5 Pillars of Financial Success

One thing that makes life stressful and even worrisome at times is a lack of money.That’s when it’s important to remember that God is the source of financial supply. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” It’s His to give, and He’s happy to give it. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” But no matter how much God wants to help you out, if your financial “house” is missing some of the main pillars, it won’t stand. You need to believe God is able to supply, and then ask and take action. That’s where knowledge, good business sense, and planning come in. Thankfully, God has given an abundance of practical advice on how to put yourself in the best position to receive His financial blessings.

1. Put in the work.
This may seem obvious, but many people don’t do it and then wonder what went wrong. To be successful in business or even to hold a good job, you must work hard and put in the necessary hours. It doesn’t matter how smart, educated, or skilled you may be, if you don’t put in the work, God likely won’t be able to bless you as much as He would like. “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty.” “A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.”

2. Appreciate and preserve God’s blessings.
God is a wise investor. He gives the most to those who are thankful for what He’s already given them and show their appreciation by being good stewards of His material blessings, by being thrifty, and by not taking His generosity for granted. Don’t be negligent or wasteful. “He who is faithful in whatis least is faithful also in much.”

3. Give to those in need.
God sees the plight of the poor and wants to come to their aid, but very often He chooses to do so through earthly agents, like you and me. Why? So He can bless both the giver and the receiver. “Blessed is he who considers the poor.” “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

4. Ask for the right things.
God says, “Ask and it will be given,” but He also says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss.” God loves to see us happy, but He also sees the big picture, which we often don’t. He says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” He knows what will be the best for us and everyone else concerned in the long run, and He answers prayer accordingly. That’s why we must pray not only for God to supply our needs, but also for ourselves to be in step with Him—to pray for what He knows is best, rather than what we want or think is best. “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

5. Have a healthy perspective on wealth.
There are much more valuable things in life than money. “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” Keep your spiritual life and relationship with God strong, and try to be a good example of an honest and upright follower of Christ. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” “All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” “If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity.” “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

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Deuteronomy 8:18 ESV – You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV – Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Matthew 6:33 ESV – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.