by Arthur W. Pink
by Arthur W. Pink
Philologos Religious Online Books
Philologos.org
by Arthur W. Pink
January, 1944
A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
This is our desire both for our readers and for ourselves. But the mere wishing or desiring of it will not bring the same to pass. What more is necessary? Only God can grant us prosperity either spiritual or temporal, and we must submit to his good pleasure. True, but He is not capricious in this. Prosperity or the absence of it is not a fortuitous thing, nor is it the product of a blind and inexorable fate. If we enjoy not prosperity the fault is entirely our own, and we are dishonest if we ascribe it solely unto the sovereignty of God. “In returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not” (Isa. 30:15)—had it not been flagrantly dishonest if they attributed their disquietude and fears to the sovereign will of God? “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river” (Isa. 48:18)—then how wicked to charge God with being responsible for their lack of peace.
If we consult the Scriptures we shall find definite teaching on this subject: that there are clearly-revealed laws which we must observe, conditions which we are required to meet, if we are to enjoy prosperity. Let us first consider one or two things which hinder prosperity. “Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord that ye cannot prosper” (2 Chron. 24:20). Ah, here is the cause of all our troubles; disobedience, for “the way of transgressors is hard” (Prov. 13:15). Observe how emphatically and absolutely it is expressed: “ye cannot prosper”—a holy God will not place a premium on insubordination. He may suffer “the wicked” to flourish as a green bay tree, for he is like a beast being fattened for the slaughter; but not so with those who profess His name. Disobedience, then, chokes the channel of blessing. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper” (Prov. 28:13). Unconfessed sin in the heart of a believer is like a worm at the root of prosperity. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psa. 66:18)—prayer is then futile. Unless we keep short accounts with God we shall not enjoy His smile. Jeremiah 10:21 tells us what prevents “pastors” from prospering: self-sufficiency, failing to be cast entirely upon the Lord.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Josh. 1:8). Here is the positive side, the making known the conditions which regulate and determine prosperity, as the repeated “then” plainly intimates. The passage begins at verse 5, and the whole of verses 5-8 should be attentively weighed. Let us first anticipate an objection by asking the question “was it written for his sake alone” (Rom. 4:23)? Undoubtedly those words had a special reference to Joshua himself, yet that they have a wider bearing is clear from other passages, and that they have a general application to God's children today is definitely established by the New Testament. But as some of our readers have come under the influence of those who would rob the Christian of his rightful portion, under the pretext of “rightly dividing the Word of Truth,” we must labour the point.
Note then how unhesitatingly David appropriated these words of the Lord to Joshua when he spoke to his son, for he emphatically assured him that if Divine grace enabled him to “keep the Law of the Lord his God” taking heed to “fulfill the statutes and judgments” of it, “then shalt thou prosper” (1 Chron. 22:12,13). But more pertinently still, observe how the apostle expressly appropriates the promise of Joshua 1:5 “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” and insists that it belongs equally to the whole household of faith, immediately adding “so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper” (Heb. 13:5,6). That precious promise of God, then, belongs as truly to me as it did to Joshua of old. Are not the needs of believers the same in one age as in another? Is not God affected alike unto all of His children: does He not bear to them the same love? If He would not desert Joshua, He will not desert you! Consequently, if I would ascertain the laws which will determine my prosperity, I must pay attention to those which regulated his.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth.” It was the Rule given to act by. In Joshua's case it furnished him with Divine authority for his conduct in the governing of Israel. In our case we may give these words a spiritual meaning. God's Word is our appointed food: thus the “mouth” speaks to us of feeding upon it. In verse 6 God says, “Be strong and of a good courage,” and in verse 7 adds, “only be thou strong and very courageous that [in order that] thou mayest observe to do according to all the Law.” Obedience to God calls for firmness, resolution, boldness. Without it we shall yield unto temptations to compromise, being intimidated by the ridicule and opposition of our fellows. How, then, is this strength and courage to be obtained? By feeding on the Word, being “nourished up in the words of faith” (1 Tim. 4:6), having the Law of the Lord continually in our “mouth.” This is the interpretation made by the apostle; appropriate that promise “I will never leave thee” and then, says he, every believer may confidently declare “The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:6). There is the proof that feeding on the Word imparts strength and courage.
“But thou shalt meditate therein day and night.” Only thus will its injunctions be fixed in the memory: only thus shall we be able to ascertain our duty: only thus shall we discern the rightful application of the Divine precepts to all the varied details of our daily lives. It is entirely our own fault if we be ignorant of God's “mind” in connection with any situation confronting us. God's will for us is revealed in His Word, and “a good understanding have all they that do His commandments” (Psa. 111:10). The more I am regulated by the Divine Rule, the more shall I be preserved from the “mistakes” or folly which characterises those who follow a course of self-pleasing. But in order to do God's commandments I must be conversant with them and in order to perceive their breadth and specific application unto any problem or decision confronting me, I must “meditate therein day and night.” Meditation stands to reading as mastication does to eating. Prosperity eludes the dilitary and careless.
“That thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.” This must be the dominating motive and object. God's Word is to be appropriated and masticated—fed and meditated upon—first and foremost, day in and day out. Not for the purpose of understanding its prophecies or obtaining an insight into its mysteries, but in order to learn God's will for me, and having learned it to conform thereto. God's Word is given to us chiefly not to gratify curiosity or to entertain our imagination, but as “a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path” (Psa. 119:105) in this dark world. It is a Rule for us to walk by: it is a heavenly Standard for the regulation of all our conduct. It points out the things to be avoided, the things which would harm us. It tells of the things to be followed and practiced, the things which are for our good, our peace. It contains not only good advice, but is clothed with Divine authority, commanding implicit and unqualified obedience.
“For then—if we feed on the Word, if we constantly meditate upon its precepts and promises, if we render to it entire obedience—shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success.” The promise is emphatic, unqualified, sure. If then this new year is not a prosperous one for me the fault is entirely my own: it will be because I have failed to meet the conditions prescribed in the context. Turn to 2 Chronicles 20:20 and see how well Jehoshaphat understood the secret of prosperity. Mark what occasioned the prosperity of Hezekiah (2 Chron. 31:20,21). Compare Job 36:11. Ponder all that precedes the last clause of Psalm 1:3. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25). AWP
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