Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

Noticing the unique challenge posed by those who decided to adopt an idle lifestyle probably because of their confused eschatology, the apostle Paul emphasised the importance of hardwork as a recipe to success. Today, like the Thessalonians, the face of Christianity appears to be changing since prosperity preachers mounted the centre stage in Nigeria. This gospel is perceived to encourage laziness among youths who tend to believe that when they sow and are asked to receive in faith, a miracle of sort would lay prosperity on their laps without having to work. The true gospel is stripped of its focus and reduced to a means by which everyone can experience his or her best life. What the Prosperity gospel presents is a mirage: many adherents are worse off materially because of a faith that lacks sound biblical basis. God prospers people through the work of their hands. This paper shall undertake an exegetical analysis of the text of 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 with a view to assessing the impact of prosperity gospel on the youths in Nigeria. Hence, if we are to produce quality youths and future leaders, we must encourage them to attain success through hard-work, faithfulness and diligence.

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