How do you measure prosperity?

     What is your idea of prosperity?  Is it doing well financially, say making more than quarter of million annually?  Owning a home in the same range or more, a couple of cars, cell phones, laptops, Xboxes, Ipads, designer clothing, jewelry, etc.?  All of that sounds good to me.  I would say that if you have those things you could consider yourself prosperous.  However, I think the telling factor is what you do with all that you have.  I mean, if you are prosperous but you're not sharing your prosperity with others, are you really prosperous?

     I don't have any of the stuff I mentioned above.  My total income for 2010 was under five thousand dollars however I consider myself very prosperous.  First, I love The Father and The Son, Jesus Christ.  I realized I needed God in my life because my life without Him was unhappy, unfulfilling and disastrous.   At one point I was extremely selfish and self-centered as I indulged my flesh and spent large sums of money on drugs and material items.  I can easily total out my expenditures on drugs and trinkets to over $250,000.00 dollars.  That's an underestimate by at least a hundred thousand dollars.  That's shameful.  Out of all that money I don't have any material items to show for it.  None.  I've got a lot of war stories, a lot of shame, a lot of remorse.  I've also got a unique perspective on life.  I no longer run through money like $#!+ through a goose.  I appreciate what I do have which is considerable.

      I do seek to reach a higher financial plateau so I can extend God's kingdom further.  I want to bless as many people as possible.  I can be and am a blessing to people now, even though I'm not financially rich.  You don't have to have money to be a blessing to someone else.  Giving other resources like time, service to others, food, clothing and shelter when possible can also bless others.  I think some of the richest people in the world are not rich because of finances but because of a good heart.  That's how I measure prosperity!