God has been speaking to me A LOT about wealth. I’ve been listening to a series on financial stewardship and then He started to show me how he views money ( Kingdom) not the worlds idea or way. First of all God wants His children to thrive. We can’t move His Kingdom agenda forward if we don’t have resources. He even says, I have plans to prosper you. He says I have good plans for you. He says I came so you can have life and life more abundantly. He also says I will do beyond what you can imagine. So, let’s break this down.

What is your mindset about money?

Do you have a poverty mindset about money? I did but God is shattering that now.

What do you and would you use the money that has been given for?

We must look at money like a single brick. God gives you a brick. What are you going to do with that brick? Are you going to use it to take care of your family? Are you going to use it to build something that God considers will last and change lives? Are you going to use it for ill gotten gains? He is very clear that it’s all His. We are just stewards. For where your treasure is, so is your heart. Do you turn your back on others? Do you think the money is yours? It’s important that we begin to see things from God’s point of view and not our own. The only way we can do that is to spend time with God and let Him reveal the unknowns. He says I will teach you thing you do not know, great and unsearchable things. Wisdom only comes from God. God says the love of money is evil but not money itself. If you are tightfisted with your money, then you may have a heart issue that God wants to help you with. He doesn’t want you to be foolish but He also wants you to hold everything loosely.

After the financial stewardship series, God led me to this book- Poverty, Riches, and Wealth. Let me share an excerpt…

Chapter 3

The idea that all believers should be wealthy seems offensive, arrogant, and prideful at best, and ignorant, exaggerated and misleading at worst. Yet it is 100 percent true all of the time. Now, before you decide to jump off my ship and swim to the safety of Familiar Island, let me be clear that not every believer should be rich, because rich and wealthy are two completely different things. Let me contrast poverty, riches, and wealth for you and see if you agree. In Proverbs the wisest king who ever lived often used contrasting truths held in tension to reveal his ageless wisdom. ( Remember he asked God for wisdom). Here are a few examples from Solomon’s writings.

Ill- gotten gains do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death

The wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will be ruined

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.

He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in the harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

So your probably wondering what do these verses even mean. Keep with me.

Poverty lives for today, but wealth leaves a legacy. ( Disclaimer, God will sometimes allow you to go through very trying seasons to get your heart realigned. Job went through a challenging season. Joseph went through a challenging season) However, that is not where you are suppose to stay.

Poverty finds problem in every opportunity, while wealth finds an opportunity in every problem. Stop the self pity. You are an heir.

Poverty feels entitled, while wealth feels empowered. What has God called you to do? Do you even know? God will give you strategies for wealth that will align with His purposes for you.

Poverty fears the future, yet wealth makes history. Fear cannot harm you if you don’t let it. Read about who God says you are. I had to spend a lot of time with God to get out of that mindset. Fear robbed me. Now I can see where I am becoming stronger.

Poverty blames others for it’s condition but wealth takes responsibility even for things that were not its fault.

Poverty asks what are you going to do for me? Wealth asks, “Who is worthy of my investment?”

Poverty hangs around with other disgruntled sorts who validate, but wealth surrounds itself with other powerful influencers. God should be your number one influencer by the way. Watch the company you keep always.

Poverty votes for candidates who will increase its entitlements, while wealth elects officials who will sacrifice today’s comfort for tomorrow’s children.

Now let’s contrast the difference between rich mindsets, and wealth mindsets.

Rich people get their identity from the things they own. They are easily impressed when others have bigger shiny things. Wealthy people’s identity comes from who they are, not what they own.

Rich people either spend a lot of time trying not to lose “their” money, or spend time wasting it on themselves. Wealthy people’s money is just and expression of who they are, so they are confident in their well being.

Rich people work for money, while wealthy people’s money works for them.

Rich people think of their assets, but wealthy people dream of their legacy.

Rich people give to people. Wealthy people invest in people with the expectation of a return. A predetermined outcome. A changed neighborhood, a transformed life or business.

Rich people think their money protects them, they have a sense of being above the law. Solomon put it like this… A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination. But wealthy people are inherently humble, because they are thankful, knowing that the source of their provision is the Lord.

Rich people have a vision for the things they can buy. Wealthy people have a vision for the legacy they are leaving.

Rich people compete for money. Wealthy people are compelled by destiny.

Rich people step on others to move up. Wealthy people measure success by the people they help up.

The rich person’s goal is to make money, whereas a wealthy person’s profession yields profit as the fruit of serving others well.

Okay so let that all sink in. I was convicted as a read this book but one more thing before I go. GENEROSITY IS THE KEY TO PROSPERITY. It’s one of the best kept secrets because your generosity determines the capacity of your distribution system that reciprocates your investment in the Kingdom. Give and it will be given to you. Read the book of Luke and Proverbs. Think about it this way, if prosperity began with receive instead of give, then each of us would be powerless to produce wealth until someone decided to contribute to our welfare. You always have something to give. Where are you sowing?