HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR

3 John 1:2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest 
prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

               My beloved, I also wish for you a blessed and prosperous New Year.  I am not one of those who believe if you are a Christian, every thing will be lovely, who believe God is good because of the bounties He spreads forth, etc.  I know God is good even in the adversities of life.  I know too that there are adversities.  I heard the story of the old preacher who constantly preached that Christians should rejoice even to the point that when the flour was gone, they should stick their heads in the empty flour barrel and rejoice.

              Then the day came when his wife called him to come practice what he preached and rejoice in the empty flour barrel.  While we have to face the realities of life, we can still maintain a healthy experience of soul.  The apostle was expressing his sincere desire in the flesh that the beloved Gaius should prosper.  It is wholesome then to wish and pray for the material prosperity of those we love.  Prosperity is not sinful; greed is.  The rich fool who cried, "...Soul, thou has much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." was not condemned because of his riches.  See our Lord's answer to him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall these things be, which thou hast provided?"  Then our Lord said, "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  It is not the laying up of treasure that our Lord was condemning; it was the greed that causes one to lay up treasure for himself without a mind for God. 

              So in line with the apostles wish for Gaius, I am praying that you may have a blessed and prosperous New Year, and that you shall enjoy good health all the year through.  The apostle also connected his prayer to the prosperity of soul.  I too shall pray that you will not only prosper materially, but that you shall prosper materially and in health while you prosper in your soul.