What Is The One Thing That Will Keep You From Being Wealthy

If there was one thing or attitude that is keeping you from being wealthy, wouldn't you want to know what it is so you can avoid it?

We have attitudes or behaviors that help us live a successful life, and because we are complicated human beings, we have attitudes and behaviors that undermine our quest for success.  We have to challenge ourselves to turn from things that keep us from blessing.  There is one thing that keeps us from success, and the Bible tells what it is.

"Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich." Proverbs 21:17.

Here are four short observations about what the Bible says.

FIRST: WHO
This verse does not single out the rich, the poor, or the middle class.  What is says it says to everybody, we see that because it starts with the word, whoever.  So no matter who you are, the statement applies to you.

SECOND: LOVES PLEASURE
Pleasure is not bad, and there is nothing wrong with enjoying life and the blessings God gives us. The danger is for those who live for pleasure or are consumed by it or motivated by it.  It could be the one who has a "live for the weekend" attitude.

THIRD: THE RICH BECOME POOR
If you are rich, then loving pleasure will make you poor. Perhaps as you pursue fun, you miss out on business opportunities. Perhaps you spend more than you should on pleasurable pursuits and business suffers from inattention.  Perhaps you lose your focus on good financial decisions. There are many reasons, but whatever they may be, loving pleasure will take your wealth away.

FOURTH: THE POOR WILL NEVER BECOME RICH
This scripture was written in ancient times when wine and olive oil cost huge amounts of money.

• Possessing them signified status. 
• Wine and olive oil can refer to the freedom to consume.  
• Wine and olive oil gives us an image of one who loves food and drink. 

There is nothing wrong with being well thought of and admired, or of having nice things or of being able to provide food and shelter for yourself and those you love. But if status, possessions, and self-gratification are your focus, then you will never be rich.

Jesus reminded us who we should love, "He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:36-40,

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(c) Adron 7/28/18

What Does The Bible Say About A Fool And His Money? Psalms 49:20

The Bible says a lot about money, but what does it say about a foolish person and money?

"A man who has riches without understanding is like the beast that perish." Psalm 49:20.

RICHES
At first glance, you think this is all about money, but riches can be many things. Riches can include all manner of property; you can be rich in talents, education, friendships, and other things of this world. Therefore, we can all consider ourselves to be rich in some way or another.

UNDERSTANDING

To have understanding is more than just an education or a broad knowledge base. 

• It is having insight into how things work. 
• It is to know the effect of your actions. 
• It is the result of experience, thoughtfulness, and imagination. 
• It is to possess an awareness of potential and possibilities. 
• It is the result of purposeful intelligence.
• It is intentional, it is not an accident and it doesn't just happen. 

We must understand wealth, how it relates to the world and what is God's purpose for our wealth.

BEAST
In God's creation, humans are set apart from the beast. In the Bible, we see God creating beast by His command, but when He created man He had greater care and intention because it says God formed man out of the dust of the ground, not by command.

The opposite of the beast that perishes is being made in the image of God. If we are in the image of God we are intended by God to be noble and virtuous, a reflection of his nature and character, we are to do great things not just to exist.

PERISH
To perish is to come to an end, it is the final conclusion. The wise author of Proverbs used these words as a statement of value or judgment; it is to say that without understanding your wealth makes you less than God intended you to be.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
You must get understanding. It is foolish to possess a powerful resource and not to understand it.  You must take time to learn about your wealth, gifts and blessings. Seek out advisors who are expert in these things. Read literature that teaches how to handle your wealth. Resolve not to be like the beast who perish.

(c)Adron Dozat 12/21/17

What Does The Bible Say Is The Best Way To Increase Wealth? Proverbs 13:11

Get rich quick or get rich slow- which is better according to the Bible?

"Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow." Proverbs 13:11.

DISHONEST MONEY

You might say to yourself that this refers to someone who robs a bank or snatches an old woman's purse, but it is broader than that. It is not just the "get rich quick" schemes or fraud but any lack of integrity and transparency in money dealings. It might be the extra service charge that is unnecessary, or the extra little percentage is written into a bid.

DWINDLES AWAY

To dwindle is a slow diminishing, like a leak that causes the bucket to slowly drain dry so that you do not see it happening, but when it is too late, you have an empty bucket sitting in a muddy puddle. You will not notice the loss, but you wake up one day, and it is all gone.

GATHERS

This is like the farm laborer who goes out into the field and diligently fills up his basket with the farm produce over and over throughout the day. It is hard work; it is the opposite of the treasure hunter who finds a fortune all at once. The one who gathers does so over and over, one basket-full at a time and day after day.

A person who gathers is not consuming it as he goes. To gather implies he is also storing what he gathers.

LITTLE BY LITTLE

Little by little suggests a planned step-by-step approach. It is not the try this and then to try that, but having an intelligent plan and following it each day.

Little by little requires patience and an attitude that you are in it for the long haul. It means you are willing to postpone the quick results to achieve superior results in the future.

MAKES IT GROW
This phrase has a sense of empathy. Not quite a Biblical promise but a statement you can count on. It is saying that there is a cause and effect relationship between gathering slowly over time and the growth potential of doing so.

Growing is a picture that is like a force of nature. Normal healthy living things will grow; it just happens. Things that grow not only become bigger but also become more useful. Our problem is that we can't easily observe something growing; it happens so slowly that its measure has to be taken over great lengths of time.

Things that grow slowly are generally better, an oak tree takes decades to grow, but a weed grows in days.

This growth results from your patient's hard work and efforts and are realized over time.

Do not become tempted to participate in "get rich quick" activities, and do not get discouraged over small results in savings and earnings today or tomorrow, but keep it up, and over time your money will add up.

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(c) Adron 11/6/16

How To Get Riches According To The Bible- proverbs 8

We want to find riches and we want to know the way to wealth. Does the Bible have any directions or advice to us so we may finally find fame and fortune?

You would think that a book like the Word of God is dedicated to purely spiritual instruction but it does have some teaching about worldly wealth. The part of the Bible known as the book of Proverbs is mostly attributed to King Solomon who is considered the wisest man to ever live. He wrote about wisdom and its relationship to wealth, riches, and honor.

In chapter eight of Proverbs, wisdom is speaking as if it is a person, and as a person wisdom says: "With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold: what I yield surpasses choice silver." Proverbs 8:18-19.

"WITH ME..."
The metaphor is clear that wisdom is primary. You must have wisdom first, but this goes against conventional thinking.

Wisdom cannot be separated from honor wealth and prosperity.

The modern conventions are that to gain wealth you have to have:
     * An education,
     * A system,
     * A team,
     * A loan,
     * A program.
     * An angle.
     * A talent.
Just to name a few.

Wisdom trumps all systems because is it not a system- it is a gift from God that becomes a truth of who you are, it is a character trait.

Find wisdom first and you will be positioned to find riches, honor, wealth, and prosperity.

WISDOM IS

A gift from God:
"If any man lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him." James 1:5

Is reverent:
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom but fools despise instructions."  Proverbs 1:7.

Will be found when you seek it:
"The beginning of wisdom is this, acquire wisdom, though it cost all you have- get wisdom." Proverbs 4:7.

Is a reward from God.
"To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness." Ecclesiastes 2:26.

Is hidden (found in) in Christ:
" In order that they may know the mystery of Christ in whom are hidden all treasures wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2-3.

HONOR.
Wealth does not guarantee honor. In some cases, it may be accompanied by embarrassment and shame. Wisdom brings good things, and with those things, it brings honor and the esteem of others.

WISDOM IS BETTER
Wisdom is multidimensional, unlike wealth that is limited to material or finical value which fluctuates. Wisdom affects many more areas of life and character.

WISDOM SURPASSES:
Wealth by itself is limited to the finical realm, but there are no boundaries to the blessings that wisdom brings with it. The wealth wisdom brings is not only financial but spiritual, social, moral, and wealth of character.

WITHOUT WISDOM
It only takes a little imagination to foresee what happens to wealth when someone is foolish or lacks wisdom. The tales of lottery winners who squander their sudden wealth and acquire debts that exceed their winnings are countless, not to mention the many who come into a great inheritance and run themselves into financial ruin in a short time.

GET IT
Get wisdom by spending time with God, his Word, godly people, and service to him and those he loves. You just might find yourself wealthier than you ever imagined without adding a cent to the bank account.

 (c) Adron 8/20/16

What Is The Wisest Way To Use Your Money? John 12:3

Is it wise to use a product that is worth a year's wages on a one-time act that only gives comfort and demonstrates devotion?

"Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." John 12:3.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Mary came into the house with a gift for Jesus; it was a costly treasure, that when given is used up and can't be used again, once given it couldn't be undone.  Judas called Mary's giving and sacrifice a waste, he criticized the act saying there were better ways to use the gift, that it could have been sold and the money distributed to the needy, but Jesus said. "Leave her alone she has done a beautiful thing." Mark 14:6.

There will always be those who criticize our good actions; they may have good motives or like Judas, who stole from the money bag, have impure motives.

JESUS REACTION
The remarkable thing in the event was Jesus reaction to it.  He endorsed Mary's act of charity.  Jesus did not look at the bottom line or some matrix of resources versus need; instead, he looked at the heart of the giver.  What she did was done out of love and devotion to him and he praised her for it- a praise recorded for all time and speaks to us twenty-one centuries later.

THE OPPORTUNITY
Few of us will ever have the opportunity to give a year's wages to the Lord, Mary did and there is no record of her having any regrets about it.  If anyone had regrets in the incident it would have been Judas for having been rebuked by the Lord.

The opportunity to anoint Jesus' feet is not present today but there are other opportunities to use our resources for the Lord.

WISDOM
For Mary, it was an act of devotion and worship, an expression of a humble love that asks for nothing in return.  It may seem unwise to use your money or resources on something that is only an act of devotion but to the follower of Jesus if the praise of our Lord counts for anything then there is no wiser use of money or resources.

(c) Adron 4/18/15

What Does The Bible Say About Finding Resources To Get Out Of Poverty? Proverbs 13:23

We want to get out of poverty, but it seems that those who get ahead had some source that provided them with the means to move up.  Where did they get those resources to get ahead, and what can we do to get those resources for ourselves?

"Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice." Proverbs 13:23.

TILLAGE
Tillage is an old English word for working a field. Scholars interpret the way it is used in this verse as a field that is worked for the first time, like a homestead or venture. This would be a field that requires a lot of labor!

Tillage is hard work it is the opposite of the get rich scheme. Tillage is spending morning to night in the field under the sun as it burns your back and working tools until your hands blister. Tilling of soil is a common lowly job, and a basic skill; though it is hard work, it is something that any healthy person can do.

MUCH FOOD
The poor who till their lands not only find the basic necessities of life but even abundance. This abundance may be nourishment for other people.  All the worker needs is a little imagination and basic skills to bring in a good harvest, even surplus to sell and seed for next year's crop.

THE POOR
The poor may not have much, maybe a few yards of land. The verse above points out that he uses what he has and he works what is in hand, even if it is just a few yards of land, some seeds from last nights dinner, and his own muscle, he uses it to provide. He is not chasing get rich quick schemes or throwing precious resources away on lottery tickets; he is not daydreaming and pining for a better tomorrow.  He is working hard with the little he has.

TODAY'S TILLAGE
We do not live in the agricultural world the Bible spoke to but we have the equivalent of tillage today. It may not be a plot of land to farm but we have some skill in something, we have some training and experience in some way that we can farm.

Your tillage may be the mop you use to clean the kitchen floor. Take it and start cleaning the neighbor's kitchens.
Your tillage may be the spare room you can use to teach a skill or use as a work place.
Your tillage may be the needle and thread in your closet use it to mend for the local dry cleaner.
Your tillage may be your physical mobility so you can walk neighbors dogs, or deliver for a store as a contractor.
Your tillage may be some other skill someone said you had.

Look around at what you have and be willing to work those resources from morning to night six days a week for as long as it takes. If you work what God has blessed you with then after a time you will blessing others from your abundance. 

____________________________

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 Adron

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Can I Trust In Luck For Success or Wealth?

People play the lottery and hope to be rich, or gamble in other ways, like the stock market or ventures. They hope a turn of events will give them the lucky break. This does not guarantee success and has led many to ruin. Bible never suggest we trust in luck but shows the way that will be successful.

"By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."  Proverbs 24:3-4.

The house is figurative of a man's affairs and all he is connected to.

FIRST
The first thing in this verse is wisdom, we do not need luck we need wisdom. True wisdom comes from God and we need to seek it from Him. The house in this verse is built by wisdom; to build something is work. You can't escape it even with wisdom you have to work.

SECOND
Understanding follows wisdom. To understand something is to take time and think about it. Again this is work- the opposite of luck.

Understanding establishes the house, to be established is something that can't be undone or taken but if we are going into debt or taking risks we are moving the wrong direction.

THIRD
Knowledge does not come easy. We need to apply ourselves to study and learn the opportunities and risks around us. We need a go back to school mentality. We need the attitude and intensity as if we were studying for our final exams and our diploma depended on it.

IT IS WORTH IT
Opportunities come and we need these three to take advantage of them; if the opportunities do not come we need these three to make them.

See the progression in the Bible verse: first the house will be built, next established and last filled, but people today want the treasures before we have built the house. Or they skip the idea of being established and go into debt and that is the opposite of being established.

Do not spend your time and money chasing luck but spend your time finding wisdom from The Almighty, develop the ability to act on the basis of understanding and knowledge. Then your life will be filled with treasures.

(c) Adron

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Should We Just Spend Extra Money Any Way We Want?

If you have extra money and you want to buy something is it OK or does the Bible say there some restrictions to spending my money and having nice things and enjoying myself?

"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, the ears of the wise seek it out." Proverbs 18:15

DISCERNING
A discerning person makes sense of things, they can tell the good from the bad.

ACQUIRES KNOWLEDGE
To seek knowledge is to weigh and consider every purchase before you buy it. Take some time and get information.

SEEK
In our age of electronic data it is easy to get reviews and ratings on products, but the discerning goes beyond that.

They consider these questions...

     * Is it a necessity?
     * Is it the best value?
     * Will the purchase cause a burden of debt?
     * Does it add to the health of the family and relationships?
     * Does it glorify God for you to have it?
     * Does it mean expensive maintenance?
     * Will it enhance your ability to serve God and others?
     * Can you do without it?
     * Will it consume large quantities of your time?
     * Will it louse value quickly?
     * Could God have another purpose for this extra money than this purchase?

TIME
To seek and acquire knowledge takes time. To ask questions and get answers takes time. The wise are patient and do not fall in to the pressure of "act now or miss out." The discerning can see through the sleight of hand, confusion and smoke used to pressure a hasty purchase.

If the bills are paid, savings established, tithes and offerings given, and if the questions above and those like them are answered in the positive way then it may be that God intends to bless you with the purchase.

If there is doubt or lack of clarity it is best to pray and wait for the Lord to make the direction clear.

(c) Adron

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What Are Good Guidelines for Giving?

Does the Bible say who I should give my charity money to, or is it up to me?

"For they went out for the sake of the name accepting no help from the pagans. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers in the truth." 3 John 1: 7-8.

BACKGROUND
This Bible verse is from a passage giving praise to Gaius for his charity and hospitality to the traveling ministers of the Gospel in the early church.

WHO THEY WERE
Those who were serving the Lord were doing it sacrificially at a cost to themselves. They did not ask for help from those who were not believers in the message but trusted the Lord to provide.

OBLIGATION
The apostle John was saying we have an obligation to support those who were serving; he says we ought to, and we must.

In the early days this support was risky business it meant giving shelter or refuge for those serving the Church. It meant giving some of your own food or some of the little money you had.

THE TEST
Those they were to support were the ones who...
     * "Went out." these people left something behind; they left home, careers, future, family etc.
     * "For the sake of the Name." They had a dedicated commitment to Jesus.
     * "Accepting no help from pagans." They were not in it for the money.
     * "Workers in the truth." they had integrity. They had a focused mission of spreading the Gospel.

GIVE WISELY
We should give out of our abundance and we should give even if all we have is a widow's mite. We should give wisely and test those we share our financial blessings with. Take time and research to make sure the person or organization is following a call to minister the gospel, serving in truth and are operating with integrity.

When you give to those who serve you are becoming a fellow worker with them in the Gospel.

Is There A Special Trait That Leads To Wealth?

Is there a unique trait that is most likely to lead to wealth; and if there was a character trait that was going to mean you would increase your odds of becoming financially free and wealthy wouldn't it be a good idea to develop it in yourself? The Bible says there is such a character trait.

"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding....long life is in her right hand, in her left are riches and honor." Proverbs 3:13 &16

BLESSED
Blessing is associated with the favor of The Lord. To be blessed is another word for happy or joyful but the source is not circumstances or material goods instead it is the grace of God.

FIND WISDOM
Wisdom does not come naturally: it is something we find; that means we need to look for it. It takes effort. Our Father in Heaven wants us to be wise and he wants to give us wisdom but we must do our part too. "If any man lacks wisdom let him ask God who gives to all men liberally." James 1:5. Pray daily and ask for wisdom and God will give it to you.

Since wisdom comes from God (Proverbs 2:6.) to seek wisdom is also to seek God.

WISDOM
Many have tried to define exactly what wisdom is. It is associated with knowledge in the Bible and seems to be the best use of knowledge with the guidance of a moral set of values approved by God.

Wisdom is a lifelong pursuit. We must daily seek The Almighty and search His Word to find wisdom, and  we must pray for wisdom.

HOPE
The verse quoted above suggests that some do find wisdom. It is there and you may find it if you apply yourself to searching for it; and if you find it you will find the promise of long life and riches and honor.

What Is Wrong With Making a Quick Choice?

We hear all the time that the opportunity is now, act quickly, or for the next ten who purchase the offer is doubled. Sometimes it is the opportunity of a lifetime but it will be gone at midnight. Or we hear ten dollars will get you $1,000 in ten days. Should we jump at these seller tactics?

The Bible Says:

"The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thoughts to their steps."  Proverbs 14:15.

SIMPLE
This is not the simple of innocence but the simpleton who is foolish. This is the person who gets taken advantage of.

• They see only one side- the one that is dangled before them. 
• They are lead along in their thinking.  
• They do not see pass the immediate.
• They do not take the time to consider.

BELIEVE
They don't think about it much or they only look at the surface where the pretty packaging is, or repeat the alluring words of the advertisement in their minds.

BUT THE PRUDENT
This is the person who is wise and takes their time. They consider all options. They are cautious. They are patient. They research and look into the thing from other sources.

GIVE THOUGHT
This wise person turns things over in their mind looking at it from all sides. They take their time and will postpone the decision until after they have "slept on it." (It is no mistake that we always seem to hear these too good to be true offers late at night when we are vulnerable.) They know if it's real and if it's God's will it will be there later.

STEPS
The prudent has a plan. By having a finical agenda they are not tempted to jump at the get rich scheme since they are on the path to riches. They know that they are their own once in a lifetime opportunity because they are working toward a goal, so they don't need to fall for get rich quick schemes.

Be prudent take your time and think it over every which way before you act.

* * * * *

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Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy
Words of Comfort and Hope ©
By A.E. Dozat

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 (c)Adron Dozat 5/12/13