Have your ever had someone say. . . “I’ve been thinking about you?”

While we assume those thoughts are good. . .we have no idea what they’re thinking or how long they thought about us.

There is a pick-up line that single men sometimes use on single women.  It goes like this.

“Girl, I’m so tired. . .because you’ve been running through my mind all day.”

By the way ladies, if a man ever uses that line on you. . .be flattered but quickly ask him. . .if he has a job. . .does he have a five-year plan for the future. . .if he doesn’t answer “yes” to both those questions. . .leave him in the rearview mirror of your life.

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 says:

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

As I was meditating on this scripture. . .I felt the Lord leading me to write on this passage.   At first, I wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted me to write about.

Did He want me to write about how Resurrection Sunday should be celebrated 52 weeks a year?

Did God want me to remind everyone that He is the greatest giver?  That He gave us His only begotten Son that we might have eternal life?

When I feel led to teach a subject…it’s at the unction of the Holy Spirit.

I was somewhat surprised when I was recently directed to write another message on prosperity.  I’ve written 17 sermons with the words “prosper” or “prosperity” in the title.  Over 386 of my teachings mention prosper and prosperity in a significant way.

So I think you can understand my amazement at being directed to write on prosperity once again.  But this one thing I know. . .I want to be obedient to His instruction.

Plus, I also know that a number of people will be ministered to in a significant way by hearing or reading this teaching. God always has a purpose in everything He does.

Here are seven ways to prosper.

Time is the currency of your life. . .spend it wisely.

Here is a simple illustration I’ve used several times to prove your time is the currency of your life.

After you work forty hours for your employer, he doesn’t pay you out of the goodness of his heart. He pays you in exchange for the forty hours of your life.

In other words, the amount of money you receive in your paycheck replaces the amount of your life you gave to your employer.

Think of it this way. You don’t purchase an automobile with little slips of paper called “money.” No, you actually buy it with your life – that is, the amount of your life you spend earning the money to pay for your automobile. The same thing is true with your house, your clothing, and everything else you purchase. It all comes through the exchange of your life for money.

A few days ago, I was riding to the office with a couple of friends.  We stopped at Bojangles, my fast food restaurant of choice.

As a seed of appreciation for their kindness in providing transportation for the day. . .I indicated I wanted to buy breakfast for them.

One of the two said “No, thank you.”

This dear friend and co-laborer for the Kingdom told me she had breakfast at the office. 

However, I suspect she didn’t want me to spend any money on her as she felt it wasn’t necessary for picking me up on their way to the office.