Don’t Let Your Pursuit of Wealth Affect Your Integrity – It Could Lead To Destruction

Proverbs 21:6 Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.

The pursuit of wealth, if not directed under the guidance and stewardship of God can be very very dangerous. My dear reader it has been clearly written that the love for money is the root of all evil. We need to note clearly that it says “The love for money and not that money is evil”. Loving money is different from lacking it but also those who lack it can be pushed to limits to do whatever it takes to get it. It is both dangerous to love money and to lack it, that’s why we need to know the truth behind this thing called money, you will find that there is so much about this thing that the bible even says it answers all things.

During the course of 2016, someone told me and my friend that we would amount to nothing, the person mentioned that it was hard to do deals with us because we are "Christians". He also said that we could never grow rich or wealthy. In my heart, I declared that I am richer than the money in my pocket or in my bank account. I know that I am rich in values and virtues that are strongly apart of my everyday Christian walk. I know that the God I serve owns everything and that he gives me the power to create wealth. God’s power to create wealth is genuine, it isn’t corrupt, it isn’t extortion. 

His word talks of how when you are diligent in work and what God has called me to do, it leads to wealth and also talks of how laziness brings about poverty. All I need to know is how to use these God-given skills and truths in a full application in my everyday life. 

I know that without goods and services to people, money won't come to me, I also know that if I don't engage in the production of anything that adds value to the lives of people then money still won't come, I know for a fact that God has to be my number priority to guide me in my everyday affairs, I also know that I need to show that God has called me to fruitfulness, not just claiming a good life of cars, nice houses, etc without applying due diligence, people covet, claim, wish and do nothing about working, they will even tell you I don't have to work, I am already blessed, otherwise, we wouldn't be using the internet to share all these things, if the inventor sat back and did not do what he was inspired to do the world wouldn't be connected on the web.

We wouldn't be using cell phones If Henry Sampson, the inventor of Cellular Phones also sat back. It is because of this man that I can talk on my phone from Uganda to anyone in the Southern Pacific or deep down in Switzerland. We need to create products, services that add value to the lives of people, when people are in need of them, you get paid. We should engage our minds to think and avoid the concept of things coming freely, yet we can work and be fruitful as God requires of us.

I happened to sit in the counsel of an elder. She told me a story about her workplace. In her workplace, people did not like her because of her faith. She was a very integral person who kept her books of account very well. She was very hard to bribe and she was even threatened with death countless times. One day one of her colleagues asked her to do the wrong thing and she vehemently refused. This man she was telling me about had been extorting money of people by creating accounts with names of people who don't exist, some long-dead (ghost employees). He stole enough money and money from those who were also still alive.

He set out to build his house and while his was constructing. It is said that the house was built in such a way that the builders did not use the right measurements. They actually stole from him as well what he stole from people. As his house was finished he was bidding his landlord farewell, no sooner had he entered his new house than it came crumbling down. He had left his rented place and also had no where to stay since his house was no more (Double Tragedy).

David Cameron, British PM at the time said, "If the amount of money stolen out of Nigeria in the last 30 years was stolen in the UK, then the UK would not exist again". This is a strong statement and it shows that our actions if not sanctioned can lead to total destruction.

I think what the writer says in Proverbs 21:6 is so true wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap. This man lost his money and his house, what a way to be repaid?

I want to encourage us to purpose to grow but grow little by little. Get rich schemes, conning, bribing people, killing people to extort money are some of the deadliest traps that can happen to a human being. You would rather be what Proverbs 19:1 says “Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.” It is written there is a way that seems right to a man but its end is destruction, follow the way of righteousness and not your own ways.

#Impact #Empower #Transform

Why We Need To Be Diligent

By James Abola

Personal Finance Management From A Christian Perspective

This week’s reflection is on diligence as an employee or an entrepreneur. The word diligent means steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.

Diligence is what a diligent person does. Therefore a diligent person is focused, persistent, action oriented, careful, productive and attentive. A diligent employee or entrepreneur is bound to be extremely successful.

Let us take a little bible survey to examine six blessings that accrue to the diligent person.

Diligence leads to dominion while laziness results in being dominated. Proverbs 12:24 “The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor.”

Not many people are noble by birth, nor well connected; but they can still get ahead and become leaders and managers by being diligent. Joseph and Esther offer biblical examples of how otherwise ordinary people became rulers because they were diligent. Instead of hating or disliking the boss, be diligent and perhaps you will end up becoming boss one day.

Diligence makes the difference between being rich or poor. Proverbs 10:4 “He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

A person who is diligent in work or business is able to increase his/her income through higher productivity and exceeding the expectations of the employer or customer.

Diligence is necessary for seizing opportunities. Proverbs 12:27 “The slothful man does not catch his game or roast it once he kills it, but the diligent man gets precious possessions.”

Many people either miss opportunities or don’t see them at all but being diligence will help you to both recognize and seize opportunities.

Diligence leads to profit and satisfaction. Proverbs 13:4 “The appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied.”

Even when all doors are shut in her face, the diligent person will persist until they find a way.

Diligence leads to growth and promotion. Proverbs 22:29 “Do you see a man diligent and skilful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

The diligent employee makes himself indispensable, by producing quality work. Similarly a diligent business owner will exceed the expectations of his clients making them repeat customers and unpaid marketing agents for his business. When you purpose to become excellent in something be it work or business, the quality of your work and your good reputation will open better doors for you.

Diligent planning avoids daydreams and nightmares. Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.”

Many people have lost money and even their reputation because of get rich quick schemes. The key to having more than enough or getting a financial breakthrough is by laying diligent plans. Diligent planning is not only well thought out but also gets implemented and is committed to God according to Proverbs 16:3. There is a Japanese saying that captures it well: “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.”

Work Is Profitable

Work is Profitable

Proverbs 14:23– “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

When we read the story of creation, it gives us a picture of how valuable man is to the things that God has created. He gave man dominion over all his creation.

***Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted***

There were two things that could not allow plants or shrubs to grow. 

1. No rain 

2. No Man to attend to (cultivate) it.

This is the account of Genesis 2:5

It is written in Genesis 2:15 " Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."

We are created to work, there should be no place for laziness. When we diligently work, we reap the rewards as well. It is also written in Proverbs 12:11– “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.”

Dave Ramsey says that the only way to beat being broke is by going to WORK, work isn't necessarily only a JOB, we have been blessed with so much potential and we only need to come out and do something. It is also written in Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."

 

So lets not ignore work, we are God's workmanship created to do good works. You reap what you sow, if it is laziness, then there will be no fruit.