It has been reported that John D. Rockefeller
proposed three simple rules for anyone who wants to become rich: (1) Go to work
early. (2) Stay at work late. (3) Find oil.
Whether accurately reported or not, the remark
rings true. There is something unpredictable about wealth—what it takes to find
it and keep it. Some people work hard their whole lives and never manage to
accumulate much money. Others are blessed with good fortune and become rich
virtually overnight. While we may believe that we control our own economic
destiny, we live at the mercy of many forces beyond our control.
And while it is certain that those who work
hard are more likely to live comfortable lives, Rockefeller’s quip holds a
valuable lesson on the best attitude toward wealth. Rather than seeking seeing
our economic well-being as fully within our control, we should realize that we
depend on something other than our own efforts to succeed. You and I know that
we depend on God for our daily bread.
What freedom!
This week in our Give to Live series we’ll examine Jesus’ core teaching on
money and discover that it is really a teaching on trust (see Matthew 6:19–34).
As you begin to see God as the provider of all good things, you will discover
greater contentment, greater confidence, and greater trust in Him. He really does care for you.
