Prosperity and Health: What it means

3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest "prosper" and be in health, even as thy soul "prospereth."

The word prosper and prospereth are both the same word: Euodoo - to help on the road, succeed in reaching, from:
- eu-meaning well and
- hodos-meaning road or way.

Prosper means a well way (hodos), road or path, Jesus said in John 14:6 -- I am the way (hodos)--no man cometh unto
the Father but by me. Jesus is saying, I am the only "prosperity, the only road or way to heaven. Jesus tells us exactly
what that way (hodos) is in reality:

Matt. 7:14 - Because strait is the gate and "narrow" is the way (hodos).

The way (prosperity) equals "narrow is the way" (hodos, which is Jesus). In order to understand what John was saying to
Gaius when he said, "I wish that thou mayest prosper"--(3 John 2), we have only to define the word "narrow."
- Narrow - Greek: thlibo - this verb means to crowd, to afflict or to suffer tribulation; the noun form is the word thlipsis
meaning pressure, affliction, burden, tribulation or trouble.

The prosperity of God is the well-way (euodoo) to heaven. It is tribulation, persecution and pressure when we take up our
cross daily and deny self. After Paul preached at Antioch and fled to Iconium his pursuers pressured (thlipsis) him to flee
to Lystra where they took him outside the city. They stoned him there and left him for dead, whereupon Paul made the
following statement;

Acts 14:22-- We must through much "tribulation" (thlipsis/prosperity) enter into the kingdom of God. Referring back to this
event later, Paul states in

2 Tim. 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Paul is saying, if a man is not
suffering persecution for righteousness sake, he is living ungodly.

Paul says that tribulation (thlipsis/thlibo) is the "narrow" way (hodos) into God's kingdom. Jesus says, "I am that only way
(hodos)," and it is required if a man is to go to heaven, he must suffer tribulation. This is the prosperity that John wished
for Gaius. There is no other prosperity (way/hodos) for God's elect children. Jesus said, "If the world persecuted me, they
will also persecute you." (John 15:20)

Some preachers have made havoc of these precious words of God. They "corrupt" truth by saying that God wants all his
children to be materially rich and physically healthy. If Jesus wanted this, why did he say:

Matt. 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break
through and steal:

Matt. 6:25 Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink: nor yet for your body, what ye shall put
on.

Why did Paul say in:

1 Tim. 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition.

This takes us to the word health that John wishes for Gaius:
- Health - Greek: hugiaino - uncorrupt, true in doctrine, sound or whole.

The most common use of this word hugiaino in the New Testament is the word "sound" or "wholesome" as the
uncorrupted, pure word of God which we find in the following verses:

1 Tim. 6:3 & 4 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to "whole- some" (hugiaino) words, even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, etc...

2 Tim. 1:13 Hold fast the form of "sound" (hugiaino) words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in
Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure "sound" (hugiaino/healthy) doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become "sound" (hugiaino/uncorrupted) doctrine.

When John told Gaius, "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health" (3 John 2), he was not saying,
"I hope you get rich, lay up lots of filthy lucre, and have the physical health of an Olympic athlete." John was saying, "I
wish for you the only way (hodos) on your journey." That way (hodos) is Christ (the well way). All who are in this way
(hodos) will speak and live according to the uncorrupted, (healthy) wholesome and sound word of God. This is God's true
prosperity, riches, and health:

Col. 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Those who are offended by this pure truth will hate and persecute the true believers for speaking these truths. They will
bring suffering and tribulation upon God's children who walk in this required, "only way (hodos) to heaven." Those who
are not persecuted and suffering tribulation (narrow way) are not in this way (hodos) and if they never go through these
trials and persecutions, they are not the children of God, but their future abode is damnation in hell, forever. There are no
alternative ways (hodos) to heaven. Jesus said, "This is the only way (hodos)." It is narrow - - It is tribulation - - It is
persecution - - It is suffering for righteousness sake - - Jesus says, "it is me." This is the uncorrupted truth that men hate.
Preachers are preaching an easy Jesus - - a thirty foot walk down the aisle - - an easy prayer salvation with no change.
Change brings the new creature with a new nature that walks righteously, says the truth and draws fire from God's
enemies.

1 John 3:7 He that doeth righteousness is righteous.