbs 11:4; 28:20). The Bible calls on the wealthy to be generous and willing to share (1 Timothy 6:17-18), not reveling in luxury while others suffer need (James 5:1-6; 1 John 3:17-18). Believers should not put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth (1 Timothy 6:17), but be rich in good works, generosity, and sharing (1 Timothy 6:18). Responsible stewardship, not lavish lifestyles or hoarding, is the biblical model for financial blessing.
Poverty is Not Necessarily a Sign of God’s Disfavor
A major falsehood propagated by prosperity gospel preachers is that poverty, illness, and suffering are signs of God’s disapproval or spiritual weakness. However, Scripture makes clear that faithful believers may undergo all kinds of trials in this life, including economic hardship:
…strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)
Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul knew severe want and need (2 Corinthians 8:9; 11:27). And Job’s unimaginable suffering had nothing to do with personal sin or lack of faith. Nowhere does the Bible guarantee freedom from affliction as part of the salvation package. In fact, Paul states that followers of Christ will in fact suffer (2 Timothy 3:12). A gospel of health and wealth contradicts clear biblical teaching.
Giving is Rewarded, But Must Be Sincere and Sacrificial
While the prosperity gospel says God will multiply any gifts made to religious causes, the Bible teaches that financial giving must be done from pure motives to be blessed:
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
This verse and others make clear that God does not wish for gifts that are coerced or given grudgingly out of a desire for personal gain. Anything given out of impure motives misses the point of compassion, generosity, and dependence on God.
Additionally, the promise in 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 that God will multiply the seed sown to increase the harvest of righteousness refers primarily to the spiritual fruit of giving, not material reward. God blesses sincere generosity from the heart that reflects care for others over selfish desires. There is no biblical guarantee of material return on monetary gifts given to ministry causes. Prosperity theology twists core biblical principles about generosity.
Faith Pleases God, Not Material Prosperity
According to prosperity thinking, God grants health and wealth to those who have enough faith. But the Bible teaches that God is pleased by faith itself, not the material prosperity that may or may not result from it:
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
This verse and many others reveal that God responds to faith itself, regardless of the observable outcome. In fact, Hebrews 11 upholds faithful believers who remained destitute and powerless in this life. Faith trusts God despite unfulfilled desires for earthly blessings.
God’s Will Sometimes Involves Suffering
A core error of the prosperity gospel is teaching that God’s will is always to relieve suffering and provide financial blessing. But Scripture is clear that God’s will sometimes involves allowing suffering for purposes we do not understand:
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4:19)
God’s foremost desire is not our immediate physical health and material prosperity, but our transformation into Christ’s image (Romans 8:29). He works all things, pleasant or painful, toward his ultimate purpose of conforming us to Christ (Romans 8:28). Sometimes God’s will involves great anguish, extended illness, or economic disaster. The Bible never presents freedom from suffering as his overriding concern for our lives.
Jesus is Our Truest Good, Not Material Success
The core deception of prosperity theology is a distorted view of the Christian’s highest good. The Bible consistently presents Jesus as our greatest treasure and reward, not material prosperity:
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:7-8)
Scripture instructs us to find greatest joy in Christ and relationship with him, not in money, comfort, or earthly success. Jesus frequently warned his followers against valuing worldly wealth and status over him as our supreme good (Matthew 6:19-21; 13:22). He offers the invincible joy and treasure of knowing God, not financial gain or comfort.
God Will Supply Our Needs
While the prosperity gospel focuses on material abundance, Jesus actually promises something else – that God will supply basic necessities:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
Rather than wealth and luxury, Christ assures provision of our fundamental needs like food, clothing, and shelter. And Paul reiterates this promise to supply for material necessities (Philippians 4:19). Of course, sometimes God allows even basic needs to go unmet, usually for purposes of eternal reward (Hebrews 11:37-38). But Scripture does not promise automatic wealth and health. It guarantees God’s providence of basic needs.
Stewardship View, Not Prosperity View
When examined comprehensively, the Bible promotes a stewardship view of material possessions, not a prosperity view. Wealth is a tool to glorify God and serve others, not a personal reward to indulge in selfish pleasures. Suffering can have profound purposes in the Christian’s spiritual development. And God promises provision for core necessities, not abundant wealth and comfort. Scripture condemns the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10), criticizes self-indulgent luxury (James 5:5), and warns against financial pride (1 Timothy 6:17). Its consistent principles clashing drastically with prosperity gospel emphases.
Beware of Greed and Deception
The Bible contains serious warnings about greed, pride, and the desire for riches. Jesus himself stated, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). He constantly admonished against greed and the desire for wealth (Luke 12:15; Matthew 6:19-21). Scripture cautions that those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Prosperity gospel teachings can easily draw believers into greed, promotion of self, and even exploitation of others in pursuit of their own material enrichment, away from the biblical model of self-denial and radical generosity.
Summary of Biblical Balance
In summary, Scripture advocates the following balanced principles for navigating wealth and material possessions:
- Wealth is temporary and inferior to one’s relationship with God
- Followers of Christ should avoid greed and selfish indulgence
- Poverty is not necessarily a sign of God’s disfavor or spiritual deficiency
- Christians should give generously and from a sincere heart, more focused on stewardship than personal benefit
- Faith in God pleases Him; material prosperity does not prove spiritual vitality
- Suffering has profound spiritual purposes that we often cannot understand
- Jesus, not material wealth, is our greatest source of joy and life’s ultimate treasure
- God can sometimes supply abundant resources, but promises at minimum provision of basic needs
This balanced biblical theology stands in stark contrast and opposition to the exaggerated claims of the prosperity gospel. The Bible clearly condemns greed, discourages materialism, and challenges believers to sacrificial generosity. Its consistent focus is eternal priorities over temporary earthly blessing. Nowhere does Scripture guarantee material prosperity in this life for all faithful Christians. Its overarching promise, permeating both Old and New Testaments, is God’s eternal presence and spiritual riches for all who walk with Him.