“Just after I became a born again Christian, the impression that I had was that I only needed to be good, in particular, to be a good Christian to prosper. The impression in Christianity was that if you could serve God with all your heart, God was going to prosper you. Unfortunately, too many people still believe this theory and are writhing in poverty. It is not until much later in life that I discovered that it is actually the knowledge of the laws of money that are responsible for wealth. That is to say:
1. You don’t become wealthy because you are a good person. Otherwise, all the good people in the world would be wealthy. As a matter of fact in most societies, most of the wealthy people are not the best people.
2. Money doesn’t come to you because you do business. If that were true, how many businessmen do you know around you? Are they all very rich? No! Many people who do business, are not even aware of these laws of money. To me it is indeed pathetic that many people who have been involved in business for a few decades cannot even boast of a million US dollars. This is primarily because they are laboring without the necessary knowledge of the vital laws of money.
3. You don’t become rich because you are a Christian. Even though God promises Christians wealth and prosperity, but that is only on the condition that they abide by the laws of money. The Bible says God gives us the power to make wealth. Notice that God doesn’t give wealth, He gives the power to get it. Unfortunately, many Christians are still hoping and thinking that just because they are Christians, God is obliged to give them wealth. No sir, God gives you the skills that enables you to get wealth. He doesn’t give wealth, he gives you the power to go and get wealth.” END OF A LONG QUOTE.
What you’ve just read above is what I read some years ago that jolted me from dreamland to a point where I had to be frank with myself. I didn’t need anyone to convince me that just being a christian does not guarantee wealth. I came from a very serious Christian family myself and we weren’t wealthy. That’s to put it mildly. Too many people who are serious Christians are all around us that are at the same time very broke.
I later found that money is neutral. It doesn’t necessarily answer to any religion. If that weren’t so all the atheist billionaires that we have all over the world shouldn’t be billionaires. That is not to say God cannot direct this neutral “instrument” for the use of His children. He does everyday. All we are saying is that that is not the only way to access this instrument. You can make a lot of money without knowing God if only you know the laws of money. The richest people in the world currently are largely not even people of faith, yet some of them are richer than our entire country.
We can pray for God to provide and He does. However, when He does, He expects that apart from taking care of your immediate needs and also giving to those in need, you will cast some of the seeds to the ground so that it can multiply. Sometimes God even sends you sums that are entirely seed capital and He expects you to be able to invest and multiply it first before you are taking from it to support God’s work and also give to the poor.
That’s part of the point that Jesus was illustrating to us in the parable of the talents in Mathew 25:14-30. I wish you can read it in the Message Translation. It was actually a discussion on money and investment. The talent there isn’t talent as in singing, writing etc but a value of money. 2 talents can be tantamount to saying 2,000 dollars. Now go back and read that story again. Jesus was only pleased with the guys who doubled their seed capital.
If you need seed capital for your investment (business), Mathew 25:14-30 is a good scripture to engage God with. God was the one who gave those guys seed capital. He is the one who gives seed to the sower… 2 Cor. 9:10. But just like the parable of the sower, the master gave those servants seed capital according to their ABILITY. This is not mouth ability now. Not capacity to make mouth without results. Your ability is your demonstrated skill in handling and multiplying money. You grow this ability by learning the laws of money and putting them to work profitably with a little amount and then you grow your capacity to handle bigger amounts. Even God will not give you seed capital more than what you have ability to handle. You want more seed? Increase your ability.
No one can become sustainably wealthy by simply practising giving money in church or other similar stuffs. Yes, that’s a great thing to do and we must continue to do it more and more but primarily you aren’t supposed to give to God in order to get something back – giving as a business or investment. True giving is an act of worship which flows out of great love and admiration not a sense of transaction. The popular giving of the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 8&9 which is often quoted during tithe and offering in church was not a transactional giving. The church in Corinth was giving out of love for the Jerusalem church that was experiencing famine. It was long after they had been contributing the money (not before) that Paul told them the blessing in what they were doing. The blessing wasn’t their motivation but love for God and their colleagues in Jerusalem who were going through a difficult time. Please go and read the two chapters in full if you have never done so.
Virtually all the “prosperity preachers” in Nigeria who speak a lot about giving and receiving know these laws of money and practise them. They have big investments in all the “happening” sectors. That’s what has sustained the wealth. It’s more than simply giving and receiving. They invest actively using the laws of money. Let no one therefore tell you that all you need to do to be wealthy is to sow more seed in church. No. Learn and use the laws of money and when you get more bountiful harvests, you’ll be able to give fat offerings to support God’s work BUT out of love for God and not a desire to get anything back.
Considering how critical finance is to a stable and happy marriage (of course if other things are equal), you will do well to pay serious attention to this and walk your way up. If you’re an adult, this is more important to your future than most other things. Choose to break the generational baton of poverty. There are finance pages I visit every week and I spend sometimes up to four hours at a stretch pouring through materials. If you’ve tasted poverty before and have seen how the little you currently know has shifted your finances, you will know the value of getting more information. Sufficiency is a great experience my friends.
I will recommend a few materials that you can commence your journey of learning the laws of money with. Do your best to get your partner to read also. You should then both discuss them. If not, there still won’t be financial agreement. The other party will NEVER UNDERSTAND why you will choose to live far below your income for instance. S/he will say you’re suffering yourself for nothing and fight you all the way. You both need to read.
Lay your hands on:
1. The richest man in Babylon by George S. Clason.
2. Money won’t make you rich by Sunday Adelaja.
3. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.
4. Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki.
5. Guide to Investing by Robert Kiyosaki.
6. The conspiracy of the Rich by Robert Kiyosaki.
The above books are for starters. From there, you can easily find your way to Senior class. Read them carefully, meditate, get a financial mentor who has DONE whatever you’re trying to do for guidance and walk your way up.
Please try not to be broke in your life. Your marriage will be the first beneficiary. And if you choose to be broke, your marriage may be the first casualty.
The series on Finance continues next week.
Your brother,
Peniela Eniayo, Akintujoye.
©Peniela Eniayo Akintujoye| hello@lovestraighttalks.com
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