The True Source of Wealth

During the week here at Free Money Finance, one of the subjects I write about is how we each can make more money. (Lately, I've focused a lot on careers, noting that your career is your most valuable financial asset and managing it correctly can earn you millions of dollars in extra income throughout your lifetime.) However, on Sundays, I get to write about money topics from a spiritual angle, and today would like to explore what I consider my true source of wealth.

When I think of where wealth originates, Deuteronomy 8:18 always comes to mind. It says:

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

I have heard my pastor say several times that "one idea from God is better than decades worth of work." I believe it. I've seen it in action. I've witnessed people work all their lives to barely get by while another person, with a single, inspired idea, is made wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.

I've seen it in my own life as well. God has given me insight, ideas, and favor (Psalm 5:12) that have "given me the ability to produce wealth." There's no other way to explain it. In addition, He's coupled this with His great wisdom (much of it from Proverbs) that has allowed me to manage my money successfully and grow my net worth. It's these principles I write about on Monday through Saturday.

Don't get me wrong -- God hasn't simply dropped a bundle of money into my lap. I've had to work hard (Proverbs 10:4), but God has been faithful along the way and coupled my hard work with ideas and insights that have been far beyond what I could have done with just hard work. Far beyond.

I'm sure some out there will dismiss these thoughts as simply "you really did it yourself." Others will likely chime in with the usual "religion as a crutch" or some sort of other derogatory comment. If they want to ignore or discount what I've said, then that's fine with me. I know the true story -- that it's God who has given me the ability to produce wealth.

Comments

[Brian]

Thank you for your Sunday posts that mention personal faith along with personal finance. So few "common folks" (non-clergy) are talking about these issues. You're setting a great example for the rest of us.

[Eric]

Amazing! It's practically unheard of to find someone willing to make the connection between God and money. Many Christians take their cue from Jesus saying "You can not serve both God and Money" and believe that matters of faith are completely divorced from matters of the checkbook - when in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Ideally, the Christian should be excellent in business, because we manage all our assets as God's, and we commit to the Lord everything we do. Thanks for your courage to be a Christian in the world of business, and for encouraging me to do the same.

[Melissa]

Thank you for telling it like it is!

[Serenity23]

I found your site through another blog. I was happy to see that you recognize and write about the true source of all of what we have. We also have to remember that even when he blesses us, we have to be good stewards over what he gives us today, so that we can receive more tomorrow.

[Maria Palma]

I commend you on your post...It came at a perfect time for me :)

[nishant verma]

this is just what the body of Christ needs if we are to preach the good news to every creature.( obviously after being annointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit)