Sermon On Flourishment & Growth

Dr. Lucas D. Shallua, an American dynamic speaker, entrepreneur and academician once remarked: “Love is like a seed, if nourished and taken good care, it grows and flourishes but if neglected and not taken good care, it stagnates and eventually dies.” Psalm 32:19 confirms: “They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.”

Flourishment is defined as: To grow luxuriantly. It includes thriving amidst adversity, achieving success and energising prosperity. Some people consider prosperity as solely relating to the visible items and assets that they own, but the true interpretation is far more pertinent than this. It also incorporates the prolific richness that one can find in life. This may include a fruitful relationship with God which can determine and enhance its essence. However, it should be borne in mind that wealth from prosperity is never certain and is often unreliable. Promises which specifically indicate that rewards will occur if one follows ungodly principles can never be guaranteed. St. Ignatius of Loyola once prayed: “Lord, teach me to be generous; Teach me to serve you as you deserve; To give and not to count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To toil, and not to seek for rest; To labour, and not to ask for reward - except to know that I am doing your will.” Luke 6:35-36 reminds us: “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

“Prosperity theology” is a belief amongst some Protestant Christians that wealth and physical well-being are the products of God and His will, and that faith, positive speech and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth. It infers that the Bible is a contract between mankind and God. However, contracts often involve special terms, conditions and remuneration. It is believed that if humans have faith in God, He will deliver security and prosperity. This thinking has been criticized by various Christian denominations as irresponsible, promoting idolatry and contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

The story of Joseph is narrated in Genesis 37-50. Joseph is the most loved and firstborn son of the patriarch Jacob and his second wife Rachel. He is hated by his brothers, who are envious of his father's favours. He is gifted with a coat of many colours. He is subsequently seized by his brothers and sold into slavery. He is taken to Egypt where he eventually becomes steward to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials. God's providence had turned evil into good. Genesis 39:2-3 states: "And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand."

Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States once remarked: “Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped.” Prosperity not only relates to worth and the possessions we own, it may also be acquired from the way we think and function. It can become an essential part of our mindset. If we have a positive outlook on life, we stand more chance of achieving flourishment. If we are primarily negative in thought, the only thing we will experience is starvation from the true benefits in life.

God’s love and intention, when He formed the world in which we live, was not only to provide a safe habitat for every created thing, but for it to flourish. Although the creation He provided was perfect, good in every way and ample for our every need, He probably hoped and possibly expected it to be used purely as a basic foundation stone upon which to build and enhance.

Flourishment is inbuilt in all, but remains dormant in every human being until activated.

However, it can only be reached at the will of the respective individual. Trees and plants provide flourishment by creating foliage, fruit, a habitat for certain creatures and shelter from the damaging effects of the sun, wind and rain. Humankind has the ability to invent to progress forward and make life more comfortable. Without flourishment, there can be no growth. Ezekiel 47:12 confirms: “And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”