In this busy world, money is something that has the ability to command our attention. Most of us want enough wealth to make life smoother, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of putting it above all else. The “money makes the world go around” mindset motivates many people to try to get ahead financially, but we can be let down in a nasty way if we rely on money. True prosperity doesn’t come from a bank, an investment portfolio, or the stock market, but from God, Himself.

There’s nothing wrong with having money and being wealthy according to the world’s standards, as long as it doesn’t cause us to compromise our morals or values. We regularly see the results of people who are willing to do anything for wealth. It can seem sweet for awhile, but eventually there will be pain to follow. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10, NLT). Loving money more than anything else causes people to gamble, steal, lie, cheat, or do things to hurt themselves or others.

God doesn’t want to see us struggling financially; true wealth and prosperity are by-products of believing and relying on Him. This requires a shift in the way we think about wealth and prosperity, from the physical to the spiritual. Seeing money as simply a tool to help others, instead of an all-encompassing goal, helps us refocus our priorities. “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). God wants to bless us in all areas, including our finances, and He can do so when we learn to trust Him more than money.

Spiritual wealth is something the world doesn’t understand. It goes beyond a bank account, and it includes not just our finances, but our souls and spirits, as well. Most of us have seen people who have lots of money in the physical realm but who are miserable. That’s because they’re broke, spiritually.

True prosperity is closely linked with peace of mind, joy, happiness, good health, and all the things money, alone, can’t buy. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers” (3 John 1:2, AMPC). Not everyone who has money is prosperous, but everyone who trusts in God as their source is blessed with true prosperity. Making Him the source of everything we need, instead of relying on our own limited selves, moves us up into another realm.

God loves us even when we make mistakes. We can succeed when we let Him shape our thinking about money, and how it relates to the really important things in life. “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).

During His earthly ministry, Jesus embodied the type of prosperity that originated from the Father. He received everything He needed from God. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Our faith in Christ positions us to receive the same blessings.