[jkl1122]

I don't have a problem with the idea that God will bless us if we follow His commandments. However, the type of prosperity that Joel Osteen and others preach about is far above what God has promised. They seem to claim that if we are truly faithful, hardships will disappear and we will be be rich beyond our dreams, and that is just not Scriptural.

[P-Marlowe]

However, the type of prosperity that Joel Osteen and others preach about is far above what God has promised.

Nothing can be "above" what God has promised.

[gamarob1]

To tell you the way it is in my life, I'm blessed by God even when I'm rotten and disgusting. That's because it's ONLY by God's grace that we can be blessed at all, ONLY BY HIS GREAT GRACE. When I'm the most unloveable, I see Him move in and bless me just as much as my so-called "faithful" times.

If it weren't like that, then it really is all by works, and God is nothing more than Santa Claus (perish the thought).

As far as hardships, I know that the only hardships He brings into my life are to do a greater good later, for His glory and my good. :)