LDS Prosperity

Jesus was once approached by a student who asked Him to divide up the inheritance that had been left to the student between him and his brother. Christ's response to Him is to beware of covetousness - "for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth".

It seems counter-intuitive in a blog about prosperity to quote scripture about not living in your possessions, but that is precisely one of the principles that leads us to true prosperity. One who covets can never feel gratitude. By coveting "stuff" we create a permanent feeling of starvation - never satisfied, always feeling the need to have more - the things the Lord has blessed us with are not enough.

When we turn off the desire to covet and shift it to an "attitude of gratitude" we realize the great abundance we already enjoy, and, we get more. Instead of living a life of constant deficit and unfulfilled need we live in our own prosperity.

The Savior goes on to teach a parable about a rich man whose fields yield "plentifully" - so much that he doesn't have room to contain it all. He decides to tear down his barn and build bigger storage buildings to store his goods - and then have the ability to "take [his] ease, eat, drink, and be merry".

The next verse is striking: "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou has provided?" He goes on to say that this is the state of one who "is not rich toward God".

I am confident that the life of one who is grateful, working to lay up "treasures in heaven" is a life full of happiness, joy, interesting and fulfilling relationships, and prosperity.

Luke 12: 13-24