God’s Ingredients for Wealth “Creation”
The Fundamentals of Lasting Prosperity
Wealth creation is a process. God used a process to create life, liberty, and resources. He also established the order, abilities, and limitation of all creation. We too must observe and obey God’s processes to participate in the flourishing of His creation.
Ingredient #1: God
- Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God…
God exists, has always existed, and will always exist. It is difficult to fathom in our finite existence that something exists that is infinite. We can only exist and act within our limits, but God exists and acts without limits.
- Genesis 1:3 And God said… and there was…
God’s Word is the means of existence for everything.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it. –John 1:1–5
How can we possibly seek and understand wealth creation and the stewardship of it without acknowledging the source of the wealth, and the true teacher of wealth management?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. –Proverbs 1:7
But you are to remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, in order to confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. –Deuteronomy 8:18
What is wealth made from?
Ingredient #2: Resources
- Genesis 1:3 And God said… and there was… v3 light; v6 sky; v9 land; v11 plants; v14 sun, moon, planets, & stars; v20 sea creatures & birds; v24 land animals; v26 mankind.
From His infinite and complete character, He spoke everything else into existence. All current, and potential, value that exists in our present world inherently exists in God’s character.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. — Romans 1:20
- Genesis 1:21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”
Everything God created was specifically and uniquely designed with incredible potential. However, the inherent potential of any object or creature is limited to the potential it was designed for. Lumber cannot be created from a fish, and a steak cannot be created from a rock. They are limited to their “kind”; but within their limitations, is incredible potential for fruitful and multiple benefits.
Let’s look at the Hydrologic Cycle as an example:
All the water in the world collects into the ocean’s, evaporates, and condenses in the sky, where it is purified and desalinated (God wants us to have clean water) before it is transported by weather patterns to other locations, where it will precipitate. Eventually, it will flow back into the oceans.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. — Ecclesiastes 1:7
Naturally, the land in this picture and all the elements that interact together will function well for itself. The soil will increase in fertility, vegetation will produce and grow, water will flow across the property, animals will have food and homes. The results will be GOOD!
What if “good” isn’t good enough for God? What if He wanted His creation to be VERY GOOD!
What “ingredient” would God need to include to take it to the next level of production?
Ingredient #3: People
- Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
- Genesis 2:5 …there was no man to cultivate the ground.…
- Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it…
- Genesis 3:23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.
People are God’s managers over His creation. God’s managers have the responsibility, and opportunity, to extract the value of what God has placed in their care, to multiply their benefits, and deploy them for the flourishing of all creation.
God created resources & sustains ALL Life.
People create value from the available resources.
How is value created by People?
Ingredient #4: Creativity
- Genesis 4:17 Cain… built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch… 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock… 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe (musical instruments)… 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron.
We have no inclination from scripture that these “inventions” existed prior to chapter 4 of Genesis.
God designed people to be co-creators with him. People see current needs and the potential of their available resources to solve those needs. Then they efficiently steward the resources to produce multiple benefits that would not, and could not, have existed otherwise.
Human involvement in resource management is an essential component to the flourishing of God’s creation.
God does not need our help to make His creation flourish, but He invites us to be a part of what He is doing in the world.
How do people know what resources they are to steward?
Ingredient #5: Property
- Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that lives (animals) shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
God gave everything to people as Private Property. Everything is “owned” by someone, person or entity (people own the entities). Whatever property has been entrusted to people, or what they have acquired, is under their stewardship to be managed for God’s glory.
How can people acquire and protect their property?
Ingredient #6: Contracts
- Genesis 9:11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” … 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
God established “contract law” to protect people and their property (the earth and everything in it) from certain risk. He also established a visual reminder of His contract. However, covenants with God are much more important, relevant, and have much deeper meaning that just a risk management strategy.
People, on the other hand, utilize contracts as promises to each other, codifying mutually beneficial relationships, and the consequences of harming the relationships. Once again, God demonstrates for us proper actions for maximum mutual benefits.
Here is an example of an ancient “contract” between people:
- Genesis 21:25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized. 26 But Abimelek said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.”27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. 28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?” 30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.” 31 So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. 32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.
Abraham owned private property that was stolen by servants of Abimelek. Abraham wanted control of it back and to protect his ownership of it going forward. A “contract” between the two secured the ownership of it, and established Abraham’s ability to protect and defend his property from future harm. Then he was more fully able to enjoy the use of his property, which included planting trees, worshiping God, and creating a home on the land.
Today, contracts are everywhere from the receipt we have documenting our small transactions, to property deeds and titles.
Once ownership of private property is secure, people then are able to participate in mutually beneficial exchange of their property.
How do people create additional benefits from the “property” God has put under their management?
Ingredient #7: Stewardship
As already stated, God has given resources to people to manage according to the abilities of the people, and the specific potential of the resources.
Let’s consider food production and think back to the Hydrologic Cycle illustration.
Imagine I am the owner of the land in this picture. When water falls on my land, it will either percolate into the soil, collect in a “pool”, evaporate into the air, or run off onto someone else’s property, and eventually back into the Ocean’s. This is the natural process that cannot be stopped. While this process is flowing, it is available for our use and benefit. The more I control, the more benefits I have access to.
The moment it runs off my property or evaporates away, I have lost control of it and therefore given up the potential benefits of it. I would prefer to have it stay on my property as long as possible so I can reap as many benefits as I can. The needs and uses of the water (resource) determine the storage container (asset). If my goal is to maximize food production, as well as plant/crop and soil health, I may need to minimize runoff and evaporation to allow more water to infiltrate into my soil.
Here is a great example of a farming technique called a Permaculture Swale:
By digging a swale (ditch) on contour (perpendicular) to the slope of the property and piling the dugout soil on the downhill side of the swale, you have created a water catchment system that slows water runoff, like a mini lake or pond bank, and reduces evaporation by shading it with the plants growing in the soil mound. The swale can stretch across the entire property if desired.
The plants can be many kinds of productive plants that may not require any external water sources. Plants will use the water to grow and produce what you want, then water condenses on the leaves and evaporates into the air (Evapotranspiration). So, the natural flow of water is not stopped, but it is redirected to a more beneficial use for everyone, and everything involved.
Permaculture is a great example of how God’s creation can flourish when His managers know what’s going on, then maximize the potential value of their resources. Flourishing can only come from proper management.
If desired, a system of swales can be installed that work together to capture, store, and utilize massive amounts of water, to create abundance.
I (Solomon) made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. — Ecclesiastes 2:6
How can individual’s impact their communities and society through proper stewardship?
Ingredient #8: Unity
- Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.
God Himself acknowledges that when people are united together for mutual benefit, nothing is impossible for them. Unfortunately, many times we use our unity to accomplish unrighteous outcomes just as the people did in Genesis 11 at the Tower of Babel.
Application
God created abundant Resources for People to Create real solutions from the Property entrusted to them, and optimally Steward the property for maximum potential, through their Contractual rights and mutually beneficial Unity with other people.
Removing any of these ingredients undermines the entire process of wealth creation.
What an incredibly opportunity God has created, from the beginning, for us to participate in His plan for mutually beneficial flourishing.
It all starts by wise stewards discovering real needs, being aware of their resources, and managing them the way they were designed to function in meeting the needs. This should include proper money management. Money is a tool that naturally occurs among people to simplify the mutually beneficial exchange of value between them, and it comes in various forms. It flows throughout the world similar to water; and, like water, the more we control, the more potential value we have access to.
OK, so how do we, as individuals, truly control the flow of money for ourselves?
Water flowing throughout the world does so within the confines of the riverbanks.
Money flowing throughout the world does so within the confines of the financial banks.
Start your own “Financial Swale.”
For someone to truly harness, maximize, and deploy their own money, they must control their own bank and become their own banker, the way God intended (See Deuteronomy 15 & many others about being lenders, not borrowers).
How can individuals simply and practically control their own “banking” system to become their own banker?
“Banking is the most important and most profitable business in the world, and it should be controlled by you and me…Economic problems are best solved by people freely contracting with one another and with government limited to the function of enforcing those contracts. The absolute best way to do so is through the magnificent idea of dividend-paying whole life insurance. It has more in common with banking than it does with life insurance. A better name would have been a ‘banking system with a death benefit thrown in for good measure.’ It has been around for over 200 years and stood the test of time. It is not compulsory. It is not a government sponsored idea. It preceded the income tax idea by a long time. It is Private Property! Also, the only people who participate in this idea are people who truly care about other people. What a great group of people to be engaged in business with.” — Excerpts from ‘Becoming Your Own Banker’ by R. Nelson Nash
Accept the amazing opportunities of God by harnessing the Value of Life to invest in yourself and others.
Become your own Banker by:
- Educating yourself with Nelson’s books found of the Nelson Nash Institute website.
- Connecting with others who are becoming their own banker so they can help you become your own banker.
- Go tell others how they can become their own banker.
