The Bible is an instruction manual for success. . .revealing how to walk in God’s blessing flow and experience the good life He envisions for us.  It’s all in the Word of God.

God’s instructions are not situational. . .they don’t vary based on current economic conditions, which party is in power, your personal circumstances or  unrest anywhere in the world.  The principles in his Word are clear and absolute.  This is important to know … now more than ever.

If you want to experience God’s power. . .you must know His Word.

Matthew 22:29 is so powerful that I’m going to show it to you in four translations because if you get nothing else but this scripture, then this teaching would have accomplished its purpose.

Matthew 22:29 in the King James Version says:

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”

Do you have “it”?  You should have…

Romans 12:8 in the New International Version says:

“If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Everybody should have the gift of encouragement.

“Well, I’m not sure God wanted me to have that gift.”  Then it’s apparent that you’ve never read Hebrews 3:13 in the Amplified Bible:

“But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him].”

We’re to encourage one another. . .HOW OFTEN?. . .EVERY DAY.

So let’s look at what encouragement means.

According to Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary the word encouragement is defined as:

“1. The act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; 2. That which serves to incite, support, promote, or advance, as favor, countenance, reward, etc.; incentive; increase of confidence.”

William Arthur Ward, noted for his inspiration maxims, said:

Have you ever been to a potluck dinner?

In North Carolina, where I was raised. . .potluck meals were often referred to as “Sunday dinner on the grounds” where everybody brought their favorite dish or dishes.  It was like a church-wide picnic.

The food was generally so good it would make your tongue slap your tonsils.  Please notice that I said generally. . .that was not always the case.

I can remember on numerous occasions where I sampled a particular dish and then prayed for the family that had to eat/endure that kind of cooking.

Bottom line. . .at potluck gatherings. . .you always dine on what others are serving. . .whether the food is nutritious, delicious or just plain awful. At least you get to choose.

Now, there’s a difference when you know the background of this dish.  It was great when you knew the cook fixed up one of the best dishes of chicken and dumplings in the entire county.  Then again, there were other dishes where you not only didn’t know who fixed it but it was a little questionable about what was in it.

Sadly, too many believers have a potluck mentality where they are willing to  feed on whatever thoughts others are serving to them.

In today’s economy, you’ve got the gloom and doomers.

These folks believe the world is going to hell in a hand basket and it’s God’s judgment upon this wicked nation and world.

By the way, if someone tells you the world is going to hell in a hand basket…tell them you’ve chosen not to go so they can go ahead and keep your ticket since they’re so excited about the journey.

This group includes:  the folks more concerned about going up in the rapture than growing up in Jesus.

10.  Never stereotype anyone based on their net worth or the lack thereof.

  9.  How a person responds to having money will reveal their true character…who they really are.  Money is just a reflection of us.

  8.  Your potential isn’t limited by your actions but rather your beliefs.  Mark 9:23.

  7.  You have something special to achieve in your life because God made sure you were born…you are not an accident.  Jeremiah 1:5

  6.  Never let what you can’t do…keep you from doing what you can do…today.

Here are the Top 5 Rich Thoughts Nuggets of the week.

  5.  Delay is a favorite deceptive and tactical weapon of the enemy.  It fuels the doubts he seeks to create.

  4. It’s the character of a person’s heart and not the balance in their checkbook or lack thereof that determines who they are.

  3.  Our destiny is determined by choice not by chance.

  2.  Never be moved by your circumstances or the opinions of others...base your decisions on the Word of God and nothing else.

And the # 1 Rich Thoughts Nugget you selected is:

1. The fastest way to get into financial trouble is to compare yourself to others and what they have or don’t have.

A couple of weeks ago, I felt impressed to write a teaching entitled “7 Ways to Meet A King Or Be One.”

God immediately gave me the seven ways. . .and I started writing this teaching but then I felt led to put it down.

Recently, I received a Facebook direct message from a lady that read:

“Can You PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Tell Me Where I Can Study "Wealth Management" (without charge).  Many Times Our Great MENTOR Has Referred To A GOD-WOMAN, A True Queen, A PROVERBS 31 WOMAN, Understanding WEALTH MANAGEMENT and since I Do NOT Really know What That Means, I TRULY DESIRE With ALL My Being To Acquire KNOWLEDGE Of That Which I Will NEED. Because One of These GLORIOUS DAYS My Heavenly Father Will Divinely SPIRIT-CONNECT Me To The GOD-MAN GOD, A True Proverbs 31 MAN, A True King, That In Eternity Past He Created Me For. I TRULY Need To Understand ALL That Is Embraced Within The Principals Of WEALTH MANGEMENT...”

As I read and re-read this message. . .I immediately realized three things.