DSI

Sometimes I read then bible and at first I begin just being amazed with what God is saying in His word, there are some verses that I read for the first time and I was like, God it is not you who has said this. But later I came to realize that bible needs to be understood in its own context, in simple we need to read from the bible not reading into the bible. There was a time I was reading the bible and I came across Proverbs 22:2; 

• Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. 
• Prov 22:2 KJV 

I reread this verse again and because I had heard a certain preacher preaching that blessed are the poor because the Kingdom of God belongs to them. This made me at that time just say that there are some people with whom God has sealed their fate. I agreed with this statement at that time I really knew that Go had already everyone’s fate when it comes to riches and poverty and I said to myself, I was designed poor and purposed to be poor.  Then one morning when I was reading the bible I came across the verse and I read it by myself in Mathew 5:3-11 

³ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Math 5:3-9, 10-11 KJV 

The bible scholars have told us that this is the first sermon that Jesus taught which they call the sermon on the mount, or Olivet Discourse while others call it the beatitude. I don’t want to talk about the scholars but I want us to look at these ‘‘Blessed people’’ who Jesus was talking about. When you fail to read this potion well then you will Just agree with me that if not read well may sound like;  

Blessed are the poor, the Kingdom of God is theirs, these are people who know very well that they are just visitors on this earth so their poverty gives the direct access to heaven. By here Jesus talked about the poor in spirit, spiritual poverty not material or physical poverty. The next is the people who hunger and thirst, this is very real and clear sign of poverty. The United Nation is talking about people who live below one dollar a day, which means that with whom their expenditure in a day is below one dollar a day. Just in the case someone is working by this interpretation then you will be heavenly candidate or the Kingdom citizen. This is the gospel the devil has really perpetuated a lot and has Solomon stated that as a man thinkest so is he Prov 22:7, and Paul says that we walk by Faith and not by sight. Paul said that we should not be conformed to the patterns of this world but we should be transformed by the renewal of our minds Rom 12:2. Paul new that our minds is our very powerful weapons for our belief system. This brings me back to the book of Prover 22:2, the rich and the poor have one thing in common, The Lord is the maker of them all. This is purely true, there is no one on earth who was never created and made by God. So God never designed everyone to be poor or rich over others but as Jesus said that we seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all shall be added to you, Math 6:33. Dr. Mike Murdock puts it simply that, the personality of Jesus will take you to heaven but the Principles of Jesus will make you prosperous here on earth. The reality remains that God did not design the poor and he rich the only challenge is that everyone who heeds to the principle will be prosperous but everyone who doesn’t walk in the principle will not be prosperous but heaven they will rich after being born gain.  

My question is a very simple, is it money that really what makes us rich or wealthy? This is a question that lingered in my mind when I read the bible by trying to understand exactly even if poverty is God’s design for others to live by. After reading the summon on the mount that is Mathew 5 and then I found myself being somehow confused because Jesus is describing people who are blessed. But when I started reading these it very well taking away the shades of the previous knowledge, I was given then my eyes were opened. Then I realized that they are poor in spirit, and they are just hungering and thirsting for righteousness sake not because they luck. They are being persecuted for having integrity yet blessed and this encouraged me much.  

In my bible reading I came across a chapter which has describe two people the rich and the poor that is the book of Deuteronomy 28, this book was exactly brought the distinctions between the rich and the poor but this one was talking in terms of blessing and cursing. But when the bible starts talking about blessing and about curses, it begins with ‘‘IF YOU HEAR MY VOICE, OBEY ME AND DO THEN I [GOD] WILL……. IF YOU DISSOBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD AND DO NOT THESE COMMANDS THEN THESE CURSES COME UPON YOU AND OVERTAKE YOU.  

He has promoted poverty by spreading lies. “Poverty is noble,” he has said. “Poverty will make you more pious.” “Poverty is God’s way of teaching you a lesson.” 

Kenneth Copeland. 

 Poverty is not sin but a bondage, everyone will go to heaven only if you accept Christ as Lord and Savior of your life whether you are rich or poor. Heaven’s door is opened to those who are born again, heaven is neither for the poor or the rich BUT for those who are born again.  

The common word between Mathew 5:3-11 and Deuteronomy 28:1-14 is the magical word, BLESSED. When God had created man the bible records that He blessed them and they gave them their mandate. 

• And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  
• Gen 1:28 KJV 

And God blessed them. And God said, ….. this word bless is a very magical word because it has been repeated in many places, like; 

• • …….and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  
  • Gen 12:2  KJV

• And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 
• Gen 24:1 KJV

• Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. 
• Gen 26:12  KJV

• And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, ………. 
• And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;  
• And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee…… 
• Gen 28:1, 3 -4 KJV 

I am just getting it clear that this word BLESS is making people great here and prosperous and I have realized here that they were never handed over money here. When I look at Jacob, he left empty handed but when he went to his uncle Laban he really worked until his time for moving out came, the bible records that he called his uncle and told him that,  

• And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.  
• For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?  
• Gen 30:27, 30 KJV 

Here even Laban knew that he was blessed by God because of Jacob, this is the real deal, ‘‘BLESSED’’. This is why God said to Abraham that He shall bless Abraham and he shall be a blessing to others. This also happened with Joseph because Potiphar was blessed because of Joseph,  

• And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 
• Gen 39:5 KJV 

Sometimes I am looking at these verses and I realized that the term BLESSED is very much powerful and very much effective in someone’s life and doesn’t care whether you are a slave or free. Because Jacob and Joseph were working for other people but the Lord blessed their employers because of them. When the Lord blesses you, it is very much infectious to an extend that you become contagious with the blessing until it is seen. When you see Laban and Potiphar, they all knew that it was God’s blessing on Jacob and Joseph which made them grow materially to that extent. 

God blessed Adam and Eve even before God gave them responsibility and their mandate and this tells us that this blessing is very important in everyone’s life. The bible said something very powerful of which I came to realize of late; 

• The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.  
• Prov 10:22 KJV 

The simple thing is that the Lord makes people rich but His channel is the blessing. So, which means that God is beyond giving money but wealth and because He knows that there are people who become sorrowful after getting money because you either stole if, robbed people others ended up taking others people’s lives in order to get this wealth. So the bible records very well that the blessings of the Lord make one rich, but with God’s riches which have just come through His blessing do not carry with themselves sorrows. When you have gotten wealth through bad deals or corruptions or nowadays there are wealth which people have received from the devil. This is where someone becomes rich overnight but their lives are very much shortened because the purpose of the devil to give you wealth or money if your life. 

The real deal here is the blessing not the money, because the people we read the bible about in the bible, it is recorded that God blessed them and they became great of wealthy. Moses told the Israelites this; 

• But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 
• Deut 8:18 KJV  

Moses told the Israelites that they shall remember the Lord their God because it is Him who gives them power to get wealth. Here the Moses is saying that God is giving power to get wealth and His power is for the purpose of establishing the covenant He made to our forefathers. When you bring the blessing that make rich and power to create wealth, this automatically tell me that wealth and reached can be found from God only that He is releasing them not directly but through His blessings and His power.  

So, going back to my question does money really make someone rich or wealthy? After finding that riches are coated inside the blessings of God and wealth we are empowered to get, so where is money here, is money in the blessing or is money in the power of God. 

I believe the best way to understand this is to understand what is money, Solomon said something about money that nearly confused me in the beginning; 

• Feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for all things.  
• Ecc 10:19 KJV 

And Money is the answer for all things, the first time I read this verse I said to myself I need this money for me to get all things. Then one day I was listening to Rabi Daniel Lapin explaining what money is. This made try to research about Money and realized that. 

Money is; 

1. A store of value. 

A store of value is the function of an asset that can be saved, retrieved and exchanged at a later time, and be predictably useful when retrieved. … Money is one of the best stores of value because of its liquidity, that is, it can easily be exchanged for other goods and services.  

Wikipedia 

Store of value is something that people can use to transfer the purchasing power from the present to the future 

Study.com 

Value = the WORTH of something, talent, knowledge, service, good. 

2. Unit of Account. 

A unit of account is something that can be used to value goods and services, record debts, and make calculations. In other words, it’s a measurement for value. 

Study.com 

3. Medium of Exchange

A medium of exchange is an intermediary instrument or system used to facilitate the sale, purchase, or trade of goods between parties. For a system to function as a medium of exchange, it must represent a standard of value. In modern economies, the medium of exchange is currency.

Investopedia.com

When I look at these meaning for money, I realized that everything has value and everything is accounted for. Which in a simpler term everything has its price? Later I came and realized that we have been working on tangible things while the bible talks mostly on intangible things. When you look at riches, they are mostly tangible while God gives you intangible which is called blessings and also power which is highly intangible.  

• Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 
• Luke 6:38 KJV 

Jesus just explained about the exchange of value, He said that if you give out value then the same value shall be given unto you. But when it is returning it shall be the same measure pressed down and shaken together and running over and He mentioned that the same measure shall be used in return. I think this is an important verse in every human beings’ life because we are social beings and we need to understand we grow by giving not by getting.  

I came into a conclusion that, ”IT IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF THIS PAPER CALLED MONEY  THAT MAKES SOMEONE POOR”  Pastor Sam Adeyemi

This issue of money is like a farmer, who has to plant to harvest and in the harvest is where he gets the next seedlings. This is what made me understand that ..money is the answer for all things, which means value is the answer for all things. All things have value and has to be exchanged in the same measure with which you want it. 

• I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 
• Acts 20:35 KJV 

I have showed you all things, means I have demonstrated to you everything and he also told them that they need to support the weak by referring to the words of Jesus. It is more blessed to give than receive, this is the statement which has made a lot of people poor and this is the statement which the devil has used to make many poor. A lot of people mostly poor people have always believed that giving makes people poor and then a lot of people have lived with the fallacy that giving will reduce what you have. But here are some verses which are worthy to looked at; 

• For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him 
• Luke 19:26 KJV 

• There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 
• Prov 11:24 – 25 KJV 

I used to think that I will get rich by how much I get but I have realized that I will get rich by how much value do I give and to how many do I give to. This sunk in my life mostly when I heard Pastor Sam Adeyemi in his YouTube teaching of Success Power. Pastor Sam said that if you go out to the market with nothing, you shall come out of the market with nothing. In the market there are people who sell services, so they go with knowledge. He said that even pastors who don’t add value to their members shall get nothing in return even if they quarrel members for the tithe or giving. He said that pastors are supposed to give spiritual value or money, where a pastor will pray for his members to succeed then even the pastor will succeed in return. A pastor must teach biblical principles for spiritual growth, material growth and also social growth and this will help the member in return and since this is money in terms of value the pastor will get back value in terms of money.  

Currency, the money that is used in a particular country at a particular time: 

Cambridge online dictionary 

As I was confused in the beginning so are many, by thinking that this currency can make one rich or wealthy but Pastor Sam Adeyemi said that you will become wealthy and rich by how much value and how many people do you add value to their lives. 

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1Ti 6:10  KJV

Paul was very caterical by saying that the love of currency is the root of all evil, the love of money has created alot of greed to an extend that many do not think of adding value to other but can devalue others just because of money. If your purpose and passion is get money then that is greed. The bible said something very important that;

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

The bible has explicitcly stated that the word is just discerning the intention and the though of the heart of the man. Here the word will check is it the money that you are after or the money that you are after. So if we have passion and and purpose of adding value to others. This currency called money has made alot of people become corrupt and they have become very greedy for money.  This money called currency has brought enough trouble because when someone is greedy or is lusting for money then they wont care about anything even if someone is on their way, they can take away life because they are not exchanging any value here but looking the curreny. But anybody who is making a transaction with real money will consider adding value to your life. The people who trade with real money, they solve problems, they sort out issues, they are focused of delivering value and adding value. That is why the bible says that , “……wherever He went, He did only good” Acts 10:38. 

There were some transaction from the bible where the two people were talking about money but one story between Jacob and Esau, one was interested in the tangible while another one was interest in the intangible. The same happened between Peter and sick beggar at the beautiful gate. Pastor Sam Adeyemi has given us an example from the book of Genesis and Acts to observe these transaction as with understanding. 

1. Jacob and Esao,  

• And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. 
• Gen 25:32 – 35 KJV 

2. Peter and the Beggar 

• Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 
• Acts 3:6 – 8 KJV 

When looking at these two recorded stories in the bible where there was a tangible value and intangible values juxtaposed side by side. Esau valued intangible valuable of portage and released intangible valuable called birthright. The beggar at the temple gate was asking for silver and Gold which is a tangible valuable or a currency but Peter decided to give him and intangible valuable which is healing.  

Money is not only a currency but anything that has value that another person needs in order to add value to his or her life. When we look at the Gospels and the book of Acts, we realized that many lives were transformed and changed not because moneys [currencies] were given to people. This is why the bible says that God gives power to get wealth and also His blessing makes people riches. Paul said the grace of God for riches,  

• For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 
• 2 Cor 8:9 KJV   

Paul mentioned that there is the grace that Jesus has bestowed on un that even though He was rich He became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich. Here riches bestowed upon us by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why God has given us the gifts and talents in order to be a blessing or to transform other people’s lives. Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, which means that we are adding value to the society. The gifts are used to add value to others by bringing transformation to others by adding value to other.   

Pastor Sam said that a poor person is a person who is not having the currency but a person who has that to add value to other people’s lives. Every poor person is a person who has nothing to give not who has no currency or any legal tender. A poor person is not a person who has no money but any person who has no idea, or nothing of value to add to other people’s lives.  

He used money to mean a currency or any legal tender and Real Money to mean anything of value which Solomon said answers all things. This is an intangible substance which even God used to bring everything to existence and the book of Hebrews put it; 

• Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 
• Hebrews 11:3 KJV 

The bible here is telling us very well that everything that is seen did not come from anything which is visible. That bring us to the knowledge of understanding that riches and wealth do not only come from currency of money but from the real money, which is mostly an invisible values as blessings and power from God bring riches and also enables us to be wealthy because we are going to become a blessing in other people’s live which in return will make them become a blessing to us in return. P  

He said that if you invest in anything that is adding value to other people’s lives then you will be rich and wealthy. Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and give and it shall be given to you the same measure, pressed shaken and rolling over shall men give to you.  

The bible said, ….The blessings of the Lord makes one rich... which means that God has packaged His riches is the blessing and Jesus said it more blessed to give than to receive. These words combined tells us that riches and wealth are brough by any currency as money but by how much blessing you become in other people’s lives. 

Don’t look for currency but look at how you can add value in other people’s lives either by offering a service or selling a commodity, you become a blessing in other people’s live, then riches will be yours. 

The world of the generous gets larger and larger; 
    the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. 

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; 
    those who help others are helped. 

Provers 11:24-25 NLT.  

Real money as Pastor Sam Adeyemi puts it, as a true intangible value may make one rich or wealthy if you use it to become a blessing to other people’s live. While money as a currency is part of the riches or wealth that someone becomes a blessing to many people’s lives get in return as part of the wealth and riches. 

References 

1. The store of value definition from study.com  https://study.com/academy/lesson/money-as-a-store-of-value-definition-lesson-quiz.html 

2. Store of value definition from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Store_of_value#:~:text=A%20store%20of%20value%20is,be%20predictably%20useful%20when%20retrieved.&text=Money%20is%20one%20of%20the,for%20other%20goods%20and%20services. 

3. Unit of account definition from study.com https://study.com/academy/lesson/money-as-a-unit-of-account-definition-function-example.html 

4. Pastor Sam Adeyemi’s sermon on Real Money https://www.youtube.com/user/Samadeyemiministries 

5. Currency definition from Cambridge online dictionary https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/currency 
6.