If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. Proverbs 13:18
The Proverb is self explanatory. Poverty and disgrace comes to those who are too full of themselves (prideful) to accept instruction, feedback or even if it comes to that, Criticism. There are wise ones, ones with words of life and correction that can steer you back on the road and away from poverty. Advisers, Mentors, Friends. IF you seek their counsel, you must be careful to heed what you hear. You don't have to do all they say, but some of what they share with you is going to be words of life. The lone wolf is easy pickings for the pack. Of course you will want to be first instructed from God's word. Others however will have insight into your life that you will need to escape poverty. Select well those who will speak into your life. It MAY NOT always be a Pastor. Many of them are not wise. IF you have the right counsel on your quest to avoid poverty some of teh advise will be hard to follow. You may have to give up a pattern in your life that is taking you nowhere. Hearing wisdom is worthwhile but acting on it is golden. Listen for God to speak to you as you seek counsel. He will use the voice of others to offer instruction.
YET... in spite of this admonition, sometimes poverty results from stupidity. From raw foolishness. Those who do not value wisdom in good counsel will NEVER experience success.
Hear the word of the Lord as Wisdom Speaks:
32 “And so, my children, listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8:32-36
Foolish behavior repels wealth and prosperity from your life. Foolish people spend money on things and entertainment they do not need. They are seduced by the idea of "I deserve a break today". No you don't if you can't pay for it. Worse then that, people who stay in poverty make shaky investments because they trust the WRONG people. Those who look like, act like, seem like you are most often the ones you have to watch out for the most. The good ole boy syndrome. When he saunters up to you and starts his soft soap routine....RUN. That's in my culture. Every culture has these con artists. Look out for them and run.
It takes wisdom to avoid poverty and develop true wealth. Cultivate wisdom by studying history, time in prayer, seeking the Lord in decisions (always go with the peace) and consuming the word of God.
There are so many examples, I even hesitate to review them all. The guy who spends 300 dollars on a special foot pedal for his hot rod but his kids have no milk. The woman who spends $300 dollars a month on Hair products, Manicures, Makeup, clothes and the beauty shop and at the same time needs food stamps to make it every month. The man who spends money on movies and sports attendance but can't fill his car with gasoline to get to work.
In another post on my wall there has been discussion about weddings and the extravagant cost they have come to. There is a reason the Brides magazines are the thickest magazines on the shelf. These have become such productions that they have lost significance. The average wedding in America now costs $25,600 dollars. People live together (they call it fianceeing) and even have children together so they can afford the big white wedding. I see it all the time. If you have the money and want to spend in excess of twenty five grand on 5 hours of entertainment, have at it. IF you are living on the ragged edge, wisdom says, forget it. Get married. Avoid debt. The subject of the post in question was the incredibly lavish wedding of a famous evangelist that cost nearly $1,200,000. Yup. The dress $65,000. If she could afford it (and I question that) it set a pattern that many young women who saw that spectacle on TBN and attempted to model that in their own wedding. The net result is marriages that either never happen because they stay living together in fiance mode or the beg, borrow and steal the money to guarantee them a position of poverty the first day of their married life.
Foolishness and Stupidity. I know those are hard words, but excusing something that is foolish as a cultural thing is just stupid. We have cultural things in my background that still make no sense...so we don't.
If you want to get out of or avoid poverty, have sound counsel around you and avoid the obvious foolish stupid choices that further impoverish.
One other fact. Credit cards are dangerous to foolish people. Payday loans are dangerous. Title loans are dangerous. IF you want to get out of debt...stop borrowing money.. That much is clear.
I don't write this hard for pleasure, I'm hoping that by my words some will caus someone to stop and reflect on a decisions, expenditure or investment they are about to make. If you decide not to, it cost you nothing. One investment is sound. The Kingdom. Invest in building the Kingdom and the KING is obligated to pour it back to you. I know this from experience.
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