Prosper with a Purpose

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Gentlemen, every day is a battle. A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose. The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives. They prepare before it begins. Welcome to a men's morning devotional. Let's get into God's word. It's time to man up.

Steve Alessi 0:26

Good morning, gentlemen. It's Steve Alesi and it's time for another man up moment. And I want to talk about something every man should desire. You ready? We should all desire to prosper. But here's the question: if God prospers you, who besides you is going to be better because of it? Proverbs 11, verse 10 says, When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Now I love that first part. When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices. Notice it doesn't say when the righteous prosper, only he rejoices. It says the city rejoices. In other words, when a good man succeeds, everybody around him should benefit. Sometimes Christians get uncomfortable talking about prosperity, but think about this. Would you rather have the righteous prosper or the wicked prosper? I personally would rather see a God-fearing businessman prosper who treats his employees well. I'd rather see a father prosper who then provides for his family. And I'd surely rather see a generous man prosper who supports his church and helps people in need. Because when the right man prospers, his prosperity doesn't stop with him. It flows through him. A selfish man asks, How much can I accumulate? But a righteous man asks, How much good can I do with what God puts in my hands? Now think about Joseph. He went from the pit to slavery, to prison, and eventually into Pharaoh's palace. God prospered him until he became the second most powerful man in Egypt. But Joseph's prosperity wasn't just about Joseph getting a better life. God elevated one righteous man and an entire nation benefited. When famine came, Joseph had prepared Egypt. Food had been stored, people were fed, his own family was even preserved. God blessed a man, and the blessing reached beyond the man. That is righteous prosperity. Men, we should all want to succeed. We should want our businesses to grow. We should want promotions and financial increase and influence and opportunities, but not simply so we can say, look what I have done. Our prosperity should say, look at what I can now do for others. See, if God gives you more influence, open a door for somebody. If God gives you more money, become more generous. If God gives you leadership, develop somebody else alongside of you. And if God gives you wisdom through experience, mentor a younger man. God's blessings were never intended to terminate with us. They should travel through us. Then Proverbs gives us the other side. It says, when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Now that's pretty strong right there. It means some people live in such a way that when they're finally gone, everybody breathes a sigh of relief. Don't be that guy. Don't be the boss everybody celebrates when he leaves, or the husband whose family feels more peaceful when he's not at home. Live so that your presence makes things better. For instance, when you walk into your home, things should feel better. When you walk into the workplace or walk into the church, or when God prospers you, people around you should have a reason to rejoice. So, gentlemen, here's your man up challenge. Ask yourself, who is better because God has blessed me? Then take one thing God has put in your hands, whether it's your money, your influence, your experience, the connections that you have, your time or your wisdom, use it then to benefit somebody else. Buy somebody lunch, encourage an employee, make an introduction, help somebody financially, mentor a young man, open a door for somebody else, and whatever you do, don't apologize for wanting to prosper. Just make sure you prosper with a purpose and then become the kind of man whose success gives other people a reason to rejoice. Let's pray. Father, thank you for every blessing you've placed in our hands. Help us to be righteous men who can be trusted with more, not simply so we can have more, but so that we can do more for others. Lord, prosper our families, our work, our businesses, and the work of our hands. And as you do bless us, keep us generous and humble. Let your blessing on our lives become a blessing to others. In Jesus' name, amen.

SPEAKER_00 5:34

All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word. Now go live it. Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do. Share this devotional with another brother. Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.