Many believers wrestle with a quiet but important question: If I truly follow Christ, shouldn’t life go better for me?

It’s a tension that often surfaces when life doesn’t unfold as expected—when financial strain, illness, or hardship interrupts our plans. At the heart of that struggle is a deeper issue: how we understand God’s promises and what we believe the Christian life is meant to produce.

In today’s conversation with John Cortines, Director of Partnership and Growth at the McClellan Foundation, we explored how the “prosperity gospel” shapes this conversation—and how Scripture offers a better, more faithful perspective.

At its core, the prosperity gospel teaches that your spiritual standing can be measured by your circumstances—your health, your wealth, and your overall success.

It suggests that if you have enough faith, say the right things, or give to the right causes, you can unlock God’s blessings in tangible, immediate ways.

But here’s the problem: while this teaching begins with a partial truth—that God loves us and is actively involved in our lives—it stretches that truth beyond what Scripture actually promises.

Instead of seeing blessings as gifts, it turns them into indicators of spiritual success.

The Bible clearly affirms that God gives good gifts. We see provision, healing, and abundance throughout Scripture. But it never presents these as guarantees or as proof of God’s favor.

That distinction matters.

When we experience abundance, we should respond with gratitude—not entitlement. And when we walk through hardship, we’re not outside of God’s care.

Our ultimate security isn’t found in changing circumstances—it’s found in Christ and the eternal hope we have in Him.

One of the most dangerous expressions of prosperity teaching shows up in how it approaches generosity.

Instead of being an act of worship, giving can become transactional:

But Scripture points us in a very different direction. 2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

True generosity flows from gratitude—not pressure or fear.

At its deepest level, the prosperity gospel shifts our focus away from Christ and onto ourselves.

It subtly replaces grace with performance:

Historically, this mirrors ancient systems where people offered sacrifices to secure favor or blessing. The message becomes: Do the right things, and you’ll get the right results.

But the gospel says something entirely different: Christ has already secured what we could never earn.

This is where the consequences become painfully clear.

When someone embraces a prosperity-centered view and then faces loss—whether financial, physical, or relational—they’re often left with confusion and guilt:

But Jesus speaks plainly in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble.”

Hardship is not evidence of failure. It is part of life in a fallen world—and often a place where God deepens our faith.

Scripture gives us a far more balanced and honest picture of the Christian life.

Faithfulness is not measured by comfort. It is measured by trust.

So how do we respond when life is hard? John Cortines offers a helpful framework using the word JOY:

J — Jesus went first. He understands suffering from the inside. He experienced loss, injustice, and pain.

O — Orient your heart. Bring your fears and anxieties to God. Anchor your hope beyond this life.

Y — Yes to His purposes. Ask boldly for provision and healing—but trust God’s wisdom in the outcome.

As James 1:2 reminds us: “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds.”

Joy isn’t found in escaping hardship—it’s found in trusting Christ through it.

If you’re walking through a difficult season, hear this clearly: Your suffering does not mean God has abandoned you.

The cross is the center of our faith—a place where God’s love was revealed through suffering, not the absence of it. Often, it’s in the hardest moments that God’s presence becomes most real.

Finally, for those in seasons of abundance, Scripture offers a beautiful invitation. Generosity is not driven by guilt or obligation—it’s rooted in the example of Jesus.

He gave everything for us. And when we give—whether out of little or much—we participate in His work in the world.

It’s not “I have to give.” It’s “I get to be part of what God is doing.”

The prosperity gospel measures God’s love by our circumstances. But Scripture calls us to something deeper: to anchor our hope in Christ—trusting Him in both abundance and hardship.

Because following Jesus doesn’t guarantee a life of ease, but it does promise something far greater: His presence, His purpose, and an eternal hope that cannot be shaken.

If you’d like to go deeper on this topic, you can read more in John Cortines’ article, Joy Through Trials, in the latest issue of Faithful Steward magazine. And if you’d like to receive Faithful Steward each quarter, just consider becoming a FaithFi Partner when you give $35 a month or $400 a year. You can learn more at FaithFi.com/Partner.

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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