A Closer Walk
"In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words: industry and frugality. Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he can, will certainly become rich," Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, from "The Way To Wealth: Ben Franklin on Money and Success.” Mr. Franklin had a witty way of writing which was both wise and meaningful. Anyone anywhere can take his wisdom to heart and make it part of their life. Following this particular advice, if utilized properly, will produce the result he laid out.
According to Mr. Franklin, wealth and/or building wealth is as simple as finding the way to market. Do we know how to get to the grocery store? Do we know how to get to the lumber yard? Or anywhere else in town? We begin on the road to wealth by producing an income. Farming, welding, accounting, or any other field of endeavor can and does produce an income. In his list of "13 Virtues," Mr. Franklin described "Industry" as: "Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions." Being employed in "something useful," as he called it, serves society at large and ourselves in particular because doing something useful will eventually produce an income; or it will make us more proficient at something which can later produce an income. So industry is the first cornerstone or even foundation of a journey toward wealth.
Mr. Franklin additionally informs us that frugality is the second cornerstone on a journey to building wealth. In his "13 Virtues" he describes "Frugality'': as: "Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e., waste nothing." There are always avenues to cut down or eliminate expenses. Ask Wal-Mart. They are always on the hunt for ways to cut costs, which they then pass on to their customers. The way we've always done things may not be the best, or most cost efficient, way to continue doing things. Also being able to discern the difference between "Needs" and "Wants" can be extremely helpful. In our frail humanity we can sometimes turn a want into a desperate need; something we couldn't possibly live without. As we age we seem to do a better job of separating needs from wants.
There are some people who have the idea that Christians should not have wealth. So first let's define the word wealth. For our purposes here let's define it as the ability to provide for our needs both now and in the future. We save and invest in order to provide for our needs in the future; whether next year, in five years, in ten years, in twenty years or even more. To make this provision for our future we set aside funds from our current income and put it into savings or investments; saving for the immediate future, investments for the more distant future. If we determine to not accumulate wealth we are depriving ourselves and our communities of opportunities for us to support and provide funds for whatever our Lord chooses to put in front of us. Whether a family member or a friend in need, or some project at our church or in our community that we may decide to support.
Wealth, or the ability to accumulate wealth, comes from the Lord. "But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you the power to make wealth, That He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day," Deuteronomy 8:18 NASB. So our God grants us the vision to discern opportunities and to take advantage of them. “Seeing” opportunity is the first step in discerning whether or not something might be a good opportunity or a way to engage in folly and get us into trouble.
"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord,'" Job 1:20 NASB. Job was a wealthy man. But the Lord took it away. He lost his children, his livestock, and most of his servants. He stated that we came into this world with nothing and we will leave this world in the same condition. Nevertheless he worshiped the Lord. Regardless of what our future holds we should worship and praise our Lord.
The way to wealth is no secret. Any person anywhere has the capability to build wealth. It involves both industry and frugality. Work and Saving. It is our God who grants us the power to make wealth. Also available to any person, anywhere. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Nevertheless, blessed be the name of the Lord.
“There shall be showers of blessing: This is the promise of love; There shall be seasons refreshing, Sent from the Savior above. There shall be showers of blessing, If we but trust and obey; There shall be seasons refreshing, If we let God have his way. Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need; Mercy-drops round us are falling, But for the showers we plead.” Words by D. W. Whittle, 1840-1901, music by James McGranahan, 1840-1907.