To prosper is to succeed or flourish, especially financially. It is closely related to the state of your mind. Some people push themselves to succeed so hard that they are always under pressure to work harder and put in more hours. They may succeed financially, but never have the time to enjoy it. This may also cause one to have poor health. The most important thing is to have peace of mind and feelings of fulfillment.

Money can buy many things, but it cannot buy happiness. Many rich people are miserable. You need to have work that turns you on and makes you feel alive. A big pay check cannot make up for dreading to go to work every day. It is better to make less and be thrilled with what you are getting paid to do. The rules of common sense apply here. Prepare for work that you enjoy. Give an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Always be there on time, and learn everything you can from experienced fellow workers. Keep up with changes in your field, so you will always be up to date.

What counts is not what you earn, but what you manage to keep. Learn to live within your means. Purchase a late model used car with as few miles on it that you can afford. You do not need a new car, just one that is dependable. Pay it off as fast as you can. Pay off credit cards every month to avoid building up large debts. It is far cheaper to save for what you buy than to make large payments with interest tacked onto them. Limit what you buy on credit. Shop for the best value on everything you buy.

Develop the habit of saving and investing. Having compound interest working for you instead of against you, makes it much easier to make ends meet. After you have invested for a while, you will not have to live pay check to pay check. You will have interest payments coming in regularly. This can be added to you're on the job income or reinvested.

The Bible gives some guidelines that can be considered rules for prospering.

1. Keep the terms of God's covenant so that you may prosper in everything you do (Deuteronomy 29:2). This was referring to the Old Testament covenant the Jews were under at the time. Christians are under the New Testament law of Christ.

2. You will not prosper if you disobey the Lord's commands (Second Chronicles 24:20).

3. A generous person will prosper; he who refreshes others will be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25). Giving to the needy makes you feel like you have more than enough.

4. Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). This primarily refers to spiritual protection, but there is no question that he wants us to prosper physically.

5. We are to obey our bosses with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people (Ephesians 6:7). Your boss writes your check, but the Lord prospers him so he can pay you well and help you prosper.

6. The one that does not follow the advice of the wicked, but keeps the Lord's commands and mediates on them, is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He Succeeds in everything he attempts (Psalms 1:1-3). In general being honest, doing the best you can, treating others with respect, and doing what you can to promote the cause of Christ should lead to prospering. God has an obsession to bless those in his covenant.