This nation has a misguided view of prosperity, often equating it with mere conveniences and material gadgets. True prosperity, however, is closely related to abundance, which signifies an exceptional degree of material or spiritual blessings, given as a gift from God, irrespective of human effort. Prosperity, on the other hand, is success achieved through active effort, often combined with divine grace, as a reward for labor. In the Old Testament, prosperity is frequently depicted as the result of fruitful work and obedience, often in material terms such as agricultural abundance, vigorous offspring, full granaries, and abundant livestock. It is portrayed as a sign of God's approval, with examples like Abraham, who was very rich in cattle, silver, and gold, and Solomon, who received great wealth as a mark of divine acceptance. Israel, too, prospered in the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, through both God's abundance and their own efforts, acknowledging His hand in their blessings. Prosperity, however, is not always a mark of righteousness. The wicked often prosper materially, as seen in various accounts where their success comes from the abundance God has provided on earth, despite their defiance. This serves as a warning not to envy their wealth, for righteousness and obedience lead to true blessing, while unrighteousness and disobedience result in cursing and impoverishment. The use of wealth is of utmost importance. When handled with generosity and righteousness, as exemplified by Abraham's liberality, prosperity can be a blessing. Hoarding wealth, however, turns it into an idol, reflecting a wrong attitude. True contentment comes from faithfulness, trusting that God will provide blessings far greater than material wealth, ultimately leading to spiritual prosperity in His Kingdom.

God does not advocate for the forcible redistribution of wealth or social and material equality. Instead, He emphasizes equity, which is impartiality, justice, and legal fairness, ensuring that all are treated the same under His law without favoritism. Wealth disparities are not seen as inherently unjust in His view; rather, He allows individuals to be at different economic levels, sometimes raising the low and lowering the high to teach lessons and build character. Examples like Abraham's immense riches and Elijah's poverty show that God works with both the high and the low without concern for making everyone equal in possessions. In the community of believers, there is no requirement to pool wealth into a common pot. Economic differences persist, with some having much and others little, yet all are part of one body. God blesses some with more and others with less, assigning different roles and gifts, not based on equality of outcome but on equitable judgment of works. Instructions to the rich are not to give away all their wealth but to be ready and willing to share, using their resources as a tool for growth and to give as God gives. The poor, too, can use their situation to learn trust in God and give sacrificially, as seen with the widow who gave her last penny. Even in the Kingdom of God, inequality will remain, as illustrated in the Parable of the Minas where rewards are given based on individual effort and growth, not uniformity. Some will govern ten cities, others five, reflecting an equitable distribution of responsibility according to what each has produced. God desires that giving be done freely, of one's own accord, to help those in need and to grow into His image, not through forced equalization but through personal choice and generosity.

Wealth in the hands of a few, such as Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, and others like the Koch brothers, Amancio Ortega, and Carlos Slim Helu, represents immense fortunes built on major corporations and cutting-edge industries. These individuals, with billions in net worth, reflect a growing number of billionaires worldwide, as their total wealth has surged to unprecedented levels, with the United States leading in the count of such affluent individuals, followed by China, Germany, and India. Historically, this accumulation of wealth is not new; it mirrors the prosperity of past tycoons like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Morgan, who amassed fortunes in railroads, oil, and banking, often forming monopolies that were later broken down by market forces or governmental action. Despite the envy their riches might provoke, Scripture reminds us through voices like Asaph and David that the prosperity of the wicked is fleeting. Jesus Christ Himself questions the value of gaining the whole world at the cost of one's soul, affirming that true wealth lies with God and a promised glorious future.

The Christian walk is not easy for anyone, but it is particularly hard for the wealthy. Jesus tells us twice how hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, emphasizing that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. This hyperbole illustrates the utter impossibility of such an effort, highlighting that wealth itself is not the problem, but rather our attachment to it or what it can buy. Jesus instructs that no one can be saved through their own efforts, whether through money, skills, talents, intellect, or any other means. The disciples were horrified at His words, wondering who then can be saved, as wealth and prosperity were seen as a sign of God's blessing during that time. It is just as dangerous for a poor person to assume their poverty grants them piety as it is for a rich person to trust in their wealth. We can be tempted from the path of righteousness by many things, and it is easy to judge the wealthy as unfit for God's Kingdom while overlooking our own distractions. The rich young ruler walked away from Christ, extremely sad, unable to make that leap of faith, showing how attachment to the world, whether through wealth or other means, hinders entry into God's Kingdom. Jesus assures us that with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible, for salvation comes from Him alone, by His grace.