Are you cultivating or are you chasing “pipe dreams?”

There are a seemingly unlimited amount of coaches today that offer their services to help you to make more money easily, working less hours, while you are traveling around the word enjoying the sights. While I appreciate coaches who do give out valid, useful, actionable training, my perspective on this is that it is deceitful to say to people that it is easy to make money and build businesses. It is also deceitful to say to them that they can travel the world and live a life of ease while making “tons of money.” Many of those who are marketing this type of hype work very hard in their marketing efforts. They spend many thousands of dollars advertising and promoting their products and services in order for you to purchase them. In most cases, the only ones that are making real money on this training are the ones who are selling you the “get rich quick” courses. Proverbs 28:19 has something to say about this. Here is this verse in both the Amplified version and in the Good News Translation:

Proverbs 28:19 (AMP) “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 (GNT) “A hard-working farmer has plenty to eat. People who waste time will always be poor.”

Notice how both versions of this verse speak of cultivating their land and hard work. In all successful endeavors, there is good old-fashioned hard work. The scriptures promise that if we cultivate our land, we will have plenty of bread. Our land is our life and the work of our hands. If we waste our precious time in frivolous pursuits or ideas such as these “get rich quick” schemes, we will end up in poverty. The reason why “get rich quick” schemes sound so good and enticing, is because most only want the benefits. They don’t want the responsibility of working hard, planning, investing and discipline. Even politicians today are using this very same promise. Vote for them and they will give you everything for free. In reality, nothing is free. Someone has to pay for things. Reject those who offer grandiose promises of plenty with ease and enjoyment. Stand on the word of God. If you work hard and truly cultivate your land, God says you will have plenty of bread! Reject laziness and apathy, and embrace diligence. Reject the poverty and fear mindset and embrace the understanding that God has already given us all the resources we need all around us. We need to prayerfully and diligently utilize these resources, with wisdom, patience and vision. We also need to be consistent and not be afraid to make mistakes. All successful people make mistakes. Actually, they make more mistakes than most. but they keep on creating services and products that people want or need. And guess what, they become successful in their endeavors. It’s Summer, are you cultivating your land?

Favor comes from this!

While it is true that Joseph went through great difficulty in his life, wherever he landed, he ultimately prospered. When he was sold into slavery, Potiphar saw the wisdom of God within Joseph, and eventually promoted him to be in charge of his entire household. When Joseph landed in prison although he was innocent, he was eventually promoted to be in charge of all the prisoners and everything that was done within the prison. We know that eventually his wisdom brought him before Pharoah. When Pharoah heard his good understanding and wisdom, he promoted him to be the second in command of all of Egypt. Proverbs 13:15  says: “Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.” Good understanding comes from daily meditation on God’s word, time with God in prayer, consistent study and preparation in the field where you work, or the business you own. Also, spending time with quality mentors who have great depth of understanding and experience in the field where you desire to work in. Acquiring this level of good understanding takes time and ongoing work, but the results will be worthy of the investment. Question: when you open your mouth and people hear what you have to say, are they uplifted and enlightened, or do they quickly run out the door to avoid any further conversation with you? Good understanding will bring you favor with others, but ignorant conversation and excuses will bring you nothing but poverty and unfulfilled dreams.

Proverbs 13:15Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.”