Rich or Poor

Funny how life is, some of the poorest folks in town behave like money isn’t a problem. They spend everything they’ve got and then some, going into debt to do and get the things they want in life. They behave like they are the wealthiest folks in the world. Then there are others who really could afford to do anything their heart desires but instead live life in near poverty.[i]

Why is it that many affluent people refuse to enjoy the wealth they have been blessed with?

Well, often it’s because they falsely believe that there is something wrong with them being wealthy. At other times they are dogged with the distressing fear that something might take place which could make them lose it all. Or maybe they are afraid of being ruined by their wealth.

Everybody needs to learn contentment… i.e., being grateful, as well as graceful, embracing your own prosperity and progressing forward tomorrow. Rich or poor it matters not but rather how well you face the reality of where you are today! With proper discipline and guidance you can always create a greater opportunity for tomorrow. Conversely, without accepting your present state of affairs you have nowhere to begin your trip tomorrow.

Recently I was walking downtown San Diego with a couple of friends. In and out between the many homeless people we picked our way amongst these folks who’ve made the streets of this beautiful city their full time residence… I am sure for a multiple of untold reasons. One of my colleagues said something very profound as we made our way from the diner we had lunched at back to our hotel… “Except for the grace of God there I am.”

Yes, except for God’s grace a lot of things could and would be different.

On the other end of the spectrum though, when one hoards the abundance of their wealth without using it to benefit others, a crime against humanity has been committed. Not to mention the evil they have committed against their own person as well.[ii] For instance, think of someone with great talent in the arts but who sings, paints or performs only in seclusion. What a sad and lonely existence. How much fuller and joyful their life would be if they would share their talent and inspirations with others. What a blessing they would receive while at the same time think of the gift(s) they would bestow on others in the process. The Nazi’s despotic treatment of human life didn’t dim the light which Anne Frank brightly displayed and which she remonstrated in words by saying, “No one has ever become poor by giving.”

St. Paul understood this as well. He reminded his constituents that he had learned to live contently with what he currently had. This, by the way, didn’t mean he was into passively living off whatever came around for him that day. Paul realized that life isn’t made up of “Free Lunches.”

Instead Paul was always busy sharing his wealth with others from his treasurer of: Knowledge, possessions, time, encouragement and teaching… just to mention a few. So when he wrote, “He will make you rich in every way so that you can give freely.”[iii] He knew personally and practically what that meant. He wasn’t just blowing a bunch of hot air at us.

Ernest Shackleton, the renowned South Pole explorer, wrote a wanted ad to arouse men to join him on his 1911 effort to explore the South Pole. This is what that wanted advertisement read like, “Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success. “

Today, men and women are too often looking for sudden and/or easy living. Rich or poor alike are seemingly content to live comfortably (contrasted with contentedly) without challenging themselves to become better and/ or more productive. They have joined the “living at ease” culture, not realizing they have forfeited a life of fulfillment and enjoyment which can only come through the process of helping others be all that they can be. And this is simply because you can’t help others become all that they can become if you aren’t willing to achieve, or at least attempt to achieve, all that you can be.

Sitting back and living life without pursuing your best is not really living at all. At paramount it becomes a mere co-existence with others and co-existence historically has always eliminated the life form which is the least productive. Survival of the fittest is a scientific fact of life. If you don’t agree watch a flock of chickens or herd of cows or any other animal form of life. Encouragingly only humans through humanitarian efforts in which we pull together as an independent whole can pull the entire human race up to a better standard of living for all.

By means of diligent, disciplined and purposed pursuits you can better yourself. And what I meant by betterment is being more productive because from your own production your life will provide a greater benefit to others. And in so doing your own wellbeing will be enriched as well.

So the facts are in. You are currently on a hazardous journey. Your wages may or may not be satisfactory with you. Your future must face unknown hazards. It will be full of darkness as far as being able to know what it might hold for you or even for the world in which you must travel in. Your survival is highly doubtful as nobody has made it through this worldly journey and lived to talk about it. But the good news is this. There are many who have planned well for this journey. They are the ones who are honored and whom are given much recognition once their journey is complete because on leaving this world they have left it a better place than when they themselves journeyed it. Those so honored and are the people who have learned to apply the Prescription For Wealth to their own journey through life and in doing so have lived life to its fullest with greater prosperity and enjoyment while still providing a legacy for those that will travel after them.

If you’d like to become one of these rare individuals then call me today. I can help you become all that you can be. It matters little if you are rich or poor but you must have the desire and willingness to become more disciplined to do what it takes to be more productive. Those are the only rules.

By Tomas McFie

[i] Proverbs 13:7
[ii] Ecclesiastes 5:13
[iii] Corinthians 9:11