Written by
Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
One of the truths
about money is that money always has to be earned. The widow of the indebted
prophet trading oil in packed vessels to earn the money which was required to
pay off the family debt as well as earn additional money to live on for the
rest of their lives. Please read 2nd Kings Chapter 4 verses 1 to 7.
Also, please take note of the command from Elisha to the widow in verse 7 “Go
and sell the oil and pay off your debts; you and your sons live on the rest”.
Selling the oil implies trading a much required resource useful in majority of
homes for the urgently required money to free her sons from debt bondage. It is
also instructive to note that the prophet commanded her to sell and not to do
free distribution – SELL and make the money urgently required to pay off the
debts and have money to live on. This is very very instructive and significant.
SELL! SEEL!! SELL!!!
The virtuous
woman of Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 10 to 31 made linen garments which she
sold. She also supplied sashes to the merchants. Please read verse 24. The
Bible also records that she bought a field and planted a vineyard from the
profits she made. The vineyard was planted to earn and make additional money. This
implies that a virtuous woman earns and makes money to augment the payment of
the family bills.
Lydia in the
Bible is described as a seller of purple – the expensive clothes of her day.
The Bible also records that she sold them. She did not give them away for free.
Rather, she accommodated and hosted the ministers of God with money earned from
her trade that gave her a decent accommodation and good feeding money. Please
read Acts Chapter 16 verses 14 to 14.
Aquila and
Priscilla made tents and sold them to earn and make money for their upkeep. The
Apostle Paul who was also skilled at tent making joined them or became their
partner and also earned his upkeep from tent making. Please read Acts Chapter
18 verses 1 to 3. It is therefore not surprising that the Apostle Paul did not
permit idleness in the Church. He instructed everyone to work and earn money for
their upkeep. Please read 1st Thessalonians Chapter 2 verses 11 to
12.
Something of
value always has to be traded for money. It could be physical such as brute
physical strength in working the land, lifting weights, participating in
sporting activities and anything that requires physical strength. It could also
be intellectual prowess where a person’s intellectual prowess is traded for
money. It could be military prowess or expertise, or any great talent such as
acting, singing, drawing, sculpting, painting, drawing, dancing, sewing,
designing, etc.
To trade your
skills, expertise, knowledge resources, understanding, wisdom, intellectual
prowess and property for money is not a sin. It is also not exploiting people
for money. It is you living godly and responsibly deploying your divine gifts
to earn and make money so that you are not a liability to anyone. It is also
you being a blessing to your family, your Church or religious organization,
community and nation as you can contribute financially to meet the needs of
your community.
Joseph was
divinely endowed with the gift of interpreting dreams. That gift was monetized
in his position as Prime Minister and earned Joseph great income which elevated
him far above his peers and older siblings. That gift also increased his social
standing globally. He was celebrated.
Daniel also
earned great income and fantastic perks through the deployment of his divine
gifts. He told and interpreted dreams; decoded hand writings on walls and was an
astute administrator.
You can also
earn great income and make wealth from whatever gifts you are divinely endowed
with. All you need to do is to ascertain how best to package the gift ad make
money with. For instance I am
selling information which brings about transformation in the lives of people. One
of the questions I had to answer is what format should I put it on so that
people can readily access the information, afford it and use it for their
personal development so that I can earn money in the process? Answer the
questions you need to and make money. Shalom.
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