October 10, 2010
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It’s easy to
create wealth. The greatest enemy of that attitude is poverty. People
have
several outlooks regarding money. Let’s review them. Wealthy – These folks do
work harder than
most and they are typically anchored in purpose. The stereotype of
luxury and a
life of ease doesn’t describe them as much as sacrifice and
perseverance. They
are exposed to a steady stream of new opportunities and ideas, and they
“wisely” move on the best ones. What sets them apart most is their zeal
for
purpose, which often translates to ministry – blessing others with a
product or
service. Money is simply a tool that serves their purpose, not a goal
in
itself. Wealth always flows toward Kingdom purpose. Wealthy wannabes – These folks
are presently without
money, but they have great vision. Their track is to use other people’s
money
to leverage a path to their own wealth. They are susceptible to
impatience and
prone to swing for the fences. They can lack the wisdom that comes with
experience. Purpose is often confused in the process of focusing too
much on
wealth. They eventually make it if they get mentoring. Their ability to
dream
is a good thing… a God thing… a stage we all need to go through. Middle Class – These folks
are steady workers in a
job or business with which they are comfortable. They believe that
wealth is
out of their reach, and trust their future to pensions and retirement
plans.
They have faith to pay the bills and support themselves, but that’s it.
It’s OK
to stay in this place. We just have to admit it’s a choice to leave
some of God’s
blessing, and some of our ministry calling on the table. We don’t have
to be healed or speak in tongues
or have
wealth to go to heaven – it’s up to us to contend for God’s provisions! Poverty – These folks
don’t believe they can
create wealth, have lost hope, and often see themselves as victims.
Their focus
is on finding people to help them or signing up for new entitlements
through
God, the government, their friends, or church. The promise - God has given
every believer the
ability to have life, and life more abundantly. He’s given us talents
and
opportunities to exploit. Our stewardship of those opportunities and
ideas is a
key ingredient of faith that creates wealth. I have to believe that
wealth is a
possibility for me. If I know that learning to multiply money is part
of God’s
plan, I will watch for the opportunities. For
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,
yet for
your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become
rich. 2
Cor 8:9 NIV Now
he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply
and
increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your
righteousness.
11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on
every
occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God. 2
Cor 9:10-11 NIV I’m more than
conqueror (not a victim) - We own the
responsibility to create
wealth before God – We are not victims of our personal circumstances.
The
expectation that others should make me wealthy is the essence of
poverty, the
welfare mentality, and the root of passivity in Christians. At whatever
stage or economic status I find myself, I can dream, I can begin now to
work,
save some of the money I make, and eventually invest in
income-generating
assets that will support my dream. I can be faithful in that which is
another
man’s (a job) until I have my own. Then I can own land, make
investments, start
a business around a product or service that I am able to provide, to
bless
others as an expression of my ministry. The prodigal - The greatest
reinforcement of
poverty is misguided giving - too much money in the hands of people not
mature
enough to multiply it. The prodigal son spent his inheritance on his
lusts.
That is the key symptom of poverty. You
ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you
may
spend it on your pleasures (lusts). James 4:3 NASU We’ve got “wealth
transfer”
backward!!! - God
views those who squander wealth and talent, instead of managing it, as
wicked.
God himself transfers wealth from those who lose it to those who
steward it… He
effectively transfers wealth from the poor to the wealthy! Amazing! How
often
is our benevolent redistribution of wealth working against the plan of
God? "'Take
the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For
everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.
Whoever
does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that
worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be
weeping and
gnashing of teeth.' Matt 25:28-30 NIV Whoever
has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be
taken
from him." Mark 4:25 NIV Therefore
consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more;
whoever does
not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." Luke 8:18
NIV Helping the poor – We can and
should be good
Samaritans and give to those suffering from humanitarian disasters. I
appreciate the generosity of our people and our government in that
regard.
However, giving money to people in a lifestyle of poverty, simply
reinforces
the enslavement of their poverty mentality. I’m going to refer you to a
couple
of links for more info on this topic: Dead
aid - http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/resources/transcripts/0142.html Uncle
Sam’s Plantation - http://www.urbancure.org/article.asp?id=3208 What can we do to really help
those in
poverty? Adjust our
definition of
discipleship to
include wealth creation. “Entreprenurial” is a spiritual discipline
that
requires faith and action on the basis of redemption… just like
salvation,
healing, prayer, etc. Once you see it as part of God’s personal plan
for you,
the condemnation comes off and you find the means and the mentors to
make it
happen. Wealth creation is a door to ministry that opens when you knock. "So
I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock
and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives;
he who
seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke
11:9-10 NIV Add wisdom – Much of our
emphasis on revelation
and God’s power leaves believers waiting on God. We need a better
balance
between wisdom and revelation when it comes to wealth creation in the
marketplace. God isn’t going to tell us which stocks to pick! Using
wisdom and
a mentor, however, makes a task like that very doable. Personal
responsibility – Let’s teach
people how to work and
save and put their own money to work in income-generating assets. Let’s
teach
them to create wealth and get out of the poverty mindset. It really is
possible. That’s what Releasing Kings is all about. PS: You
may
also enjoy the video
version of this newsletter.
Desire to Destiny is available now at our store along with reviews. Not sure what your dream is? This book will help you pull the curtain back on your future. Newsletter - If your newsletter comes incomplete (filtered), you can always catch the latest version in our archive along with 200 others. 1800+ people from around the world get Kingly encouragement from our weekly newsletter. Invite a friend to subscribe - they will be blessed. How to Start a Small Group - Kings are increasingly getting involved in Bible study or mentoring groups to facilitate their "Release." Here are some helpful suggestions www.Releasing-Kings.com/Starting-a-Group.html. We've also updated our Vision Brochure with graphics to show how to become a King and how you can help Release Kings. Lastly we've created a guideline to help you take your dream to the next level by considering the elements of a business plan. See Write Your Business Plan. French Translation - Releasing Kings is now available in French thanks to the efforts of Cees Bakker and Support Ministries in the Netherlands. In France, copies can be obtained from Editions Menor or Librairie Chretienne CLC. The Title in French is “Libération des Rois pour le ministère dans le monde du travail”. Cees is also the guy who made the Dutch translation possible - available through his website. He can be contacted for Releasing Kings conferences in France and throughout Europe. Facebook - I'm posting more information on Face book at http://www.facebook.com/john.garfield1
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