But the Lord was with Joseph and he (though a slave) was a successful and prosperous man…And his master saw that the Lord…made all that he did to flourish and succeed… Genesis 39: 2-3, Amplified Bible

To be prosperous means to be profitable, and to be profitable means to generate more resources than you consume. No matter what resources you are trying to generate – money, crops, goodwill, or a growing church – you will not be able to generate more resources than you consume unless and until you recognize that the Lord alone is the source of prosperity. Surely, we have an obligation to sow, to work diligently toward a desired end. But the Lord alone has control over the harvest. No matter how diligent the farmer is in planting, the harvest is doomed in the absence of God’s protection from drought, insects, tornadoes, and floods. Likewise, no matter how tirelessly we work in our jobs, our churches, or our homes, we cannot be profitable unless the Lord of the harvest blesses the effort.

If you have worked yourself to exhaustion but still see no profit, examine yourself. Do you proudly live your life as if you are in control of your own destiny? Or, do you humbly acknowledge, like Joseph did, that God alone is Captain of your ship? If the former, expect resistance from God. If the latter, expect His grace. Remember, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6, KJV)