Daily Devotional
King Solomon and The Wealth Resource
By Latrice Pace
This week's topic: The Pursuit Of Wealth
With the instability of today‘s economy, the pursuit of wealth has seem to become the priority of many. Wealth provides stability and security, that safety net of protection against an unforeseen decline in one’s living standard.
Everybody wants to feel safe and secure.
The concept of wealth has varied across time. It can be categorized into three principal categories: personal property (homes or automobiles); income (the accumulation thereof and monetary savings); and the capital wealth of income producing assets (real estate, stocks and bonds).
All of these are of great economic value and an important part of our social classes; However, I believe wealth can be defined as either an abundance of the aforementioned things or resources.
When thinking of resources, the ancient Chinese proverb immediately comes to mind. “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish (equip him with resources) and he will eat for a lifetime.” What better resource do we have than King Solomon.
At the age of 12, he ascended the thrown of Israel. God appeared to him and offered to grant him one desire. Honestly, at the age of 12, I probably would have asked for an iPod, puppy, digital camera, a bike, clothes, or video games. Solomon asked for wisdom. Wisdom will not only cause you to acquire these things, but I‘ll give you insight on how to create your own brand of these things.
God gave Solomon wisdom—the deepest of understanding and the largest of hearts. There was nothing beyond him, nothing he couldn't handle. Solomon's wisdom outclassed the widely praised wisdom of wise men of the East, outshone the famous wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone. He became famous among all the surrounding nations. He created 3,000 proverbs; his songs added up to 1,005.
Even then he knew the wealth to be acquired in songwriting. Sent by kings from all over the earth who had heard of his reputation, people came from far and near to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.
He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless people and pursuits will have poverty enough. (Proverbs 28:19- Amplified)
Solomon warns us against following worthless people, people with no added value to their life. I’d even say people with no integrity for they will have more than their share of poverty. There are so many schemes today guaranteeing instant riches with little or no work. Those who work hard will reap the rewards of their efforts.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24 - Amplified)
Simply put, there is an old adage which says, “He who has the gold makes the rules.”
There are 2,998 other proverbs (resources) we can learn from. Solomon was the richest man who ever lived and was never in pursuit of the wealth and riches he obtained. His true wealth was in his Godly wisdom.
How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?... poverty come like a robber or one who travels [with slowly but surely approaching steps] and your want like an armed man [making you helpless] (Proverbs 9,11- Amplified).
No more procrastination, no more excuses, no more laziness and slothfulness for poverty will surely sneak up on you and render you helpless.
WAKE UP
SEEK GODLY WISDOM
GET A DREAM, A VISION, A PLAN
BE DILIGENT
DISCERN: PARTNER/SOCIALIZE WITH SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE
WATCH GOD GIVE YOU INSIGHT AND INSTRUCTION
If any lacks wisdom, let him ask of the giving God who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproach or faultfinding, and it will be given him. (James 1:5- Amplified)
If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You will get His help.
Scripture Of The Day: "The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor." - Proverbs 12:24 (Amplified)
Latrice A. Pace, longtime member of Gospel group, The Pace Sisters. Latrice was recently featured in Tyler Perry’s What’s Done In The Dark, as well as the stage musical play, Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel. She has performed with and contributed background vocals for many of today’s most popular gospel artists.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Pursuit Of Wealth
Daily Devotional
The Pursuit of Wealth
By Bonnie St. John
This week's topic: The Pursuit Of Wealth
When she was alive, my mother loved the movie, The Sound of Music: Beautiful scenery in the Alps, favorite old tunes, and a powerful love story. The poor young woman named Maria failed as a nun, but fell in love with and married the wealthy Baron and adopted his seven children!
But what my mother talked about the most over the years wasn’t the love story. She always marveled at how Maria Von Trapp, the former nun, led her new husband and step-children on foot in the middle of the night over the mountains for days to escape the Nazis. What courage it took to leave behind their palatial home, friends and massive fortune! They went to America with nothing but their faith and God-given talent to become the world famous singing family blessed with new lands, more children, and a lasting legacy.
So many people would have hesitated and been arrested. Or worse, collaborated with the Nazi crimes to avoid capture. The lesson, my mother said, was that having character and standing up for your beliefs was the only real wealth in the world. Believing in God more than your possessions and more than the title and power of “Baron,” made the Von Trapp family able to find not only material wealth, but even more importantly, overflowing love, happiness and freedom.
The little nun who fell in love with Prince Charming and his family didn’t find her happily ever after in his earthly kingdom. Quite the reverse. He and his children were saved by her total reliance on the kingdom of God. And that’s a real happily ever after!
Scripture Of The Day: “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” - Deuteronomy 8:18
Bonnie St. John is a professional speaker and Olympic medalist, who has appeared on the Today Show, CNN, the 700 Club, and Life Today. The author of How
The Pursuit of Wealth
By Bonnie St. John
This week's topic: The Pursuit Of Wealth
When she was alive, my mother loved the movie, The Sound of Music: Beautiful scenery in the Alps, favorite old tunes, and a powerful love story. The poor young woman named Maria failed as a nun, but fell in love with and married the wealthy Baron and adopted his seven children!
But what my mother talked about the most over the years wasn’t the love story. She always marveled at how Maria Von Trapp, the former nun, led her new husband and step-children on foot in the middle of the night over the mountains for days to escape the Nazis. What courage it took to leave behind their palatial home, friends and massive fortune! They went to America with nothing but their faith and God-given talent to become the world famous singing family blessed with new lands, more children, and a lasting legacy.
So many people would have hesitated and been arrested. Or worse, collaborated with the Nazi crimes to avoid capture. The lesson, my mother said, was that having character and standing up for your beliefs was the only real wealth in the world. Believing in God more than your possessions and more than the title and power of “Baron,” made the Von Trapp family able to find not only material wealth, but even more importantly, overflowing love, happiness and freedom.
The little nun who fell in love with Prince Charming and his family didn’t find her happily ever after in his earthly kingdom. Quite the reverse. He and his children were saved by her total reliance on the kingdom of God. And that’s a real happily ever after!
Scripture Of The Day: “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” - Deuteronomy 8:18
Bonnie St. John is a professional speaker and Olympic medalist, who has appeared on the Today Show, CNN, the 700 Club, and Life Today. The author of How
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Do-Good Seed
Daily Devotional
The Do-Good Seed
By Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
This week's topic: The Pursuit Of Wealth
If I were to ask if you believed in sowing seeds you’d probably say, “Oh, yes amen, Brother Dollar. I give money every time I go to church, hallelujah!” It is good for Believers to be stirred up about giving their finances into the work of God. But I need to shed some light on a misconception that has taken place in the Body of Christ. We have limited seed to being just money. Think about it. Every time you hear a preacher talk about sowing seeds, most likely money is the first thing that comes to mind. Although money is a powerful seed to sow, it is not the most powerful. There is a seed that will always produce and is often overlooked. I call it the do-good seed. It is birthed out of the love of God.
In the beginning God created us in His image, which means we are godlike and we’re His reflection in the earth. In Christ we are restored to the position of power and authority that Adam lost to sin in the garden. Now that we are bought back from the curse of sin, God wants us to use the same two free gifts that He gave to Adam and Eve—dominion and seed (Genesis 1:28, 29).
The Bible says that God is love and God made man in His image, which is love. Now isn’t that interesting? God made man in the image of love and in the likeness of love. It is through the walk of love that we gain complete mastery and dominion in life. If we master love we can walk in our God-given authority like never before, because love is where our true power lies.
You may be thinking, “Well, Brother Dollar, I understand the love of God, but what does that have to do with sowing seeds to get a good harvest?” Love has everything to do with sowing a seed and getting the desired results you want in life. Why? Jesus said that all the laws and prophets hang on the commandment of love, which is first loving God and then others (Matthew 22:40). The law of seedtime and harvest works by this greater law—love. Seedtime and harvest means whatever thought, word and deed you sow—good or bad—you will reap the results of it. Simply put, what goes around comes around.
Love is an action word and can be expressed in many ways. It is the most powerful seed you can sow into the life of another. In Luke 6, Jesus gives the law of love. We’ve become so familiar with this passage of scripture that we’ve missed what God wants us to understand. Jesus said to love your enemies and do good to people that hate you. He says to pray for those who despitefully use you (Luke 6:27, 28). Jesus wanted us to understand the importance of demonstrating love to the unlovable.
When you release the love of God into the lives of others, God is released. The do-good seed is the action of love you extend to another person who has done you wrong and doesn’t deserve your goodness. If there is someone in your life who irritates you, add his or her name to the top of your Christmas list this year! This is not a sign of weakness. It takes a powerful person to do right by someone who has done them wrong.
I have probably been ripped off more than the U.S. Internal Revenue Service by people who said that they loved me. One man stole thousands of dollars from me and it cost me the exact amount of money he had stolen from me to bail him out of jail. That was hard on my flesh! But I’ve discovered whenever I sow a do-good seed, God rewards me.
The seed you sow in response to how another person treats you becomes the deciding witness of the harvest you will receive. If someone sows hate and you retaliate and sow hate in return, there are laws that have been released. Hate will be your harvest because “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them…” (Matthew 18:19). When someone hates you, you have the power to determine your own harvest by responding in love. Don’t use your opportunity to sow love to come into agreement with selfishness by responding negatively. Your seed will have authority over their hate if you'll retaliate with good. This is how you overcome evil with good—sow a better seed than the seed that was sown toward you.
Believers must understand and operate God’s principle of seedtime and harvest. I’ve taught for years that the law of seedtime and harvest is an established law God intends for man to use to create any outcome he desires. The Bible says whatever a man sows is what he will reap (Galatians 6:7). Most Believers assume that when the Word of God speaks of seedtime and harvest, the only seed that exists is money. The truth of the matter is our words, thoughts and actions are also seeds. However, according to Jesus, the most powerful seed is the Word of God. It is the seed that must be planted in order for all other seeds to produce, including the do-good seed.
Everything in the Kingdom of God works by seedtime and harvest. You could be sowing positive or negative seeds, but your love walk will determine the growth action and harvest of what you sow.
When it comes to sowing, God is not requiring anything of us that He hasn’t already done. When He saw mankind in a sinful state, He sowed the ultimate do-good seed—Jesus—as an expression of His love for mankind. Even though humanity deserved eternal damnation, God gave His most valuable and precious possession. As a result, He has reaped a harvest of sons and daughters. Love is the key to experiencing fulfillment and satisfaction, and should be the motivation behind every seed you sow.
Sow the do-good seed and from it you will reap a harvest that will affect every area of your life including your health, finances, relationships and more. Purpose to share His love through acts of kindness and He will overtake you with His blessing!
Scripture Of The Day: "Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest." - Galatians 6:7 (The Message)
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar is the senior pastor of World Changers Church International, located in College Park, Georgia. He is committed to changing the world one person at a time, and his award-winning “Changing Your World” television broadcast reaches nearly one billion homes worldwide. Visit http://www.CrefloDollarMinistries.org…
The Do-Good Seed
By Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
This week's topic: The Pursuit Of Wealth
If I were to ask if you believed in sowing seeds you’d probably say, “Oh, yes amen, Brother Dollar. I give money every time I go to church, hallelujah!” It is good for Believers to be stirred up about giving their finances into the work of God. But I need to shed some light on a misconception that has taken place in the Body of Christ. We have limited seed to being just money. Think about it. Every time you hear a preacher talk about sowing seeds, most likely money is the first thing that comes to mind. Although money is a powerful seed to sow, it is not the most powerful. There is a seed that will always produce and is often overlooked. I call it the do-good seed. It is birthed out of the love of God.
In the beginning God created us in His image, which means we are godlike and we’re His reflection in the earth. In Christ we are restored to the position of power and authority that Adam lost to sin in the garden. Now that we are bought back from the curse of sin, God wants us to use the same two free gifts that He gave to Adam and Eve—dominion and seed (Genesis 1:28, 29).
The Bible says that God is love and God made man in His image, which is love. Now isn’t that interesting? God made man in the image of love and in the likeness of love. It is through the walk of love that we gain complete mastery and dominion in life. If we master love we can walk in our God-given authority like never before, because love is where our true power lies.
You may be thinking, “Well, Brother Dollar, I understand the love of God, but what does that have to do with sowing seeds to get a good harvest?” Love has everything to do with sowing a seed and getting the desired results you want in life. Why? Jesus said that all the laws and prophets hang on the commandment of love, which is first loving God and then others (Matthew 22:40). The law of seedtime and harvest works by this greater law—love. Seedtime and harvest means whatever thought, word and deed you sow—good or bad—you will reap the results of it. Simply put, what goes around comes around.
Love is an action word and can be expressed in many ways. It is the most powerful seed you can sow into the life of another. In Luke 6, Jesus gives the law of love. We’ve become so familiar with this passage of scripture that we’ve missed what God wants us to understand. Jesus said to love your enemies and do good to people that hate you. He says to pray for those who despitefully use you (Luke 6:27, 28). Jesus wanted us to understand the importance of demonstrating love to the unlovable.
When you release the love of God into the lives of others, God is released. The do-good seed is the action of love you extend to another person who has done you wrong and doesn’t deserve your goodness. If there is someone in your life who irritates you, add his or her name to the top of your Christmas list this year! This is not a sign of weakness. It takes a powerful person to do right by someone who has done them wrong.
I have probably been ripped off more than the U.S. Internal Revenue Service by people who said that they loved me. One man stole thousands of dollars from me and it cost me the exact amount of money he had stolen from me to bail him out of jail. That was hard on my flesh! But I’ve discovered whenever I sow a do-good seed, God rewards me.
The seed you sow in response to how another person treats you becomes the deciding witness of the harvest you will receive. If someone sows hate and you retaliate and sow hate in return, there are laws that have been released. Hate will be your harvest because “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them…” (Matthew 18:19). When someone hates you, you have the power to determine your own harvest by responding in love. Don’t use your opportunity to sow love to come into agreement with selfishness by responding negatively. Your seed will have authority over their hate if you'll retaliate with good. This is how you overcome evil with good—sow a better seed than the seed that was sown toward you.
Believers must understand and operate God’s principle of seedtime and harvest. I’ve taught for years that the law of seedtime and harvest is an established law God intends for man to use to create any outcome he desires. The Bible says whatever a man sows is what he will reap (Galatians 6:7). Most Believers assume that when the Word of God speaks of seedtime and harvest, the only seed that exists is money. The truth of the matter is our words, thoughts and actions are also seeds. However, according to Jesus, the most powerful seed is the Word of God. It is the seed that must be planted in order for all other seeds to produce, including the do-good seed.
Everything in the Kingdom of God works by seedtime and harvest. You could be sowing positive or negative seeds, but your love walk will determine the growth action and harvest of what you sow.
When it comes to sowing, God is not requiring anything of us that He hasn’t already done. When He saw mankind in a sinful state, He sowed the ultimate do-good seed—Jesus—as an expression of His love for mankind. Even though humanity deserved eternal damnation, God gave His most valuable and precious possession. As a result, He has reaped a harvest of sons and daughters. Love is the key to experiencing fulfillment and satisfaction, and should be the motivation behind every seed you sow.
Sow the do-good seed and from it you will reap a harvest that will affect every area of your life including your health, finances, relationships and more. Purpose to share His love through acts of kindness and He will overtake you with His blessing!
Scripture Of The Day: "Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest." - Galatians 6:7 (The Message)
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar is the senior pastor of World Changers Church International, located in College Park, Georgia. He is committed to changing the world one person at a time, and his award-winning “Changing Your World” television broadcast reaches nearly one billion homes worldwide. Visit http://www.CrefloDollarMinistries.org…
Monday, September 13, 2010
Ask God For What You Want!
Daily Devotional
Ask God for What You Want!
By Bishop E. Earl Jenkins
This week's topic: The Pursuit Of Wealth
Imagine walking into a restaurant on a whim and asking if your order is ready. "When did you call it in?" the server asks. "Oh I didn't," you reply, "I just thought perhaps you'd have something with my name on it."
Sound ridiculous? No more so than expecting God to answer requests you haven't made -- or made in faith believing.
James says, "The reason you don't have what you want is...you don't ask God." Does that mean He'll automatically give you everything you ask for? No. James adds, "Even when you do ask you don't get it because...you want only what will give you pleasure" (Jas 4:3 TLB). Your motives need to be in tune with what God knows is best for you. John says, "This is the confidence...we have in Him...if we ask anything...according to His will...He...hears" (1Jn 5:14 AMP).
Lamentations 3:25 says, "The Lord is good to those who wait...expectantly for Him" (AMP). Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God's goodness. Instead of fretting and taking matters into your own hands, when you say, "Lord, I'm going to trust you with this, regardless of the outcome," He'll honor your faith. Paul says, "Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks" (Ph 4:6 NCV). Do you need a job? Help overcoming a problem? Salvation for your loved ones? A deeper walk with God? Physical or emotional healing?
Jesus said, "It gives your Father great happiness to give you the [benefits of his] Kingdom" (Lk 12:32 NLT). God wants to be good to you, so tell Him the "desires of your heart" (Ps 37:4 NKJV). And thank Him that the answer will come - in His time!
Scripture Of The Day: "The reason you don't have what you want is...you don't ask God." James 4:2 (TLB)
Bishop Edward Earl Jenkins is the senior pastor and founder of the True Servant Worship & Praise Church located in Trenton, New Jersey. For over twenty years, Bishop Jenkins’ unique method of preaching and teaching has opened doors to allow him to touch the hearts of many lives near and far. For more information, visit him at http://www.eejministries.org…
Ask God for What You Want!
By Bishop E. Earl Jenkins
This week's topic: The Pursuit Of Wealth
Imagine walking into a restaurant on a whim and asking if your order is ready. "When did you call it in?" the server asks. "Oh I didn't," you reply, "I just thought perhaps you'd have something with my name on it."
Sound ridiculous? No more so than expecting God to answer requests you haven't made -- or made in faith believing.
James says, "The reason you don't have what you want is...you don't ask God." Does that mean He'll automatically give you everything you ask for? No. James adds, "Even when you do ask you don't get it because...you want only what will give you pleasure" (Jas 4:3 TLB). Your motives need to be in tune with what God knows is best for you. John says, "This is the confidence...we have in Him...if we ask anything...according to His will...He...hears" (1Jn 5:14 AMP).
Lamentations 3:25 says, "The Lord is good to those who wait...expectantly for Him" (AMP). Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God's goodness. Instead of fretting and taking matters into your own hands, when you say, "Lord, I'm going to trust you with this, regardless of the outcome," He'll honor your faith. Paul says, "Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks" (Ph 4:6 NCV). Do you need a job? Help overcoming a problem? Salvation for your loved ones? A deeper walk with God? Physical or emotional healing?
Jesus said, "It gives your Father great happiness to give you the [benefits of his] Kingdom" (Lk 12:32 NLT). God wants to be good to you, so tell Him the "desires of your heart" (Ps 37:4 NKJV). And thank Him that the answer will come - in His time!
Scripture Of The Day: "The reason you don't have what you want is...you don't ask God." James 4:2 (TLB)
Bishop Edward Earl Jenkins is the senior pastor and founder of the True Servant Worship & Praise Church located in Trenton, New Jersey. For over twenty years, Bishop Jenkins’ unique method of preaching and teaching has opened doors to allow him to touch the hearts of many lives near and far. For more information, visit him at http://www.eejministries.org…
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