And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld

Planting Financial Seeds And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called onto him his disciples, and saith onto them... Mark 12:41-43 CHAPTER THREE This entire verse deals with the offering. People were giving in the offering and Jesus was standing right next to the money basket. I want you to notice that Jesus did not refuse the offerings but, rather, received them. The Bible teaches that you cannot serve God and mammon (money), but you must serve God with mammon. So then, if you do not have mammon, you cannot serve God. Jesus uses this poor widow as an example for businesspersons and people of all faiths to realize. 45

46 Chapter Three: Planting Financial Seeds Principle #1 You cannot serve God and mammon (money), but you must serve God with mammon. The emphasis was not so much on how much this woman gave, but rather how much was left over after she gave. The measure of your giving is never measured by the amount given, but by the amount that remains after you have given. There are people who are rich who often give one hundred dollars here or maybe one thousand dollars there. They give not necessarily in faith but, rather, because one hundred or one thousand dollars seems to be a lot of money to many people, but really it isn t for them. All giving that pleases God requires faith. When you give, your giving must require faith, not convenience. There are people that made less than minimum wage and by faith gave one hundred dollar seed offerings until they became wealthy. For them, that took great faith. However a person that makes $100.00 per hour, may need to stretch a bit further in his faith and give far more than that to really please God with his giving. A near billionaire once gave our ministry $1000.00. Spirit told me not to deposit the check at all. I did not want to send the person the message that the church was desperate for his money. His seed did not represent a faithful commitment on his part. If anything, his seed was really a sloppy tip. Please don t misunderstand me. I am not implying that this man was obligated to give anything. That was his free will. What I am saying is that when it comes to giving, especially

The Business of Getting Rich 47 to those things that are spiritual in nature, there needs to be a standard set by spiritual leaders of that which is acceptable toward God. This same person would not have any problem buying gaudy showy wear to impress his friends, or give hundreds of thousands of dollars toward causes that would yield him a kickback. Every businessperson must understand that genuine heartfelt giving is not about kickbacks or even tax benefits, although there is nothing wrong with taking the benefits that the government affords you. My point is that the highest level of giving is when you give in faith toward a spiritual cause, and know within that Spirit will reward you for your heartfelt giving. That s giving at it s best. Principle #2 The measure of your giving is never measured by the amount given, but by the amount that remains after you have given. TITHING THE PATH OF THE TYCOONS Every truly wealthy person knows, understands, and practices the principle of tithing. In fact, some of the richest people on earth regularly practice this wonderful habit. A tithe is simply giving one tenth of your income away to a cause which you believe has value, especially spiritual value, to bless and uplift the lives of others. In the Bible, the tithe specifically was given to the priests to sustain the priesthood. In turn, God would bless the land by causing the businesses to flourish because of their obedience in

48 Chapter Three: Planting Financial Seeds taking care of the House of God. The tithe is generally given to the house that feeds you spiritually, where you get your spiritual nourishment. Principle #3 Every truly wealthy person knows, understands, and practices the principle of tithing. One of the main reasons why there are some churches that have people who live in lack is that there are people in that congregation who are not tithing to that church. If the church becomes a tithing church, there would be no lack in the house. Lack comes into the House of God when there is not uniformed agreement concerning the tithe. People that are either poor in mind and spirit, are stingy or are driven by greed, fight against the tithe. They believe that they can be blessed without giving the tithe. I really don t know anyone who is financially prosperous that fights against the tithe. Wealthy people are wealthy and continue to stay that way because they have learned the secret of wealth GIVING. They know all too well that giving just one time won t evoke the spirit of blessing on their life anymore than taking one class in Algebra will make one a skilled mechanical engineer. They know that giving is a lifestyle and the tithe is the portal to the life of continuous supply. As for the church, if every individual contributes his or her part, there would be divine increase, because every one will have collectively tapped into God s divine economy.

The Business of Getting Rich 49 Principle #4 Lack comes into the House of God when there is not uniformed agreement concerning the tithe. One of the most treasured phrases of any real investor is R.O.I., which simply means return on investment. Serious investors never invest one dime into anything until they have first clearly established what the R.O.I is. That is only using common sense. They want to know if the R.O.I. is going to be 10%, 20% or even 100% or more. Knowing this upfront gives them a sense of peace about planting seeds into a particular stock, start-up business, or real estate venture. They know that they will receive a return. Principle #5 Wealthy people are wealthy and continue to stay that way because they have learned the secret of wealth GIVING. In the same manner, investors, spiritual investors have discovered that the surest investment is the tithe an investment into God s stock. God s Kingdom stock has always yielded the highest return. And it increases annually at a rapid rate. Tap into heavenly riches through the tithe. If you become consistent in your giving, you will undoubtedly begin to see consistent results.

50 Chapter Three: Planting Financial Seeds YOU CANNOT DISCIPLE THE POOR Principle #6 Poor people are always so focused on their need; they are not focused on future possibilities. Jesus called unto his disciples and saith unto them... One of the reasons why many poor people are poor is that they are not teachable. This is why I say you cannot disciple the poor. They do not make good discipleship material. You may say, Bishop that s unfair for you to say that about the poor people of the world. I never said that it was fair; it s just true. The poor cannot be good disciples, particularly as it concerns wealth and freedom, because poor people are always so focused on their need that they are not focused on future possibilities. They are always so focused on the present, getting their immediate needs met, that they do not have time to implement generational thinking. God s entire kingdom system and wealth system is all about generations. Wealth is transferred. Wealth is not mistakenly lost. You may lose money from time to time through speculative investments or through mere ignorance.

The Business of Getting Rich 51 But wealth is rarely lost. Wealth takes time in order to establish, often hundreds of years. So that type of investment is usually guarded very well. Principle #7 Wealth is passed down. Also, since wealth takes so long to establish, the ones holding the wealth will make certain that to whomever s hands the wealth flows, they will be well-educated as to how to keep the wealth flowing and circulating for generations to come. Wealth is passed down. Wealth has to be taught over a period of time. And most poor people do not have the patience to learn long lessons. Poor people want money now, quick and in a hurry. They ve always got pressing needs and concerns. They are always in need of a miracle. This is not necessarily all bad though. You need to start where you are. If you are wealthy, then obviously you have done the right things to afford you such status. If you are poor, there is still hope. Your seed planted has the potential to interrupt the cycle of defeat and lack in your life. Learning how to plant seeds when you are in need is really the beginning of learning about wealth systems. Wealthy people plant seeds all of the time. That is why they are taken care of by the interest from the seeds that they ve planted into various business investitures.... Verily I say onto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: Mark 12:34

52 Chapter Three: Planting Financial Seeds This poor widow no longer wanted to be a product of her surroundings or the low thought in the mind of the people of her day. She got a hold of a truth that would set her free. She began to educate her mind and spirit to a newfound reality. Every seed has within it the ability to rapidly outgrow your present problem. The only way that will happen though, is after you release it by faith. Principle #8 Learning how to plant seeds when you are in need is really the beginning of learning about wealth systems. WHEN DOES GOD MOVE? One of the major warnings of the ancient teachers is that one must never concern oneself with how Spirit does a particular job. How God does what He does is never your business. That s God s business. One thing I do know is when God moves. And God always moves when there are no leftovers. Let s face it; many of you have not really done any serious giving, because you still have leftovers. God moves supernaturally when there are no leftovers. What does leftovers mean? Leftovers are, Just in case God does not come through, then I will fall back on this.

The Business of Getting Rich 53 Principle #9 How God does what He does, is never your business. That s God s business. This is where you start to understand giving. If you have a hundred dollars and keep it, and continue to focus on what you do not have, even that which you have will be eventually taken away from you. However, when you give it, you will keep hundreds, because the seed always multiplies back to you repeatedly. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Mark 12:44 Principle #10 God moves supernaturally when there are no leftovers. Wow! This women cast in all of her living. When was the last time that you gave your living? You are giving so that you can experience true living. Giving is not measured by the amount that you give, but by the amount that you have left over after you have given. Giving gets the attention of God when the gift is right. When the gift is right, then and only then does it get God s attention. When your gift is wrong, you get

54 Chapter Three: Planting Financial Seeds someone else s attention. Who is attending to your case? Whose attention are you receiving? Principle #11 Giving gets the attention of God when the gift is right. Today I just received an offering and someone got attention. Either God took notice and gave attention to the seed, or the return was withheld for not representing what really should have been sown. Your seed will always attract attention. You attract attention through either your seed or your need. The seed will always outweigh your need. Whatever you are doing, you have to make a decision as to whether you are going to keep the need or are you going to release the need. How do we release the need? Through the seed! Giving gets God s attention, when the gift is right. Prove me now and see if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10 Principle #12 You attract attention through either your seed or your need. The seed will always outweigh your need.

The Business of Getting Rich 55 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith... Malachi 3:10 God wants to work with what is in your hands right now. He is not concerned about your future because, in God s eyes, your future is today. You have not really been poured out. That s your problem. You are out, but not poured out. When you are a tither, he will pour you out, that your new name will be Blessing. He will pour you out a blessing and there shall not be room enough to receive. God wants to make you so large, so fat, that the area, the neighborhood, that you are in, will not be able to receive you. You will not be able to fit in those doors any longer. It s called living large. THE LAW OF CIRCULATION If you can dream it up, you can dream it down. If you can think it up, you can think down. That is why you have to be careful with whom you are. If you bring it up, it means you are going to bring it down, and it cannot come down unless you brought it up. Therefore, whatever I want to show up in my life, I start thinking it up. When I start thinking it up, then I start thinking it down. That is the law of circulation. Whatever you have been thinking up, dreaming up, bringing up, that is the sum total of your life. Are you not glad that destiny is not a chance but a choice? You are co-creators with God, and you create your own reality. You carve your own

56 Chapter Three: Planting Financial Seeds life, and reality, out of the set of circumstances that you choose. When you are tired of that particular drama in your life, you close the curtain, fade the theater to black, open it up, and come back to a fresh new set, because you were able to think it up, so you thought it down. You create every scene in your life, good or bad. Principle #13 You are co-creators with God, and you create your own reality. I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:11 And all nations shall call [you] blessed:... Psalm 72:17 Principle #14 You create every scene in your life, good or bad.

The Business of Getting Rich 57 If other people are not calling you blessed, that means you are probably not a tither. When you tithe honestly and consistently other nations and nationalities are supposed to call you blessed. Blessed becomes your name, your character, and your calling. Others will look at you and envy you. When I say envy, I don t mean that they ll try to harm you. Envy means I hurt at your success. The principle of tithing is a perfect example of the law of circulation in action. You cannot give the tithe without expecting it to flow continuously. It has to keep moving. That is the very nature of the law of circulation. It is also the nature of the tithe. Principle #15 Man determines your salary, but God determines your income. Man determines your salary, but God determines your income. Every person who works a job had his or her salary determined by man. If you truly desire your income to change, man cannot intervene in this area. Your seed determines your income. If you need more income, simply raise your seed. Never judge a man s harvest until you have taken the time to investigate his or her seed. It s only natural and biblical for people to make a big fuss about what I have. God blesses me and I am not ashamed of it. Why am I so blessed, you ask? It s that my seed speaks out from the earth. If you want to stop man from determining your salary, become a giver and people will not be able to understand how you can live so extremely well on your salary, because

58 Chapter Three: Planting Financial Seeds things will just start surfacing in your life. They will never figure it out. Only the spiritually discerning will understand that it s all because of your giving. The seed determines your income, while man determines your salary. The seed works! Principle #16 Never judge a man s harvest until you have taken the time to investigate his or her seed.