Money is not a sign of blessing
After reading,
Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
I instantly became reminded of the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-29) and the world's sales and marketing methods.
Money is not always a sign of prosperity and blessings.
God knows who will serve him with and without. Yet, proverbs, a book of wise instructions, lay a framework for two things we should desire from God.
Remove far from me falsehood and lying.
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
As I dive more into marketing and sales, I find the methods one uses to garner sales interesting. It often looks like creating urgency or feeding a scarcity mindset. I've observed various models and even experienced "deceit" first-hand. Had the young lady at the gym been honest about the membership sale, I would have been more inclined to buy.
Integrity: character outways anything and directly reflects upon our relationship with God. And here in the book of Proverbs, this author states, removing from them falsehood and lying, paired with poverty and riches.
"The 'falsehood and lies' of v. 8 are the deceptiveness of wealth and poverty. The former convinces one that God is not necessary, and the latter, that either he is of no help or that his laws are impossible to keep." (Garrett; Enduring Word)
In the life of the Rich Young Ruler, we see a man whose identity is found in what he does—neglecting that who He truly is can only be found in the one who created him.
Perhaps, more importantly, the wealthy man is often a successful doer. He has done well, so he is rich. It is very easy for him to think that salvation and his relationship with the Lord is also a matter of successful doing when really it is about humble receiving (Enduring Word).
True WEALTH is a relationship with Christ.
Everything else is smoke and mirrors or a training ground for character development. Do not be persuaded by the gold of this world that you neglect biblical truths. God knows what we need when we need it!
Let's stop turning the church house into a storehouse and pimping the gospel.
Let's operate with wisdom and store up as God advises.
Let's build businesses with honesty and integrity, allowing our character to be a light and liaison for the church.
Let's stop adapting the world's business methods and allow God to guide us.
Let the foolishness of your faith confound the wisdom of the world.
Let's trust God and obey.
Let's be content with just enough.
I now understand God's provision found in daily manna with the children of Israel—we are no different. Too many of the world's habits have crept into our lives. We are in this world, not of it. We should lead the charge because we are connected to a well that can never dry.
Lord, help us to live like it.
Your accountability partner,
Janae Carlee