Among Afro-communities, spiritual manifestations—such as miraculous deliverance, healing, and even resurrection—are common. However, these same spiritual powers have yet to produce sustained economic prosperity. African descendants—both on the continent and in the diaspora—tend to exhibit higher levels of religiosity compared to many other communities.

Yet despite this profound religiosity, Afro-descendant communities experience disproportionately high levels of material, mental, and emotional poverty. This prompts the question: what is wrong with the God of Africans?

The Issue: Misunderstanding God’s Principles

I believe the issue is not with the kind God of Africa but rather with the kind of God Africans worship. While God is able, constant, and caring, many Afro-descendants have not fully embraced the divine laws that govern economic prosperity. Their relationship with God often remains insecure, entangled with colonial legacies, ancestral idol worship, and misinterpretations of God’s true nature. The paradox of high religiosity coexisting with widespread poverty and conflict suggests that a deeper understanding and application of divine economic principles is urgently needed.

From Miracles to Divine Economic Laws

Prosperity does not result solely from miracles, prayer, tithing, or offerings. It requires adherence to divine economic laws. For example, God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery through miracles, but in the wilderness, they relied on miraculous sustenance. To prosper in the Promised Land, however, they had to follow divine economic principles outlined in the Torah. Similarly, Afro-descendants have relied on miraculous deliverance in response to systemic discrimination and lack of institutional support. Now is the time to transition from dependency on miracles to the intentional application of divine principles for sustained prosperity.

Understanding Economic Prosperity

Economic prosperity can be understood as the consistent fulfilment of basic material needs—essential for human security, survival, and flourishing. It involves a system where goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed efficiently, ensuring societal needs are met. At its core is the principle of using God-given resources to serve others, whether through employment or self-employment.

From a spiritual perspective, prosperity follows a divine formula comprising three key elements: natural resources (capital), enterprise (economic machinery), and divine blessings (the fuel). Natural resources, such as land and raw materials, are gifts from God to be stewarded wisely for communal benefit. Through enterprise, human initiative transforms these resources into wealth by meeting societal needs through innovation, governance, and job creation. However, economic systems cannot thrive without divine blessings—God’s authority and power to prosper—which are nurtured through a secure relationship with Him.

These blessings manifest in the core virtues of LOVE: Linkedness, Opulence, Valory, and Equanimity. Linkedness reflects unconditional acceptance and belonging, fostering harmony with oneself, others, and the broader world. Opulence represents a sense of secure provision and confidence in one’s ability to achieve personal and collective goals. Valory is the fulfilment that comes from living a purposeful, meaningful life aligned with one’s core values. Equanimity denotes resilience and courage, enabling individuals to navigate life’s challenges with grace and triumph. Together, these virtues serve as the spiritual and moral foundation necessary for economic actions to generate sustainable prosperity while uplifting society.

The Bespoke Nature of God’s Principles

What distinguishes the divine formula is its bespoke nature. Unlike universal economic models, God’s principles are tailored to each community’s specific circumstances—cultural, historical, psychological, and socio-economic. This personalised approach accommodates differences in personality, interests, and experiences, enabling communities to flourish in ways aligned with God’s will.

Enculturation: Passing Down the Principles

The Afro-descendant economic transformation should focus on enculturation: passing down the principles of the LOVE model to future generations. The journey to the Promised Land doesn’t begin in church pulpits, political arenas, or corporate boardrooms—it starts in the heart through a secure, personal relationship with the God of LOVE.

Building a Framework Rooted in Obedience

For Afro-descendants to achieve true economic prosperity, they must develop an economic framework rooted in divine obedience rather than inherited colonial systems or ungodly practices. Building such a framework requires adhering to God’s bespoke instructions, which ensure that prosperity aligns with spiritual and moral principles.