Apicontent

The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. (Proverbs 9:13)

She [the adulteress] is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home. (Proverbs 7:11)

A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways. (Proverbs 21:29)

The guy who sat at the table with me was a giant of a man, and his looks were, well, scary. Tattooed and body-pierced, the guy who went by the nickname Tiger had all the marks of a hard, high-mile­age human being. He had been head of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang in Southern California; and he told of his life in drug dealing, perverse sex, compassionless crimes, intimidation, torture, killing, and hard time in the slammer. But now he was different. There was a softness in his speech and demeanor, a tenderness in his heart. He had met Jesus, surrendered to Him, and the Jesus in him was showing through.

Funny how that happens as we grow in our relationship with God. We shed the brash, insensitive, everything-be-damned attitude that is the hallmark of the wicked…however well they try to disguise it. When it serves their purposes, the wicked can put on a smooth-talk veneer—as in the adulteress whose speech “drips like honey” (5:3). But the hardness and brashness are still there under the surface.

Principle: Be wary of the person with brash, edgy speech. That sharpness may well have been honed by the grindstone of sin.

A major strategy of evil people is intimidation. Intimidating the weak or the righteous is considered a way to gain power and control. Incredibly, this strategy is so effective that professional seminars are offered in “assertiveness training.” Often “assertiveness” can be read as arrogant, blustery, bravado designed to take advantage of others. One need not be “assertive” to be a strong leader. Think coaches Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys or Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts. Moses himself was described as the “meekest [or humblest] man on earth” (Numbers 12:1-15). Yet he had sufficient chutzpah to lead three million grumbly Jews for forty years.

The wicked have to rely on bluster because they lack spiritual authority. A godly person with spiritual authority will control every situation out of a wellspring of security based on a relationship with God. In Jesus’ worst hour of torture, he was secure and “as a sheep before her shearers is silent” (Isaiah 53:7).

Principle: The righteous person speaks quietly with an authority infused with power from God. The arrogant intimidation of the wicked cannot shake it.

I once heard an impetuous, impulsive, unthinking person described as “He’s ‘ready-fire-aim.'” Acting before thinking, moving before establishing direction, and “giving no thought to his ways” are a mark of the sin-filled person. I believe that one of the deadly effects of refusing the enlightenment of God in one’s life is that it short-circuits the “consequence module” in the brain. The fool cannot see the disaster his evil will cause. Proverbs reserves the word “fool” for this person.

The righteous and God-fearing are careful to listen to His Word, weigh carefully and prayerfully the consequences of their words and actions, and seek wise counsel from Spirit-filled people. Their hearts are sensitive toward God and others.

Principle: The righteous person seeks God’s plan for words and action, and implements His plan in grace and patience. The “bold and the beautiful” without God don’t need His guidance; their own godlike status, they believe, will assure their success.

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]

All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. (Proverbs 16:2)

If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who guards your life know it? Will He not repay each person according to what he has done? (Proverbs 24:12)

I love the story of the mother of six children who discovered that cookies were missing from the kitchen cookie jar. Polling all six revealed nothing; all denied any knowledge of the theft. So she lined the children in a row facing her and announced, “It is quite obvious to me which one of you stole the cookies. That person has a feather on his nose.” When one child reached up to feel his nose, Mom had her culprit.

In nearly every context in life, we find the very clever human mind in denial or rationalization about evil deeds in life. NBA players protest wildly that they did not commit a foul when whistled. Prisoners are adamant that they didn’t commit the crime that put them behind bars and announce to the world, “I was framed.”

The mind is probably never more creative or resourceful than when it is thinking of ways to cover up sin, escape the consequences of wrongdoing, or justify evil by claiming it is really, down deep, good. After all, we know that—even in children: “The dog ate my homework.”

Solomon and his friends are so convinced of this principle that they declared it as a nonnegotiable fact: ”All a man’s ways seem innocent to him.”

Principle: When searching for wrongdoers, it helps to assume that nobody thinks they’ve done anything wrong. Even if they have, they most likely will see their behavior as well motivated and good.

In a graduate school course I took in management, the wise university professor set forth a maxim which supports King Solomon’s teaching. The prof drew an organizational chart on the board with boxes and an arrow from the bottom of the chart to the top, the highest authority box. Facing the class, he said, “Remember one thing. In an authority structure, negative information never flows up the structure. lt has to be pulled up.”

Now, why would that be? Solomon and his friends explain it this way. Those involved in the negative things that happen in an organization will commonly be struck with a sudden, chronic case of “I-can’t-recall syndrome.” This explains why detective work, forensic science, DNA analysis, congressional hearings, special investigators, and even waterboarding can become “necessary.” The guilty typically will claim ignorance of a matter and its details…unless the information is pulled out of them.

Principle: Human memory is weakest when asked to recall or accept responsibility for some catastrophe or evil act.

If these two principles seem to make discovering the true facts of a matter seem impossible, Proverbs makes it clear that this is not the case. In both of the above passages, the assurance is given that there is someone who knows all the details—even at the secret heart and motive level. That is God. Not only does He know everything, He acts on His knowledge “repaying each person for what he has done.” What a relief. There is ultimate justice. God guarantees it! When I was wronged as a young man, my father taught me, “Relax, Larry. God keeps good books.”

Principle: justice is ultimately served not by the feeble attempts at discovery we humans create but by the just actions of the Righteous One who already knows all the details…of everything.

Rely on that.

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. (Proverbs 11:22)

Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. (Proverbs 5:15)

A famous TV and film celebrity was being interviewed on network television, and I was fascinated by her vulnerability and apparent honesty. Then came the question about her sexual relationships. With total transparency and no shame, she said, “I don’t consider myself promiscuous. I’ve only had a dozen men.”

I have reflected on that statement over the years and have grieved at the loss of any concept of sexual purity linked to words like chaste, virginal, celibate, or abstinent.

Rush Limbaugh got pummeled for calling an unmarried female law student who wanted the government to pay for her contraception aids a “slut.” I don’t know what that word means anymore, but it has traditionally described a woman who has many sexual partners outside of marriage. I regret that the double standard does not provide a similar label for profligate men (maybe “slutman”?).

The wise and Spirit-directed writers of the Book of Proverbs knew that moral purity—in men and women—has a very narrow definition. The standard is not “fewer than a dozen” sexual partners. The standard is one, and that one is to be in a covenant bond of marriage unless death opens the door to a second marriage. In a delicate euphemism, Proverbs 5:15 commands the morally responsible to “Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.” Drinking at the trough of many partners under cover of being “sexually active” is sinful and personally destructive, pure and simple.

Principle: Sexual “inactivity” for unmarrieds is not a curse; it is a virtue.

We now live in a culture in which moral purity and chastity are causes for eye-rolling and derision. This is because “pushing the envelope” in every culture is always a push in the same direction—away from biblical definitions of righteousness. Unfortunately, many believers in Jesus Christ—some reading this—have bought into the world’s redefinitions.

Principle: God’s moral law is constantly being swept down­ stream by the world system through redefinition. Adhere precisely to God’s definitions, or you’ll be swept away by the current.

So what is a young (or old for that matter) unmarried person to do? Proverbs would answer that question, “be discrete” or “show discretion.” Flaunting your good looks or comely body to make yourself seductively attractive is really stupid. Linking beauty to moral indiscretion in humans and adorning a pig with gold jewelry makes the point with eloquence.

Principle: If one’s moral character is like swine, then adorning it with gold is wasteful and asinine. If one’s character is pure as gold, it will be sufficiently adorned already.

Don’t let the world system define morality and purity for you. God has already done that.

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26, NASB)

All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. (Proverbs 16:2)

Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. (Proverbs 26:5)

The game has ended and the microphone near the lips of the athlete is poised to record an explanation for the awesome performance just witnessed. The star pulls himself up to his full stature and explains, “I just believed in myself.”

The daytime TV talk show host is casting her pearls of wisdom before millions of viewers and gives her solution to life’s most vexing issues: “You just have to follow your heart. Follow your inner guide.”

The premise underlying these gems is that in the center or heart of every person is the innate capability to achieve any goal or vision…without any outside insight, aid, or assistance. Success is merely a matter of self-belief and tracking the intents and desires of one’s heart.

It is hard to imagine a philosophy more alien to the teaching of the Bible or to Solomon’s wisdom literature. In at least a hundred pas­sages, the teaching is established that the “inner guide” we have with­out God (1) is marked by stupidity/folly, (2) is typified by self-delusion, and (3) will lead us to catastrophic consequences.

Principle: Unaided by outside wisdom and divine revelation, your “inner guide” will get you more lost than you already are.

Why is this so? Why is “believing in ourselves” not a successful way to live? One very simple reason: human beings have incredible powers of rationalization and self-delusion. Proverbs nails it with the word that “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him.” This spiritual disease of the intellect is not just chronic but terminal.

Principle: The most powerful delusion a person can entertain is that he does not commonly delude himself…in the direction of self-justification.

Finally, believing in oneself—to the exclusion of God and others who teach, support, and enable us—is really a perverse overestimation of both our human character and capacity. The prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Jesus clarified this issue with His statement, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). He knew the moral, intellectual, and spiritual impotence of human beings.

Principle: Claiming to be a “self-made person” whose success comes from “believing in oneself” is a slap in the face to the Creator who gave us talent and provided friends and family to nurture and encourage us along the way.

How much better the wise, faith-focused athlete who breathes into the microphone, “I thank my heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me the talent and the opportunity to excel.”

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]

For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all your paths. (Proverbs 5:21)

Ah, Las Vegas. “Lost Wages.” Sin City. That legally and morally wide open city in the desert of Nevada that prides itself in living by the maxim “Anything goes.” Someone has observed, “If God doesn’t destroy Las Vegas, He owes an apology to Sodom and Gomorrah.” Perhaps.

In recent years, Vegas’s city promoters have adopted the slogan, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” It’s a powerful marketing idea—a place where you can sin with the stops out, and nobody outside Vegas will ever find out or hold you accountable for your behavior. I have news for everyone who believes this: you could not be more wrong.

One of the myths the enemy foists on unsuspecting humans is that there is a place where you can hide your sin…in the dark, in secret, where “nobody knows,” in Las Vegas. A boast of the wicked recorded in Psalm 94:7-11 is “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.” To this, the response is

Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does He who implanted the ear not hear? Does He who formed the eye not see? Does He who disciplines nations not punish? Does He who teaches mankind lack knowledge? The Lord knows all thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile.

Principle: An omniscient God surely knows what is done in secret and in the dark. His “night vision and X-ray goggles” make hiding ourselves or our sins from Him an exercise in futility—hiding in plain sight.

Isn’t it fascinating that the Proverbs 5 reminder that all our ways, deeds, pathways, and behaviors are known to the Lord follows directly the warnings against being involved in sexual immorality? Is not moral impurity the area of life commonly pursued in secret?

But God’s knowledge of human secrets is not just passive awareness. His observations are recorded for future accountability and discipline. The phrase in this verse “He examines all your paths” is a weighty concept. One translation of the Hebrew is “All His paths He marks out.” It’s the cosmic Attorney General collecting evidence for His case against the evildoer. It’s the hidden video camera recording every move of the thief or criminal for use in a future trial.

Principle: Hiding anything from God doesn’t work. He “takes notes” on all human behavior and keeps good books for eternal reference.

The bad news is that the record God keeps is used for the ultimate judgment of mankind. Those records show up at the White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:12 as “the books of the deeds of men”—the testimonial evidence used as the basis for God’s ultimate sentencing.

The good news is that there is another record in that passage called the Book of Life containing the names of all who believe in Jesus and have been forgiven of even their not-so-secret sins.

Principle: It is folly to try to hide in full view of God. It is far better to acknowledge and confess what He already knows, so you can receive His gracious forgiveness.

Try it. You’ll like it.

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:10–11)

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23)

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. (Proverbs 23:29–30)

In our world, poverty is often viewed as some cosmic curse visited on totally undeserving victims, and government taxation and the dole are perceived as the rightful remedy for this horrible injustice. Solomon and his sages held a different viewpoint. In a book in which a score of passages deal with poverty, key principles are set forth to cure this malady.

The first is hard work. Proverbs 6:10–11 is a portrait of a lazy person—sleeping, slumbering, and folding his hands to rest. This must have been an important principle to reinforce, as the same Proverb is repeated later in the book! If Proverbs were written today, the phrase might be, “Too much lying around, too much time on the couch watching TV, too much time on the Internet, and poverty will strike like lightning.” Again and again, in this book, hard work is lauded as central to elevating the poor out of their situation. Naturally, some cannot work or secure jobs because of physical or emotional impairment or political oppression, but these are not the majority of the poor in most cultures. One transcultural character attribute is laziness until it is driven out by parental instillation of the work ethic.

Principle: Working and eating are flip sides of the currency of life; without eating one cannot work and without working one cannot eat.

I love the expression, “ten-gallon hat”, that Texans have for a man who is all talk and no show, all bluster and no delivery, all image and no substance. They refer to this loser as “all hat and no cattle”! Note the principle listed above, “Mere talk leads only to poverty.” In the entertainment business, it seems that big talkers predominate, and hard workers are in the minority—especially when it comes to funding promises. One media pro says, “In Hollywood, money talk is trash until it’s cash.” Avoiding poverty is a matter of backing words with actions and dealing only with others who do the same.

Principle: Not only is talk “cheap”, without the backing of integrity and hard work, it creates deficits that can never be repaid.

A survey of homeless people in Los Angeles some time ago found that they fell into three rather equal categories—mentally impaired; those who legitimately had fallen on hard times through divorce, job loss, etc.; and substance abusers. That third category is addressed by Solomon and friends as “folly.” A modern word would be stupidity.

Those who through sheer stupidity succumb to drunkenness, sub­stance abuse, and gang connections take giant steps toward poverty. Solomon identified substance abusers by “woe,” “sorrow,” “strife,” “complaints,” “needless injuries,” and “bloodshot eyes.” An interesting mix of descriptors and hardly marks of whole, healthy, and prosperous people! The wise person avoids intoxicants, hallucinogens, substance abusers, dens of intoxication and addiction, and hangouts for fools.

Principle: Every person is designed to be intoxicated by God alone. Those ”under the influence” of any other person, substance, motivation, or power which does not draw them closer to Him are cruising for a bruising.

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. (Proverbs 13:18)

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. (Proverbs 28:19)

A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him. (Proverbs 28:22)

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. (Proverbs 11:24)

In the previous chapter, we learned that there are three marks of the person rushing headlong to poverty: (1) laziness; (2) “cheap talk”, talk without action; and (3) substance abuse. In the verses which form the focus of this chapter, we discover more factors which launch one toward the poorhouse.

The fourth principle is disregard for discipline and correction as described in Proverbs 13:18. Picture the rebellious teenager, the ghetto gang member, the arrogant and unteachable know-it-all, the criminal recidivist, and the prodigal child. All possess one trait which will pretty much assure their poverty—refusal to accept correction and discipline. This refusal detours a person from the goal of self-sufficiency and prosperity. In my first seminar at a major stock brokerage company on investing, I was told, “Never invest bread money, never risk the roof over your head, and don’t be greedy.” On that last point, the stockbroker explained, “Bulls make money, and bears make money, but pigs never do.” If I had ignored his counsel, I might own no house, be sweating food for my family, and have insurmountable debt. Instead, I have all I need and owe nobody.

Principle: Wisdom and wealth are spouses in a covenant bond—as are stupidity and poverty. Only death separates them.

As a visionary with the gift of faith, I confess to being a “sucker for a big idea.” Give me a dream, an awesome scheme, or a global plan and watch me get a faraway look in my eyes. My staff used to make a motion like they were reeling in a kite when I would slip into this mode! Vision is a great gift and a lethal one. If the dream isn’t practical, it can consume immense time and money with nothing to show for it in the end.

The sages of Israel observed that “chasing fantasies” puts one on the freeway to the homeless shelter. How many times, consulting in entertainment, have I observed the proverbial “starving artist” living hand to mouth sure that “the big break” is just around the corner. I’ve seen writers, performers, and other creatives refuse to get any kind of regular work to sustain themselves for decades while they chase their dreams. Our organization has helped feed them, pay their rent, and ward off their debt collectors…without remedy. Folly.

Principle: The one who chases mirages in the desert will inevitably suffer from the thirst that each vanishing oasis creates. Only sacrifice in pursuit of God’s reality brings rewards.

Creating precedent for Jesus’ teaching that “In whatever measure you give it will be given back to you, Proverbs links poverty to stinginess! In more than one passage, giving generously is described as a key to material blessing. Hoarding or withholding from others is tied to impoverishment. It’s the upside-down Kingdom principle: lavish giving begets lavish receiving…and God’s blessing. I laugh inwardly when I hear some dreamer say, “If God makes me wealthy, I will give generously.” If one does not give in his “poverty,” he will never give in his prosperity. Someone has suggested that we should tithe on the income we’d like to have! Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.”

Principle: Confounding all earthly economic principles, giving all you have is the key to being free from need and having ample to give more.

Show me a lazy, big-talking, substance-abusing, stingy rebel who chases dreams instead of working for them; and I’ll show you a person who is racing to a debtor’s prison. The Book says so.

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]

When calamity overtakes you like a storm, and disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you, then they will call to Me but I will not answer; they will look for Me but will not find Me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. (Proverbs 1:27-31)

Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease without fear of harm. (Proverbs 1:33)

It’s called the “natural consequence method of discipline.” It works this way. You warn a person that if he drinks and then drives, he is going to be arrested for driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages (DUI). He refuses to listen to the warning. He is arrested for DUI. He calls you and asks you to bail him out of jail. You refuse. “Maybe a night in the slammer would teach him a lesson,” you say.

“That would be really mean,” some would say. “That would be really loving,” others might say. Any temporary affliction designed to terminate a more destructive pattern of behavior can hardly be unloving. The book of Hebrews says that, “The Lord disciplines those He loves and punishes everyone He accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:5-6).

Principle: God has perfect hearing, but He has a sudden attack of “hearing impairment” when those who choose not to hear His wise, loving counsel close their ears to it.

There is one surefire way to get God’s ear to hear your pleas for help: repent and “listen up!”

The other side of the deafness coin is blessing—to the extent that we listen to and obey God’s law—there are rich blessings to enjoy! A Jewish friend and national radio show host was not all that observant to the laws of God. He was the epitome of a “secular Jew”. As such, he decided that he would conduct an experiment. “I thought I’d experiment by obeying God’s laws and see if they made any difference in my life.” Even without any personal commitment to God, he started to listen to and obey God’s laws as he saw them in the Scriptures. He says that the day he began that experiment, his life began to change in dramatic and fundamental ways. The promised blessings began to flow! For a number of years now, he has been on a quest to learn and obey God’s laws. His blessings are obvious to all. And there’s nothing “secular” about him anymore either!

Principle: God is eager to find even one person willing to obey His laws—eager to pour out His blessings, especially on those who love Him.

So what are we to do when God seems deaf to our cries for help? Make sure we are living in accord with His divine law. He listens to the prayers of the righteous. The unrighteous? Not so much. Also, He always hears prayers of repentance!

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]

He who winks maliciously causes grief, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. (Proverbs 10:10)

Who winks with his eye, signals with his feet, and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart—he always stirs up dissension. (Proverbs 6:13-14)

Picture the people of the Middle East. Long flowing robes, headbands, and…sunglasses! One might think that the glasses are to deal with the bright, desert sun. Yes…and no. You will see the glasses worn when the sun isn’t shining, even inside.

Often, they are worn to hide the wearer’s eyes when gaming or negotiating. You see, early on, Middle Easterners learn to read the eyes. They can tell if you have a good hand of cards or a bad hand by the dilation of the pupils or the tension in the muscles around the eyes, for example. In missionary training, we teach reading of “non­ verbal communication.” The position of the hands, arms, legs, and feet gives messages. The pitch of the voice, an “open” body position versus a “closed” one—they all speak volumes.

Solomon and his friends knew those secret messages well! They knew about the hidden signals that snooker a novice gambler and cheat him out of his winnings. A wink here, a shuffling of the feet there, a touching of the left ear twice—and the opponent wins another hand.

Principle: God wants us to play fair, but to be aware that our opponents may well cheat. Learning their deceitful ways is a good defense.

While there is a dispute over which mode of communication is the most trustworthy—spoken words or dilation of the pupils, for example—it seems clear that the communication method that cannot be consciously controlled can be trusted most. Speech tends to be less trustworthy than most nonverbal communication. Proverbs warns us about this.

Typically, nonverbal signals are used to cheat. They are tools of the trade for dishonest people. Picture your favorite Western movie in which one player in a poker game is caught cheating. You expect that the next scene is one of conflict, maybe a shoot-out! Proverbs predicts that cheating with secret signals “causes dissension.” You can count on it.

Principle: One “deceitful heart” causes conflict even if all the other hearts are honest.

PS. I haven’t even mentioned what the clothes you wear say about you. If a woman steps into public with her body parts only partially covered and the aroma of heavy perfume, she sends a message. Be sure the message is not, ‘I’m heading for my Bible study group.” The seductress in Proverbs 7:10 is described as “dressed like a prostitute.” Bad message.

Principle: We communicate in many ways; words are only one of them. Make sure that all your languages speak in uniform purity.

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]

Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. (Proverbs 13:11)

The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble. (Proverbs 28:20)

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. (Proverbs 11:24)

I dare you! Go to Las Vegas (a.k.a. “Lost Wages”) and rent a billboard on The Strip proclaiming, “Get rich slowly. Be a multi-millionaire in thirty years.” Leave a phone number. Then rent a second billboard with the same message but “in thirty days,” not thirty years. Compare the number of calls you get to each number.

Is it fair to assume that you will get ten times more calls to the “thirty-day” message? Do you think anyone sits at a casino gaming table hoping to get rich slowly? I doubt it. Any investment advisor can show you how small an amount invested at 7 percent and compounded with dividends adds to $1,000,000.

King Solomon understood working with money. He was one of the wealthiest kings in the world. He also understood greed…and impatience. American impatience and greed are known around the world. We want “instant everything.”

Principle: The one who is driven to get rich quickly (1) is vulnerable to scams—”too-good-to-be-true”—schemes, (2) risks rationalizing questionable (even illegal) financial schemes, and (3) sets himself up for losing everything.

There is a maxim in investing which declares, “Bulls make money; bears make money; but pigs never do!” I know two Christian businessmen who “cut some corners” to cut deals they “just couldn’t pass up” and ended up serving prison time. They lost the time they thought they were saving to get rich! There are better ways and better places than a prison to start a “cell group.”

Principle: God gives people the ability to get wealth. Jesus taught that the “gift of acquiring” enables the gift of giving. As we give, we receive, not the other way around.

My wife and I tested the principle that you cannot outgive God. We both came from tithing families and gave 10 percent off the top of our income the first year of our marriage. At the end of the year, we did our taxes and realized that God had blessed us wonderfully. I admitted feeling “cheap” that we had given God only 10 percent!

“Honey, do you think God would enable us to give Him 20 percent this year?” She agreed to try if He enabled us. At the end of the year, with no more income coming in, I realized we were short $300 of our 20 percent giving for the year. I apologized to God for the short­fall and acknowledged that it was not bad intent, just bad math! Surprisingly, we received a $500 Christmas gift, so we gave God the $300 we owed Him, 20 percent of the remaining $200, and still had $160 left over! We rejoiced!

I asked Donna Lynn, “How far do you think we could push this? Think we can give an additional 5 percent each year to see God’s faithfulness?” We decided to try the plan. Later, when we were giving a higher percentage than we could deduct on our taxes (more than 50 percent), I had to seek counsel from a tax attorney for solutions! We got to about 70 percent when it became not “How much do we give?” but “How much dare we keep?” The flow of miracles and attendant blessings was overwhelming. Try outgiving God! You can’t do it!

Principle: We are to give until it hurts, then keep giving until it stops hurting. The tithe (10 percent of the “first fruits’) is the starting point of giving. Give a percentage of the income you’d like to receive.

[from “Wisdom for the Trenches” by Dr. Larry W. Poland]