Day 14 | 21-Day Growth Challenge | "Increase the Old Fashioned Way"

Sunday, September 12, 2010 Bryan Hudson 7 Comments







Proverbs 13:11 (NLT), Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.


The New Living Translation has an interesting way of interpreting scripture. For our 21 Day Growth Challenge on the topic of "Prosperity God's Way," verse 11 is an ideal scripture.

As with many of the proverbs of Solomon, each verse is the contrast in concepts. When you watch late night television, you're bound to see some of the get rich quick program length commercials that promise the world with little to no required "skin in the game." As previous Proverbs have shown in this series, there are no lack people who choose to be a simple-minded and lack good judgment.

Someone once said, "A sucker is born every minute." Those who walk in wisdom from the Lord will never become "suckers" for the schemes of those who do no real work.

Working hard and working smart are surefire ways towards wealth. We should be clear that wealth is a relative term. When I visit places like Nigeria or Tijuana Mexico, I am reminded that nearly all Americans are wealthy and blessed by God. Certainly, we're not talking about the wealth of people like Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey. We're not talking about the wealth of professional athletes. We're talking about wealth from the perspective of having a full supply and enough over to give to others.

The book of Proverbs, and indeed the whole Bible, support the idea of increase by means of hard work. Sometimes people criticize people who are materially successful, without understanding the hard work and sacrifices that such persons have contributed towards their own success. Many of these same people are employers of many who read this post.


PRAYER:
"Lord, help me always recognize the true source of wealth. Give me grace to work hard and smart. Show me where to spend my time and energy."

ACTIVATION:
(Use comment section below to share your insights. Record sensitive items in your personal journal. You can login or simply use your first name.)
  1. What is one example of a get-rich-quick-scheme?
  2. What other verse(s) in Proverbs 13 stand out to you, and why?
  3. What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
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COMMENT SECTION:
Click on "Comments" to read others and add yours afterwards.

7 comments :

  1. 1.) There are many internet scams out there! Chain letters or money laundering.

    2.)"Some people pretend to be rich but really have nothing. Others pretend to be poor but really are wealthy" Prov 13:7 NCV

    This is reminds me of so many television shows where the boss swaps places with a regular employee to see the true hardships of the choices the boss has made for his/ her company.

    3.)This reminds me to stop dragging my feet when God has given me strength and true means to gain wealth. I need to get on the ball and not be so susceptible to laziness!

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1. One example of a get rich quick scheme comes to us via the Internet disguised as a business opportunity that involves cashing checks for a foreign company that cannot cash the checks themselves due to international red tape. All one has to do is cash the check sent by the foreign business and sit back and receive 10-20% of the check’s total as payment. Unfortunately, if one falls for this scheme, what they will get is a bill from the bank to make the counterfeit check they cashed whole, and in the meantime the con artist is long gone with the money.

    2. The verse that stands out is Prov. 13:10 (NIV) Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

    This verse reminds us not to be arrogant because this characteristic does nothing but cause us to ignore wise counsel due to believing we possess greater intelligence than others do. Conversely, wisdom breeds respect and peace because the wise individual realizes that they are not omniscient, and therefore does not offend others by rudely rejecting sound advice genuinely meant for their edification, but instead accept it with grace.

    3. I will continue to seek wisdom in order to discern sound counsel when it is offered.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 2.Proverbs 13:7 stands out to me.
    "One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth."
    I don't understand what it means.
    3.I'm thankful to God for my job and the ability to do my best. I will show him how grateful I am for it; with no complaining and doing my daily task with a joyful heart.
    -Davis

    ReplyDelete
  4. What is one example of a get-rich-quick-scheme?
    pyramid plans.

    What other verse(s) in Proverbs 13 stand out to you, and why?
    verse 20 He who walks with the wise grows wise,
    but a companion of fools suffers harm.
    - I have seen this in action in my life and in the lives of others.

    What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
    Continue to walk with wise people.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1. One example of a get-rich-quick scheme is that offered by the gambling industry. This includes the lottery, casinos, horseracing, and many other type of gambling that sets a trap with the lure of the possibility of great gain for what seems to be a small amount of money until a person is trapped. Also, if a person wins, it can only be at the expense of large numbers of other persons that have to lose.
    2. The other verses that stand out to me are in Proverbs 13:13-14, 18. The reason why is because I need to remember that advice given by the wise may sometimes sound like criticism, that I do not want to receive, but rather ignore. If I despise right criticism, or wise advice, and as a result will not receive and act on the advice given by the wise, I will find myself in trouble. However, if I respect , receive, and willingly follow wise advice, I will succeed in living in a way that honors God and people, and I will avoid the traps, ”snares of death “, that lead to poverty and disgrace.
    3. The action I will take today is to accept and act on the advice of the wise from today’s lesson on Proverbs 13:11.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dennis, Joycell, TiaraSeptember 14, 2010 at 10:10 PM

    1.What is one example of a get-rich-quick-scheme? Going to the casino and spending all your money on a slot machine, blackjack table, roulet table, poker, dice or any game of chance where people think they will get rich quick and make a great deal of money "there are no shortcuts to wealth".

    2.What other verse(s) in Proverbs 13 stand out to you, and why? Verse 3: Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. And whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin. That means when you open your mouth before you think you put your foot in your mouth; witch means you say something thats not relevent or spoken out of place.
    3.What actions will you take today related to this lesson? I will not put my foot in my mouth and i will think before I speek and if i don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1) Pyramid schemes are an example of a get rich scheme. Only the people who start up the investing scheme get out of it what is promised.

    2)Proverbs 13:20 "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble." There is a saying that you become what you hang around. I am friends with people who can challange me spiritually. This is important because friends speak into your life.

    ReplyDelete