Prosperity: Old Testament

The portion of truth that makes prosperity theology credible is that some OT passages link material prosperity with God's blessing.  For instance, God gave material wealth to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Solomon, and Job because He approved of them.  He promised the Israelites He would reward them materially for faithful financial giving.

In Deuteronomy 28:1-13, God tells the Israelites that He would reward their obedience by giving them children, crops, livestock and victory over their enemies, but He also tacks on fifty-four more verses describing the curses that would come upon the nation if they didn't obey Him - including diseases, heat and drought, military defeat, boils, tumours, madness and blindness.  The teaching is double-edged -- prosperity for obedience, adversity for disobedience.

The OT also warns against the dangers of wealth - especially the possibility that in our prosperity we may forget the Lord.  Furthermore, the Bible recognises frequent exceptions to the prosperity/adversity doctrine, noting that the wicked often prosper more than the righteous.

I have seen wicked and ruthless people
flourishing like a tree in its native soil. - Psalm 37:35

For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. Look at these wicked people—
enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. - Psalm 73:3, 12

I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.                 Ecclesiastes 7:15

Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you.
So let me bring you this complaint:
Why are the wicked so prosperous?
Why are evil people so happy? - Jeremiah 12:1