One of my favorite television shows is Shark Tank. An entrepreneur, innovator, or businessperson has some clever idea that needs an investor, so they come on this show and make a “pitch” to five venture capitalists. I am not a financier the magnitude of these investors, but I enjoy watching the minds of these people process the possibilities before them. Some of the business ideas that are presented are lame, others are good but not at a point of investment, while others demonstrate the possibility of hitting it big in the market. Again, I am amazed at the cleverness and ingenuity of the people on the show, especially the inventors. I think to myself, “What a gift that must be to create something that never existed which people need (or want) and prosper by it.”
What people do not realize is that these moments of invention or creation are not simply due to people’s cleverness. The Bible clearly identifies its origin.
“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” (Proverbs 8:11-12)
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3)
The third “stream” of prosperity is God prospering His people through the release of ideas and the use of imagination to create things that can be a blessing to others. How many multimillion-dollar ideas are released to God’s people but are ignored or overlooked? Consider, for example, the ways important discoveries were found.
1. Mendeleyev created the periodic table of elements from a dream.
2. Frederick August Kekule solved the structural riddle of the benzene molecule (a closed carbon ring) from a dream in which he saw a snake seizing its own tail.
3. Frederick Banting isolated insulin with help from his dream.
4. Elias Howe finished his lockstitch sewing machine from a dream.
5. The inventor of the compound bow received the idea for the invention in a dream.
6. Einstein’s theory of relativity was inspired by a dream.
7. The last movement of Handel’s Messiah was given to Handel in a dream.
A very practical story is one I saw personally. A young boy, several grades behind me in school, desiring to make a few extra dollars for gas money, had an idea to start mowing lawns. It wasn’t an unusual idea for numerous young boys have done such things. He started mowing his own lawn and then solicited his neighborhood for other people who might desire someone to mow their lawn. As the next couple of years went by, his opportunities increased as well as the size of the lawns. So, he had to buy more equipment as well as larger lawn mowers. The income started to increase. To make the story shorter, by the time he was a senior in high school, as he would attend classes, he had 3 lawn crews working lawns all over town. His small lawn business took off and he was doing very well.
My point is that prosperity does not always show up in dramatic ways, but rather responding to opportunities before you coupled by a work ethic. This is why a believer must be planted by the “rivers”. An idea may be a prosperity stream but it is of little good if the “work” stream is not in operation.
Never underestimate the ability of receiving an unusual God-idea. In fact, you may want to ask the Lord about specific opportunities or obstacles you may be facing. How often do we challenge our children to dream about their careers or ask God for their “calling”? All of this activity can birth an idea that leads to prosperity.
I ask the Lord on a continual basis to enlarge my thinking (Ephesians 3:20) and to give me ideas that will be of value in the arena He has placed me. The Lord will also use collaboration with other people to drop an idea that can be a key to unlocking something important and also, prospering your hands.
Don’t confuse this with “running after riches” (although I am sure some will conflate the two). We are seeking God for an idea that can help others. For me, I am writing books to help God’s people walk in their God-given destiny. My wife is becoming the go-to expert on deliverance and personal freedom for God’s people. Our heart is that these ideas (ministries) are meant to help others. Might they prosper our hands? We hope so, then we can conduit those resources to help others with their Kingdom mission. If not, we have been obedient to the Lord’s call. We win no matter what.
See how this works?
I encourage you…get before the Lord and see if He births a witty idea.
And by the way…
Don’t be ashamed if it prospers.
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