Money Talks
November 7th, 2008 | Michael Q. Pink
“Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” (Ecc 9:15-16)
Like it or not, people pay attention to money. Poor folks, who may well be endowed with wisdom on occasion, are still despised and in general they are not listened to. Furthermore, too many Christians think poverty is a virtue and while you can certainly be virtuous and poor, poverty is no virtue. Let me encourage you again with the words of David, “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” (Psalm 35:27)
Our Father delights and has pleasure when we prosper. He does not delight in our misery and lack. He doesn’t live in misery and lack nor does He reserve that for His children. Now, follow with me here… If the poor have no voice and if God delights in our prosperity and if He loves it when we use our prosperity to affect the culture for good (remember Cornelius?), then it is perfectly appropriate for those of us called to the marketplace to make plans, strategize, pray and work diligently to succeed and prosper.
But why? We are very, very close to seeing the most challenging economic and geopolitical challenges in our lifetime. The media is the most powerful instrument on earth to shape opinion and control people. (Remember the election process?) Media is business and business takes money and money can buy media. Media will be a huge tool in shaping your opinion. Don’t think you are immune or that you won’t fall for their lies. It’s not the lies I am worried about. It’s the truths we are never told. You are going to have to get that from the Lord.
But I see the day, when folks like you and I actually live to take back the gates of commerce, use the profits to take back the gates of media and use that to win back and rightly inform the people God so greatly loves. That is why I feel an urgency to release our remaining inventory of the Taking Back The Gates conference where 11 highly successful Christian business leaders pass on the most salient wisdom they have as if you and I were their only heirs. When the CD’s and DVD’s first came out, they were sold for $166. Now while supplies last, you can save over 75% and get both sets for only $39. It’s that important! Click here for details and a short video clip.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Michael.
The correct saying of Psalm 35:37b is:
Ps 35:37b Great is the Lord who delights in the welfare of his servant. Not prosperity.
You forgot the next verse in Ecclesiates “that wisdom is better tha might (money)
I could not disagree with you more. God delights in our obedience. I am glad people listened to Jesus, the apostles, the puritans. which mostly were very poor but had great wisdom. Wisdom is more precious than jewels,,,and nothing you can desire can compare.
In Him,
Kern
November 7th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Michael,
Your vision to take back the gates of commerce to make money to take/buy back the gates of the media is a righteous vision that God will fulfill because it is quite consistent with His will as revealed in scripture, especially in what Jesus revealed to his disicples in what has come to be known as the parable of the talents.
As you know, in the lead up to Jesus revealing this mysterious parable, it is recorded that Jesus knew the toughts of his disciples that they believed he would immediately establish/restore his kingdom on earth. But in this revelational, yet crypic, parable, Jesus let them know that before he would establish his kingdom on earth he would have to first go to his Father (in heaven) to receive the kingdom. While he was gone, he told his disciples (servants) to occupy earth and conduct righteous commerce (capitalism) to gain profit. From this I would gather that Jesus’ s Church that would penetrate the gates of hell on earth should be a “Church or Corporation- for-Profit” that would fund takeover efforts and pay righteous tribute (10% tithe tax) to governments that are all ordained by God to be a terror to the evil works of the devil. Thus, in Jesus’ s ongoing work to destroy the works of the devil, his church and God-ordained governments of the nations of the world are united partners, not separated. Where did the Church of Jesus Christ ever get the idea that it should be a corporation not-for-profit that did not pay taxes to God-ordained goverments? From what I read about Benjamin Franklin’ s thinking, he thought the idea of churches not paying taxes was a farce.
What has happened is this: Through the devil’ s deception through fear, selfishness and greed, many of Jesus’s servants have either buried their talents or conducted unrighteous commerce (capitalism) to the extent that God has finally, in these past several years, stepped in judged the unrighteous commerce that is depicted in prophecy as, Mystery, Babylon the great. This mystery is continuing to unfold as Jesus judges and casts out the prince of darkness. I have written a book about this entitled, “Casting Out the Prince of Darkness” Its only 60 pages long and I would be happy to email it free of charge to anyone who asks me.
In His Majesty’s Secret Service,
David Thompson
November 7th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Thanks Michael. I am still recovering from working the polls Tuesday, and teaching in the schools the following two days. I am one who seeks obedience, but do not want to bury my talent, so I seek HIS balance. I want the FATHER to say, “Well done good and faithful servant,” when I meet HIM. Blessings in HIM, Kara
November 7th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Hi Kern…
I always look forward to your response. It is predictable and usually contrary, but still welcome. You can translate the word in Psalm 35 that the King James translates as prosperity to “welfare” if you like, but the King James translators will have a bone to pick with you. The Hebrew word used is “Shalowm” most commonly translated as “peace”. Context often determines the correct translation. But let’s go with welfare if you like. It means to fare “well” in life. Another way of saying that is to prosper in life.
I didn’t forget the next verse in Ecclesiastes… It simply does not say that wisdom is better than money. It says it is better than might and the Hebrew word for might (gabuwrah) is translated 61 times as might and nowhere as money. Nevertheless, wisdom is definitely better than money or rubies or gold or silver. We have no argument there my friend. I certainly did not claim otherwise.
You say that God delights in obedience as if somehow I would make a case for the opposite. You are glad that people listened to Jesus and the apostles etc., as if what I said was in contradiction to the teachings of Scripture. We have no point of argument there either friend.
My only point dear brother, is that the world pays attention to folks with money. It is not good. It is not smart. It is not wise. But it is true. So when a godly person with wealth speaks they listen not because of their wisdom but because of their wealth and stature. It is their wealth and stature that causes the wisdom to find a listening ear.
Blessings, Michael
November 7th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Michael,
Thank you for your response back. I knew you would disagree. But we need each other because iron sharpens iron. Might usually comes because of money is what I was saying.
The world has been changed many times by poor and downcast. God may use a wealthy person but he used the poor and outcast more than the wealthy was my point. yes, it is a shame that the world usually listens to the wealthy and powerful but God usually, not always but usually used someone that is poor. Why? So he and him will get the glory. Never the less, God’s purpose will be done and accomplished.
I look forward to your comment on my comment and I think you are doing a good work even thought I think you lean to heavy on the prosperity side a little to much. But I understand that is how you earn a living, I use to also.
In Him,
Kern
November 7th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
FYI,
I use the new ESV. Bible. I found that is is the most accurate.
November 7th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Michael,
A couple mornings ago, I woke up hearing these words; “Full horizon, full manifestation of open eyes and unstopped ears to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the people in all the churches.”
I would like to share with you a couple testimonies that might illustrate this truth of the gospel that those who are in Christ have been set at liberty; and that means in every area of our lives whether it pertain to our right standing relationship with God, healing in our bodies, or healing in our finances. Jesus paid the price with the blood that He shed on the cross of Calvary for us to walk in freedom from bondage of every kind.
When we make this our every day walk, we will be seeing the “super” in the “natural” on an every basis like you pointed out in your email with the turtle story.
Several years ago, I had an opportunity to purchase a wonderful historical home that had been appraised for over $200,000. I had an accepted offer for $125,000 and had assumed that any bank would give me a 95% loan based on the equity that I was walking into. Figuring from my “natural” checkbook balance, I could squeeze out enough for 5% down; however, after talking to three banks and being told by all three of them that I was going to have to have 20% down because of the fact that it was not going to be my own live in residence, my only other option was to pray.
That night I prayed about it, and I had a dream where a little girl who was my little girl in the dream was prophesying to me and saying, “Thus saith the Lord, ‘Let me override you in this like I have so many other times.’” I knew then that God was telling me He had a way where I had no way.
Then the next night, I prayed again (prayer needs to be specific) asking God to show me where the money was coming from? That night I saw in my spirit exactly where the money was coming from which required a couple phone calls. When asked in the second phone call how much money I was talking about, I responded, $25,000! The man’s answer back was, “I can pretty much tell you right now that you are going to be receiving $25,000 next week!”
The second testimony involves a man who had moved to our town from Florida where he had been painting airplanes for many years. He started a cleaning business here; and he and his wife and children were staying with his sister and her husband until he could get on his feet in the new business. He was advertising everywhere, but the phones were not ringing. His mother had him call me because I am in real estate.
Because he had started this new business, he was also going to have to have 20% down in order to buy a house. We went house shopping, and I was quoting scriptures to him about financing between every house showing because it says in Psalms 103:20, “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” By noon the first day out, he was ready to believe God for the money. He was a born again Christian but had not had anyone share with him that God is interested in prospering him as a part of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Then he found a FSBO (for sale by owner) and wanted me to look at it with him. I had a dream that night that we were back in the basement of the house with the gentleman who showed it to us, and I was hearing words in the air around me that said, “This house is for Rodney and nobody else!” We still didn’t know where the money was going to come from. Then the phone rang, and he was contracted to clean a huge mall that grossed $30,000. I think it netted around $20,000; and he had the money in two weeks’ time.
The Holy Spirit also gave me what I call a mini-vision which is more like a short scene that you see when you are half awake, half asleep as opposed to a long drawn out story that you tend to see in dreams. I saw myself kicking a football, and Rodney catching it and running for the goal post. I knew then that Rodney was running in faith with me! In the vision, the opposite team was trying to intercept him; but he was running through over and around every obstacle. Just like the vision, the first obstacle he ran into was on the first night when none of his crew showed up to go to work! Not only that but he was not equipped to handle a job of this magnitude. He praised the Lord all the way to work anyway with one cousin in the van with him. They were not only able to get another crew lined up; but everything he needed on the job that he didn’t have (man lifts to get to the windows for one thing), there were contractors on the job who loaned him their man lifts and throughout the entire two weeks every time he had a need; he would turn, and there was the solution!
What happened after that gets even more exciting, but I wanted to share some examples with you of how I have been seeing the Holy Spirit move with daily signs and wonders and miracles, which actually is “the normal Christian life” as described in the New Testament!
Blessings,
Judy
November 8th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Is the anointing of the Spirit that makes people hear the message of God not to show our economic wealthyness or hability to make money.
But I do agree that God place people in the Market Place as he did with Michael, to teach how to apply with wisdom in the Spirit The Biblical Principles Of The Economy Of God. Keep on the good work, Michael!
Poor or rich we need to discern the purpose of God in every circumstance.
Many RICH CHRISTIANS remain in SPIRITUAL MISERY because they live in a LUKEWARM LIFE STYLE and many POOR CHRISTIANS live in SPIRITUAL WEALTHINESS LIFESTYLE, GIVING SPIRITUAL FRUIT (SHALOM).
Let’s live according to his purpose of sanctitity POOR OR RICH!
MAY YO BE ABUNDANTLY BLESS IN JESUS ECOMICALLY OR SPIRITUALLY ACCORDINGTO HIS PURPOSES!
With true love in Jesus,
Emilio
November 8th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I’d like to add to this discussion regarding money, I’ve been pondering this since a post on another message where someone asked Michael not always “pitch” a product at the end.
After thinking about it a good bit, I have to agree with Michael on this. I’m not kissing up, I promise. My thought in writing this is this: even if Michael were to give away for free what he is selling, this is STILL a cost to someone in terms of time, application, discipline, pain, etc in terms of implementing the information given. It is not free, even if it were given for free. Nothing in life is free. You might say that our salvation is a free gift, and in one sense, it is. However, it cost God the greatest price. And it does cost you pain and your sin and repentance, and loss of face, etc.
Really, time, application, discipline, pain, etc are EXACTLY what are needed in order to do well (the job) what God has given you. And what you get from that is what? Money. Paul clearly said the workman is worth his wage. Can’t be clearer. Now would you say that if you do all of that, your employer should not pay you? I think you would be upset, and rightly so, because that is injustice (see Isaiah 58, “you exploit your workers).
Yes, there are folks who deal with greed, but as I reflect on this, I see more people who are poor and who say they cannot afford to buy something like this and denigrate the sale of this as those who are greedy, because they will not risk. And what did Jesus say in the parable of the talents to the one who would not risk? He (not me) called that person a wicked, lazy servant. Wicked and lazy. Not pious.
Dallas Willard quotes John Wesley who says that because of the Christian ethic, Christian people will get wealthy. Willard I believe correctly says that people have to be taught how to be wealthy as a Christian. Now everyone will not be wealthy in the same degree, due to call, etc. Paul makes clear that there are distinctions. But I do not believe there is a more persecuted group BY the church than those who are wealthy, and I know, because I have had to renounce this. It is sin, plain and simple, and really, if hearts were examined, there is jealousy, pride, self-pity, coveteousness, and other issues of sin behind persecuting those who are wealthy.
Finally (and sorry for the length), there are abuses in the church in the extreme health and wealth sector. But that is just as wrong as denigrating those who’s gifts God have given them allow them to create wealth (Deut 8:18). In that sense, to be against wealth creation, because God is behind it, is to be against God, which is pride. Really, there is a religious mindset that says money is bad. Life costs you something always, always, always, and it costs you time and money. And I believe God will have it this way. Money is a result of creating value. No money, no value creation. Money is not bad. The love of money is bad.
I could write more but I’ll stop here.
Dennis
BTW Kern, I’m growing to love the ESV. I do have some issues with some verses and how they’re translated (and I’m no Bible scholar). But I have issues with other translations as well. They’re translated by men, so in reality, there’s likely errors at some level. But we trust the Holy Spirit to guide and illuminate.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Dear friends…
I do not believe God uses a person because they have amassed enough wealth to have a voice with the unsaved. Nor does He choose them because they are poor. Like Emilio said, it is the annointing of the Spirit that causes folks to actually hear the word.
As for my brother Kern… This may come as a surprise to you, but I think the primary purpose of business is to learn to think and act strategically because that is how God acts. Business is a training ground for strategic thinking so we can learn to be responsible for other things like cities or nations for example.
In business however, an important measure as to your effectiveness is profit. It is the measuring stick, not so much the goal. People in the world will always marvel at those who can do what they cannot, especially if it’s something they wish they could do. That is why the wealthy will generally speaking have the ear of the masses. However, that does not mean they will have anything good to say about eternal things. If they are wealthy and godly they will have a platform they MIGHT NOT otherwise have, but as Emilio said, it is still the Spirit that makes people hear the message.
I am not too far into the prosperity message because my message is not about prosperity. And I am certainly not into it because that is how I make my living. My message is about responsibility and stewardship and if we are good at that in a business, we will experience a measure of prosperity. Helping folks succeed in that area is my business.
As for the ESV, I have never studied it but it does look interesting in concept. So many translations neuter the word or homogenize it, but at first glance (I only read Psalm 1 so far) it looks like a good translation. One thought… regardless of the translation we use, once again Emilio has it right… we need the Holy Spirit to quicken the word to us and He can do that with any translation, though accurate translations are best.
Dennis… No apologies necessary for the length. You had good input my brother and we all appreciate you weighing in.
Congratulations to you Kara for being a righteous servant in the political process on Tuesday!
November 10th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Hi Judy…
For reasons I am not totally clear on, sometimes great postings like yours get caught in a filter and do not get posted until I happen to check behind the scenes to see if there are any postings awaiting moderation. I found yours there today and of course, cleared it for posting to the audience. I just want you to know that your words and the Scripture you referenced helped me today. Thank you for posting!
Blessings, Michael
November 11th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Do not buy into the secular-sacred dichotomy concerning work. When Adam tended the garden was that secular or sacred work? When Adam named the animals was that secular or sacred work? There is no such dichotomy found in Scripture. Christians should strive for dominion in all fields of labor (e.g., industry, science, medicine, law, engineering, etc.). All work is sacred, for whatever we do we should do as unto Christ that we may bring all things under His lordship.
Our labor began in the Garden, continues in Christ, and will be consummated in His return when His glory encompasses the entire globe. Till then may we labor to disciple the nations.
Important Questions:
In what ways are your wealth and career effecting the Great Commission? Are you retired; have you retired from the Great Commission? How are you being used in your riches/poverty to glorify Christ?
Kern