The Quest for Wealth and True Satisfaction: Reevaluating African Prosperity Theology in the Light of Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
Isaac Boaheng 
Issue: Vol.6 No.9 Article 12 pp.1917 -1931
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256912 | Published online 22nd August, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Prosperity theology has become a prevalent doctrine within African churches these days. Although popular among African Christians, prosperity theology raises concerns about its biblical and theological basis, as well as its overall impact on the socioeconomic and spiritual growth of its adherents. This theological tradition has, therefore, attracted much scholarly attention in recent times, and the debate over its credibility continues. As a contribution to the ongoing discourse, this paper evaluates the prosperity-theological model through the lens of Ecclesiastes 5:10-20. The paper employed a literary analysis methodology that involves a textual and expository analysis of the text in its final, canonical form. It is a literature-based research that draws data from books, journal articles, theses, and other relevant publications to explore both the theological and socio-cultural dimensions of the topic. The paper found that, although prosperity theology makes some positive contributions to the African church, it also promotes anti-biblical behaviors such as materialism, wealth accumulation, and greed. It also fails to account for the broader biblical teachings on human suffering, the limitations of human existence, and the impermanence of worldly possessions. The paper argues for reevaluating the relationship between wealth and true satisfaction, suggesting that lasting contentment cannot be found in material abundance, but in a life that acknowledges the limitations of human achievement and the sovereignty of God. The paper contributes knowledge in the areas of contextualization, biblical interpretation, and the engagement of traditional African worldviews with Christian doctrine..
Keywords: Prosperity Theology, Death, Wealth, Satisfaction, Ecclesiastes
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Isaac Boaheng holds a PhD in Religion Studies from the University of the Free State, South Africa. He is a Senior Lecturer in Theology and Christian Ethics at the Christian Service University, Ghana, and a Research Fellow at the Department of Biblical and Religion Studies, University of the Free State, South Africa. He has over a hundred peer-reviewed publications.
Boaheng, Isaac. “The Quest for Wealth and True Satisfaction: Reevaluating African Prosperity Theology in the light of Ecclesiastes 5:10-20,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no. 9 (2025): 1917 -1931, https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256912.
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
