Satan's Favorite Bible Verse, Part 2

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24, NIV)

As I discussed in part 1 of this series, the passage found in Matthew 19:24 is one of the most misused and misunderstood statements that Jesus made during his time on Planet Earth. The notion that God wants his people to suffer or to live in poverty is not only contrary to the scriptures as a whole, but also a complete misapplication of Jesus’ “eye of the needle” statement and his subsequent explanation to the disciples. As a result, it has also become one of the devil’s favorite and most-quoted verses of the Bible. It has helped to keep Christians underfunded and ineffective in their plight to spread the good news of Christ & His love, severely crippling one of the biggest threats to his demonic kingdom.

(If you haven’t had a chance to read last week’s blog post, take a minute and review the first 2 points by scrolling down to part 1 of “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse”)

#3 - The Definition of “Rich”

Does God truly refuse to allow entry into Heaven for those who are considered “rich” in the present world? If so, I guess it would be pretty important for us as believers to come up with an exact definition of what “rich” truly is, so as to ensure that we stay far away from that dreadful number. So, let me ask you, how do you define rich? Is there a number in your head? Perhaps the more poignant question might be, “What do you think is the number in someone else’s head?” Isn’t it possible that the answers are numerous & varied, with nearly every person thinking of a different number or amount altogether? Not only is it possible, but also highly probably, because an individual’s definition of “rich” is most certainly shaped by their own personal circumstances.

When most people come up with an income number for “rich” or a net worth number for “wealthy”, it’s nearly always a number much higher than what they currently have or earn right now. For me personally, when I was making $30,000 a year, I thought that $100,000 was rich. However, when I was making $100,000 a year, suddenly it didn’t feel very “rich” anymore. This mindset is just as prevalent in the top 1-2% of Americans as it is in everyday folks, with a recent survey revealing that only 8% of all millionaires consider themselves to be “very rich”. Regardless of our current income, nearly all of us consider “rich” something to be attained, a far-off destination that we are striving for, not a present reality.

Another defining factor for the term “rich” would need to include the area of the country or world in which a person resides. Earning $100,000 a year in a small Midwestern town may make your life pretty comfortable, filling your days with luxury and convenience. However, that same $100,000 in New York City or London has you living in a cramped studio apartment barely larger than most master bedroom closets. On a global scale, the differences are even more dramatic.

In the United States, we consider our “poor” to be those who make less than $20,000 or so per year (depending on the number of people in the household). However, in many parts of Africa, running water and electricity are considered a luxury to be experienced only by the social elite. Seeing through the eyes and paradigm of the impoverished in 3rd world countries would put just about everyone in the United States in the “rich” category and, according to many in the church, would have us all destined to a fiery grave.

The term “rich” is obviously a very relative term, with the definition based primarily on one’s own perspective. So it stands to reason that the perspective or definition of “rich” that we should most be concerned with is God Almighty’s. In the world’s economy, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are 2 of its wealthiest inhabitants, but in Heaven’s economy they are just above the poverty line. How is “rich” defined by someone who paves his streets with gold and has designed and prepared a mansion for each and every one of his followers? Is God pleased if you make $30k, $60k, or even $100k/year? If so, what is the yearly income number at which his pleasure turns into divine dismay and unrelenting wrath? What happens if you are successful in utilizing your God-given gifts and talents and, heaven forbid, get a raise to $150k/year? Is that a sentence to eternal damnation? Obviously I speak in jest, but there are many in our churches today who actually believe that!

With so many definitions of the word “rich”, wouldn’t it make sense for God to spend his time judging the heart, rather than the size of someone’s pocketbook? Wasn’t that the whole point of the Sermon on the Mount? The root problem with the rich young ruler wasn’t his riches, but rather his attachment to, and unwillingness to let go of those riches. He gave lip service to the cause of Christ, but he was unwilling to let go of his worldly possessions to truly “take up his cross” & follow. Jesus saw right through to the heart and put this young man to the test, one that he miserably failed.

Compare that to the Biblical account of Zacchaeus, a tax collector in Jericho:

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:8-10, NIV, emphasis added)

Notice that Zacchaeus only offered to give up half of his possessions in a show of repentance, while Jesus commanded everything of the rich young ruler. Regardless of how you define wealthy in today’s economy (1 Million, 5 Million, 10 Million), if you start off wealthy and give up only half, how much does that leave you with? Quite a bit! So why did Zacchaeus get off so cheap? Why was he allowed to keep a substantial portion of his net worth, while the rich, young ruler had to abandon it all? Because again, it has absolutely nothing to do with the AMOUNT, and EVERYTHING to do with the HEART! Zacchaeus had already been convicted of his greed and materialism and he came to Jesus with a penitent heart, ready to humbly obey as his master commanded. Zacchaeus’ heart was pure in the presence of God, so there was no need for Jesus to call him to the same radical abandonment of wealth as he did the rich, young ruler.

For some people it takes giving up everything to break their idolatry of money, to some it’s half, and to some it’s none at all. God is not in the “robin hood” business of taking from the rich and giving to the poor. He is in the “Jehovah Jireh” business of blessing his saints abundantly that they may in turn bless the poor, their families, and the needy ministries in the Church. It’s not about dollars and cents to God. It’s about who (or what) is guiding your heart and your decisions. Your commitment to Christ is measured by how much of your cross you have taken up, not by how much of your money you have laid down. Poor people can be just as worldy and uncommitted to Christ as rich people, but God is calling us all to follow him without restrictions, conditions, or limitations.

When we come to this type of unconditional surrender, it is then that the windows of heaven can truly open up and God can abundantly bless the works of our hands. He is scanning the earth for those who are being faithful with what they have, so that he can bless them abundantly, in full confidence that they will put it to good use in spreading the gospel of His dear Son (while also taking care of their families as they are commanded in 1 Timothy 5:8). As we stay diligent and faithful to our divine calling, keeping money in its proper place in our lives, there is truly nothing that can keep us from success and prosperity as we live out our days here on earth.

Stay safe, be blessed, and if you see my wife today, wish her a happy 27th birthday!

(Stay tuned for part 3 of “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse” when we talk about the most important part of reading this or any Biblical passage…CONTEXT!!)

Satan's Favorite Bible Verse, Part 1

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24, NIV)

All of us have a favorite Bible verse or verses. For some it’s Jeremiah 29:11 and its promise of hope, for others it’s the strength we draw from God in Philippians 4:13, and for still others it is Proverbs 3:5, 6 and the knowledge that God is continually directing our paths. In stark contrast to those uplifting and encouraging messages, I firmly believe that one of satan’s favorite verses is found in Matthew 19:24. For centuries the devil has watched this one verse be repeatedly taken out of context and effectively used to keep God’s people marginalized & impoverished, unable to finance any type of lasting and effective missions or evangelistic outreach.

The devil has a variety of tactics and creative strategies to accomplish his goal of destroying mankind. However, one of his very favorites is using God’s Word and His people against themselves, rendering them ineffective in accomplishing their great commission. He tried the same thing against Jesus, though unsuccessfully, during His time of testing in the desert (See Matthew Chapter 4). Satan had the audacity to use scripture to try and deceive Jesus into cancelling his mission on earth and forfeiting his throne in Heaven. If he would try it on the Son of God Himself, why would we be surprised when he uses the same tactic on us?

When it becomes apparent to the devil that he will be unable to drag you into a lifestyle of sin, debauchery, and rebellion, he changes his focus to simply try to neutralize you, preventing you from doing any further damage to the kingdom of darkness. It’s called devil damage control or lucipher loss mitigation, if you will. By taking Matthew 19:24 out of context, and manipulating Christ’s followers into doing the same, satan has been successful in keeping Christians poverty-minded & consuming their time with making ends meet rather than preaching the good news to a lost generation. His minions continue to make billions of dollars to finance the moral destruction of humanity, while our missionaries spend more time itinerating than “seeking and saving”, because most of their donors can barely afford a few dollars per month.

When it comes to the topic of God’s will to bless his people and my blog subscribers, I know I run the risk of “preaching to the choir.” However, even those who believe God wants them to prosper still have a tough time explaining the meaning of this verse to others, not to mention to themselves. The “eye of the needle” concept, though completely misused and misunderstood, has become so deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of believers, that many times they will subconsciously sabotage their own success in fear that wealth will somehow keep them from God. Therefore, I want to help shed some light on the subject so that you can move forward in confidence that God truly wants to see you succeed.

#1 – The Preponderance of Evidence.

To rule on the side of the prosecution in a criminal trial, a jury must believe guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt”; however in a civil trial the burden of proof is simply “the preponderance of the evidence.” Once all the facts are gathered and analyzed, they are laid on the scales of justice and whichever way it tips determines the ultimate verdict. In the Bible, there are literally hundreds of verses that declare God’s will and desire to bless his people abundantly in regards to wealth and prosperity. There are a couple, literally 3 or 4, that when taken out of context could be used as an argument to the contrary. Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how many believers will hold fast to the one or two misunderstood verses, while ignoring “the preponderance of the evidence” that illustrates our loving Father’s desire to give good gifts to his children.

#2 – Guidance from the Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul was one of the most radical followers of Christ to ever walk the face of the earth. He was the driving force of the rapid, exponential growth of the 1st century church and was eventually martyred for the cause of Christ. His zeal, passion, and unwavering adherence to the directives of the Lord were unmatched by any person of his generation. If Jesus’ advice to the rich young ruler was intended to create church doctrine and a fundamental belief system, wouldn’t Paul have been the first to admonish the church to flee from wealth and economic prosperity? Yet we find Paul repeatedly speaking of wealth and riches in a positive light

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9)

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthian 9:10-12, emphasis added, NIV)

In 2 Corinthians 8:9, the word that is translated as “rich” is the Greek word “ploutizo”. The root word “ploutos” is actually defined as “riches, wealth, and an abundance of external possessions.” Paul’s statement that Christ died in poverty to make us “rich” refers to literal, physical riches, not just a spiritual blessing. As hard as it may be for poverty-minded people to accept, Christ’s death on the cross accomplished a lot more than just salvation for the lost. For those who are willing to receive it, Christ’s shed blood brings healing to the spirit, the body, the mind, and the pocketbook. Praise God!

In fact, the only time in the New Testament that Paul refers to riches in a negative way is in 1 Timothy 6:9 when he states, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Notice that the warning is to those who “want to get rich”, not to those who are rich or become rich. Paul was speaking to the attitude of want, greed or the “love of money”. However when extracted from the rest of Paul’s writings and taken out of context, this verse may lead some to believe that Paul was advocating against wealth & prosperity in the church. But when you read just a few verses later in the same letter to Timothy, you see him giving guidance to his young apprentice in the faith on how to advise those who are “rich in this present world.”

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6: 17-19, NIV)

It is obvious from his writings, which make up the majority of the New Testament, that Paul felt money could be used as a powerful tool for meeting the needs of Christians and providing the means necessary to continue the church’s evangelistic work. When combined with the hundreds of other verses throughout scripture, both Old and New Testament, it’s unmistakably apparent that in regards to His children, God’s very nature is one of abundant provision and blessing. The harvest is ripe and plentiful, but the Lord needs laborers who are well-financed and focused on the mission at hand, not on how they will pay this month’s mortgage payment. The truth of God’s Word, and his desire to bless you financially, needs to be fully assimilated into your spirit so that you will never hesitate in your entrepreneurial pursuits. It is then that we will begin to see the wealth of the wicked laid up and taken hold of by the righteous, and used to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and hasten the return of our Lord. Amen!

(This blog post was originally intended to be just one part, but as I began writing the content expanded beyond my control. Therefore, I will continue next week with part 2 of “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse” when we examine the context of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:24, as well as God’s definition of what “rich” truly is. Until then, have a blessed and prosperous week!)

If You, Then God...

This week I was the recipient of a rather harsh & disturbing comment from a visitor to my website. He was upset by my assertion that our success in life in regards to wealth, business, and prosperity is tied to our action, or “works” as he put it. His contention was that we are all under grace and that all attention should be focused on God and nothing that we do impacts the way God works in our lives. His exact quote is as follows:

“According to you, our tithe brings the blessing. That's called the prosperity gospel. That's called works. ‘If we do this, then God will do that.’ He doesn't work that way.”

I typically don’t take the time to respond to negative e-mails or comments; however I felt as if this topic was far too important to ignore. The attitude of “let go and let God” is pervasive in the church and, not only is it unscriptural, but it’s keeping us poor, sick, and ineffective for the Kingdom of God. “If you do this, then God will do that” is EXACTLY how God works!

The Bible is filled with if/then relationships that apply to God’s people. There are literally hundreds of conditional statements in the Bible, including dozens in the book of Proverbs alone, many of which explain an action that is required of us by God and a reward if we obey. Do any of these sound familiar?

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, emphasis added)

“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” (Prov. 21:13)

“If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure.” (Prov. 29:14)

Though God is immutable (does not change), I am assuming that these verses would be disregarded by my friend because they are from the Old Testament. I assume from his comment regarding “grace” that he feels as if most everything in the old covenant is not important, even those statements and verses that describe the unchanging nature of Jehovah God. Therefore, here are just a few of the conditional statements from the New Testament. Any of these ring a bell?

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, [then] you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, emphasis added)

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16, emphasis added)

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14, emphasis added)

Salvation is a gift that none of us can earn, but it still requires action on your part. The prayer of faith requires action on your part. The fulfillment of the Great Commission requires action on your part. And yes, reaping financial blessing in your life requires action on your part.

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today. Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands…” (Deuteronomy 30:8, 9, emphasis added)

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21, emphasis added)

The concept of grace has been misunderstood and misapplied by Christians for generations. Grace is defined as God’s unmerited favor. It is God doing good for us even though we do not deserve it. I can think of countless times early on in my Christian walk when God blessed me, even though I was failing in many areas of my life. I have seen his hand of grace provide for me financially even though I was not responsible in many of my financial decisions. I was a child in the faith, and so God looked past some of my childlike ways and blessed me in spite of myself. That, my friend, is grace.

But do those displays of God’s unmerited favor give me a license to live contrary to his commands, even as I grow in my knowledge of the faith? Of course not! Grace is there to pick us up when we fail, like all imperfect beings have the tendency to do, and I am extremely thankful for it. However, it is not a license to live however you want, whenever you want & it certainly does not eradicate the God-established principle of sowing and reaping. Grace or no grace, when we make bad decisions in our lives more often than not we will reap bad results.

God’s love and acceptance may be unconditional, but according to his infallible Word, his blessings are certainly not. Many of them come with conditions of action or obedience to God and most Christians would like to believe this is not the case. Why tarry in prayer if you can just “name it and claim it”? Why work hard and make wise financial decisions if you can just send in $20 to your favorite ministry and lazily sit back waiting for your check in the mail?

Francis Cardinal Spellman (US Cardinal 1946) once said, “Pray as if everything depended upon God and work as if everything depended upon man.” I understand that this phrase is not scripture and not a foundation for doctrine, but how much more effective would the Church be if we began living by that credo? It is time for the body of Christ to quit waiting for something to fall in their laps, and start taking their God-given gifts and putting them to work for the Kingdom. Whether in regards to healing, business, or ministry, the righteous take it by force, not by passively standing by. Faith without works is dead, fruitless, and accomplishes nothing. So rise up, mighty warrior, and remember…If you, then God!

A Thanksgiving Reminder...

There’s no escaping the fact that this has been a difficult & tumultuous year for the economy, especially in the housing sector, an industry with which I make my living. For the last 7 years I have been involved with real estate in various capacities, including as a realtor, broker, investor, and trainer. I am extremely passionate about what I do and, with the exception of teaching & preaching, there is nothing that gives me a greater sense of fulfillment. My business gives me the opportunity to help people. Whether it’s assisting a homeowner with the sale of their home, saving someone’s property from foreclosure, or helping a buyer purchase a slice of the American Dream, I know that what I do truly makes a difference in people’s lives. For that, I am extremely thankful.

My challenge to you this Thanksgiving holiday is to examine your own business or entrepreneurial endeavor, and to work on structuring it in such a way that it is a blessing and inspiration to a much larger sphere of influence. Below you will find a letter that I wrote to some of my real estate investing students back in 2006. A few days ago, I stumbled upon it while deleting some old e-mails and I was extremely uplifted and encouraged by my own words. It may not apply directly to your industry, but I believe the principles of the story will hold true. It’s a little longer than most of my blog posts, but try and carve out a couple extra minutes and read it through to the end. My prayer is that it will bless you in reading it as much as it did for me in writing it. If you get a chance, post some feedback at the bottom about what you’re thankful for this year, in business and in life. And, of course, have a Happy Thanksgiving!


“This past week I was reminded again why I became a real estate investor. Of course I was always excited about the possibilities of earning vast amounts of income and building a substantial net worth. I used to stay up at night dreaming of residual or passive income and the financial freedom that could come from it. But when I really started working on a full-time basis with motivated sellers, I discovered that the rewards reached so much deeper than I could ever imagine.

I still remember my first deal like it was yesterday. My hairdresser (yes, the one from Fantastic Sam's) told me that her boyfriend was about to lose his house to foreclosure. After meeting with him, I found out that his primary goal was simply to get rid of the house. It represented an anchor to him that was preventing him from setting sail, metaphorically speaking, to the responsibility-free world of truck driving. Within 30 minutes of hello, he had deeded me the house, I had agreed to take over his payments, and we had created a true 'win-win' situation. But the winning didn't end there.

After I fixed up the house, I listed it on the market for $43,000. Within 3 days I received a call from a nice gentleman named Richard who was interested in buying the house. Richard was recently divorced and had sole custody of an adorable 5 year old boy. He had decent credit, but he didn't have much in the way of a job history, nor did he have any money for closing costs. After some hard work and diligence by my good friend Chris Carter, we were able to get him financed. I paid for all of his closing costs, and just before Christmas, Richard and his son had a place to call home.

I knew that the move had depleted the meager amount of savings that Richard had built up, and so for a closing gift I bought Richard's son an X-Box and a few games to go with it. I can still remember how his innocent face just lit up when he ripped open the package. As the MasterCard commercials puts it...PRICELESS. So, let's now factor in the look of excitement on that young boy's face and the ability to give Richard's small family a home of their own right before the holidays. Make that a win-win-WIN deal.

Until recently, I had mistakenly thought that there were only 3 winners, but oh how small is my vision! This past weekend I held an open house at one my rehab properties and I thought it would be a good idea to send a postcard to the surrounding neighborhood. My ingenious, entrepreneurial thought was that perhaps they have friends or relatives that may want to live where they live OR they're renters and would like to own a home of their own without moving their kids to a new school district. Well lo and behold, the neighbors did show up, but it wasn't to buy. They simply wanted to say... 'Thanks.' One after another neighbors came by to let me know how appreciative they were that I had fixed up the house. One of my mentoring students even went by the day after the open house, and they were approached by a neighbor who requested that they tell me thank you as well. So, let me correct myself once again. We investors are in the business of creating Win-Win-Win-WIN deals.

You see, I had taken the neighborhood eyesore and made it pretty again. Suddenly everyone's property values went up, along with their own pride in the neighborhood in which they reside. Slowly but surely we as investors are making our streets & neighborhoods, and eventually our states & our nation a better place to live, proving once again that we can change the world.

So, on the eve of this Thanksgiving, as we gather around the table in thanks for our family and friends, let us also thank God for our unlimited potential as human beings and the capacity within us to achieve greatness in our lives. Let us all work on the one thing that we have power to change...ourselves. As we 'rehab' our mental mindset and view of the world, adopting the golden rule as our mantra, we can make great strides in changing our circle of influence. As we encourage others to do the same, we can eventually raise not just our property values, but our personal values as well. It is then that we can truly change the world, one person (and one house) at a time.

God Bless You All and Have a Happy Thanksgiving”

Hello, My Name Is _______________.

“One of the most important things that you can do during the next few days of this seminar is to network with as many like-minded people as possible, because those contacts will be invaluable to you and your future success.”

That’s a quote I have repeated countless times at my 2 or 3-day financial freedom seminars, but I have a deep, dark confession to make. One of my least favorite things to do in this entire universe is business networking. Rubbing shoulders, handing out business cards, talking to people that I have nothing in common with in the hopes that they may one day do business with me…I can’t imagine a more painful way to spend my time. I know of countless people that simply thrive in that environment, however I’m just not one of them.

That being said, I must also admit that some of my most profitable business relationships have come from networking events exactly like the ones I so fervently despise. Like it or not, social networking is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to grow your business. Before a customer is a customer, they must first become a prospect, and before a prospect is a prospect, they must first be a contact. It is “Funnel Theory of Marketing 101”, and the most effective way to fill your funnel with as many contacts as possible is investing your time in what has become known as “Social Capital”.

Social capital, as defined by Wikipedia, is the value of network trusting relationships between individuals in an economy. The importance of building relationships with others in your marketplace simply can not be overstated, and it is essential to success in any area of life, business, or ministry.

One of my friends is an extremely successful business man, and his family is worth many millions of dollars. His father started his business career as a grocery store manager, and quickly ascended the ladder of achievement. He eventually started his own company, and now owns numerous businesses that operate in multiple countries throughout the world. I once implored my friend to share with me the secret to his father’s success. I expected some really in depth answer about cash flow analysis, managing inventories, mergers and acquisitions, or something even more over my head. Surprisingly, my friend summed up his dad’s uncanny success in one simple word, “relationships”. His father focused a great deal of his energy towards building strong interpersonal relationships with those around him, whether his employees, customers, or even his competitors. This investment into social capital has reaped great financial rewards for both him and his family.

In a world that is ruled by the clock, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the demands of the day. Family, work, school, kids, dinner, soccer practice, devotionals, exercise, and the list goes on and on. In the midst of this fast paced lifestyle, one of the first things to suffer is our personal relationships. After all, who has time for a deep, meaningful conversation any more? We are so busy racing from one appointment to the next that a simple “How are you?” has been replaced with a silent wave, for fear that someone might actually answer the question and make us late for the next event. However, if we want to be truly successful as entrepreneurs, it is imperative that we invest a portion of our time into this extremely neglected area of life. This commitment to growing our “social capital” through networking, meeting new people, and even attending community events will create contacts, prospects, and if all goes well, customers for life.

From Fab to Flab in No Time Flat

“Best (& Worst) Beach Bodies of the Year”. That was the headline that grabbed my attention a couple weeks back as I stood in line at the grocery store. It was not for the most obvious reason that a 30-year old man might be tempted to take a peak, as I do a pretty good job of following the psalmist’s advice of placing no vile thing before my eyes (Psalm 101:3). In contrast, this was much less of a temptation and much more like the experience of approaching road kill on the side of the interstate. You know you’ll regret looking at it, but as the mangled creature moves closer, you just can’t seem to keep your eyes off of it.

Undoubtedly part of “the worst” category, the beach body being burned into my retina was none other than the Governator himself, Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The object of my disgust was standing there proudly in his Speedo, the magnificence of his former self but a mere memory. The former Mr. Olympia, 7-time world champion, and star of countless action movies, now looked as if he had never stepped foot in a gym in his entire life. A man who once boasted an incredibly low amount of body fat now looked as if he had traded bicep curls for cheese curls, and leg squats for tater tots. To put it bluntly, he was a lot less buffed up and a lot more A.Y.C.E. “buffet-ed” up.

I must admit that I was extremely saddened by the image on the magazine cover. I try to hit the gym about 2-3 times a week, or at the very least throw up a few push ups and sit-ups each morning as I get ready for the day. I had always hoped that one day I would get my body sculpted the way I liked it and then I could just lay back a little, take it easy, and coast into my latter years with a body that at the very least didn’t repulse my wife. However, in one fleeting moment at the grocery store check out line, my dream was effectively terminated. Arnold has indeed proven that regardless of your level of achievement, even if you’ve reached the pinnacle of success in your sport or industry, you can’t let up for even a moment…or you will lose it all. The fall to the bottom is certainly a lot faster than the climb to the top and in business, as in exercise, the moment at which you stop giving it your all is the moment that you will certainly fail.

One of the biggest differences that I see between the “have’s” and the “have-not’s” is in their view of success. Poor or unsuccessful people are always waiting for some once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a strike of lightning, the invention of the century. They think that prosperity and wealth are achieved by winning some kind of “success lottery” and they’re always sitting around waiting to hit the lucky numbers. However, those that achieve greatness in life are those who understand that success is a process, not an event, and they commit themselves to that process until it produces their desired result.

Write this on your mirror so it’s one of the first things you see every morning, “Success is a Journey, Not an Event.” Once that sinks into your mind & spirit, you will be that much closer to achieving the life of your dreams.

Committed to the Process,

Matt Robinson
Chief Instructor
Portico Wealth Training

The 70/10/10/10 Rule for Increase

If you read last week’s blog post, it may have left you wondering if entrepreneurs ever get to have any fun. After all, if you invest ALL OF YOUR PROFITS into your business, when do you get to enjoy the “fruits of your labor?” Whatever happened to “work hard, play hard” or better yet, “to the victor goes the spoils”? After spending most of my previous post analyzing the negative aspects of Parkinson’s Law and admonishing you to make sure you don’t overspend your profits or raises, this week I am going to encourage you to BLOW YOUR MONEY! Well, at least a little bit of it. There is nothing that will drain your excitement, creativity, and enthusiasm for your business than an attitude of all work and no play. It is imperative that you take some time (& money) for yourself.

Numerous studies have proven that employee productivity skyrockets after taking a vacation, which more than makes up for any lost time while the employee was away. (Do you really think that your boss gives you vacation time out of the kindness of their heart? This is Corporate America, baby! It’s all about the bottom line). This emphasis placed on rest & rejuvenation in many major corporations should teach us something about how we handle our own schedules as small business owners & entrepreneurs. Therefore, I want to give you a good rule of thumb to apply to any increase in your profits (for entrepreneurs), wage raises, or even seasonal or monthly sales bonuses. It’s called the 70/10/10/10 rule, and it will ensure that you keep your eye on the prize (financial independence) while not allowing yourself to get burned out, used up, and teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. This concept is not new, and I certainly didn’t invent it, but it’s an extremely effective way of handling your increase, so as to ensure your future success and prosperity.

The first 10% - Tithe It! As Christians, we understand the importance of giving your first fruits to God by tithing to your local church. There is a great deal of personal fulfillment that comes from being a cheerful and generous giver.

The second 10% - Blow it! – This is your chance to have a little fun. Go out to the nicest restaurant in town, take a weekend getaway to the beach, or get a full body massage. You deserve a reward for your hard work, and this will serve as a motivator to keep the profits rolling in. (Make sure and check out the video below for some more “Blow It” advice!)

The third 10% - Save it! I don’t want you to bury too much of your money because it won’t get you much in the way of a return (see the parable of the talents), however we all need a safety net, especially in these uncertain economic times. You eventually want to have about 6-12 months living expenses in liquid form, preferably in a money market account. Once you achieve that goal, you may decide to take this 10% and add to your investments or to your charitable giving (NOT MORE MASSAGES!)

The final 70% - Invest it! If you are an entrepreneur, look at testing and implementing some new marketing ideas. If the increase in profits is expected to be sustainable, perhaps you could look at hiring another employee. This would allow you to delegate more menial tasks, while leaving you to focus on more important decisions regarding the vision and direction of your company. As an employee, you should take your 70% and begin saving it as seed money for the launch of your own business. If you are into real estate, you could save it as a down payment for a rental property, or even buy a stock in a company you believe strongly in. The important thing is that you are taking the majority of your increase and sowing it into the financial realm, rather than into depreciating material assets that never satisfy.

“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food & oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” Proverbs 21:20, NIV For more insight on this principle, check out this clip from one of my recent economic empowerment conferences…

Falling Prey To Parkinson's Law

First articulated by Cyril Northcote Parkinson in the early part of the 20th Century, Parkinson’s Law states that "the demand upon a resource tends to expand to match the supply of the resource*." This concept has been applied to numerous areas of life, from politics to computer data, to point out the fact that the more we have of something, the more we tend to use. In financial terms, Parkinson’s Law can be summed up in 4 simple words, “Make more; spend more.”

One of the biggest mistakes that new & aspiring entrepreneurs make is not adequately investing in their businesses. Whether it’s a new business owner skimming a little too much of the profits for personal enjoyment, or an employee wasting a raise or Christmas bonus on upgrades to their material possessions, most of us have the tendency of falling prey to Parkinson’s law. In fact, studies show that through the availability of credit, American’s have in essence re-written Parkinson’s Law. We don’t only let our expenses rise proportionately with our income; we actually let them outpace us by spending an astounding 114% of what we actually earn!

Unfortunately this is another area of life where the church at large has followed right in step with the world, and its results are tragic. This fiscal unfitness that is so prevalent in our pews paralyzes us from taking action on our God-given visions and prevents us from starting or expanding our entrepreneurial efforts. The body of Christ must make a change, and it starts by breaking the law…

The key to success in your business and finances is to make a concerted effort to violate Parkinson’s Law. I tell my students all the time that there are only 2 ways to make room in your budget, and that is to make more or spend less. When you receive a raise or bonus, or your business has a good month, you have to resist the temptation of allowing your expenses to expand, filling up this new found room in your budget. This extra money is in fact a seed, that when sown into a God-directed financial endeavor, can produce a harvest of prosperity and blessing for you and your family.

Take a few minutes and check out this short clip from a recent financial conference at which I shared a few more insights about the phenomenon you now know as Parkinson’s Law. Have a Blessed Week!



* Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, www.wikipedia.com, accessed 10/22/2008

Financial Sanctification: Are We Set Apart?

As the world goes, so goes the church. The recent economic turmoil has once again served as a reminder of how most of us in the church still haven’t figured it out. We have been called to be separate, set apart, different. As the hackneyed maxim goes, our lives (and our finances) are supposed to be in the world but not of the world. However, just a little research will quickly reveal that the divorce rate, abortion rates, and even the existence of poverty, is the same in the church as it is in the secular world. We should not be affected by the economic cycles and shifting winds of Wall Street. But inevitably we are…

God longs to bless us even in the midst of economic downturns. He wants us to be the city on the hill, the ones to which the lost and hurting are looking to and asking themselves, “Why do they seem to be immune from what the rest of us are dealing with?” In fact, Paul speaks to this fact in what I believe is his call to an entrepreneurial church in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 & 12;

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." (NIV)

Paul admonishes the church to work hard and mind their business for 2 very important reasons. The second one, which we will focus on more in later entries, is to become financially free so that you “will not be dependent on anybody.” The first reason, however, is so that “your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.” Who are the outsiders? It’s the lost; those who don’t know Christ as their Lord & Savior. Those who are “outside” of the church are always watching those who are “inside.” In the same way that we are called to be set apart from sin and depravity, we should also be an example to the lost in our independence from the typical ups & downs that come from the economic cycles of the world.

However, because we spend WAY above our means (just like the rest of the world) and because we don’t tap into the divine creativity that has been placed inside of us to start successful businesses and profitable endeavors, we suffer the same fate as those who have no heavenly blessing at all. Therefore, when the “outside” looks “inside” they don’t see any real significant difference. What is there then to draw them to take a closer look? We have become so much like the world in both actions and appearance that we have lost the ability to “win the respect of the outsiders” when they take a peek inside our walls.

These words are certainly not intended to discourage you, but rather to challenge you to take a closer look at your life, finances, and career. Perhaps you need a heavenly paradigm shift, so that you can begin to see your career or business as a spiritual calling rather than a secular annoyance. It is (or should be) part of your contribution to the advancement of the Kingdom of God, and thus should constantly be examined and perfected by the wisdom that comes only from above.

In the coming months, (& years if the Lord tarries) I will be sharing some powerful scriptures that reveal God’s desire for a prosperous church of entrepreneurs and successful business owners. I will also be bringing you insightful interviews with Christian leaders, weekly motivation, and various online seminars to help you take your idea, invention, or service and turn it into a profitable reality in your life & business. If you would like to receive regular e-mail updates on our powerful training, you can register anytime at www.e-mandate.org.

Looking forward to lifting you higher,

Matt Robinson
Portico Wealth Training