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I agree completely about the “prosperity gospel”, especially those who quote Luke 6:38 over and over again as a reason for giving to THEIR ministry.

However, I think that a case can be made that people who adopt basic moral principles (such as hard work, thrift, honesty abd moderation in personal habits) will tend to do better financially. Jesus’ parables and the book of Proverbs are replete with these themes.

There is a correlation between these habits and wealth, though not a perfect one. And I would also say that the correlation is stronger in more just societies, where honesty, hard work, and thrift are rewarded, such as the nation I was raised in. The correlation becomes much weaker in societies where wealth is allocated by capricious means such as lotteries, fame, weight loss through sandwich eating, or massive redistribution to favored groups by the government.

Regardless, the God I believe in loves the rich and the poor equally.

However, I think that a case can be made that people who adopt basic moral principles (such as hard work, thrift, honesty abd moderation in personal habits) will tend to do better financially.

I agree. I have seen this so often - the difference between the feckless person and the sober one is also often the difference between a irreligious person and one who goes to regular worship. As the years pass, their material situations will also differ, and prayer, modest living and moral principles are associated with a better level of income.

I agree but what I understand the prosperity gospel preaching is not the same as what you are advocating.

The prosperity gospel thinking seems to come with a hefty does of entitlement mentality. That God owes it to us by virtue of the fact that the believer is His child and all we have to do is have the faith for it and its ours.

Being responsible, good stewards of our resources and prospering by that is not the same as far as I can see.