HOW TO WALK IN GOD'S PROSPERITY by Bayo Ogunmupe

N 1923, seven of the most successful men in the world met at a Chicago hotel in the United States. The president of the largest independent steel company, the president of the largest utility company, the greatest wheat speculator and the president of the New York Stock Exchange were there. Also attending was a member of the cabinet of the U.S. president, the president of the Bank of International Settlements and the president of the world’s greatest monopoly. Jointly these tycoons controlled more money than there was in the United States Treasury.

  Now 25 years later, let us see what happened to them. Charles Schwab of steel lived his last five years on borrowed money, and he died a pauper. Arthur Cooger, the world’s greatest wheat speculator, Leon Fraser, bank president – all committed suicide, Richard Whitney, the stock exchange guru and Albert Fall the president’s cabinet member were both imprisoned for corruption. If the current world economic upheaval has taught anything it is that money brings neither security nor happiness. ‘‘One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses,” Luke 12: 14. Yet, God will bless you with money, Deut. 8:18. Jehovah will do this for two reasons. One, because He delights in seeing His children walk in His blessings, Psalms 35:27. Two, because He expects you to use your money to reach a hurting world with God’s love. If you keep those two things in mind, you will be walking in God’s prosperity.

  For those who walk in the vineyard of God’s prosperity, we have found from the Bible book of Joshua that if a person will meditate in the scriptures day and night and do all that is written therein, he will prosper and deal wisely in h is affairs. It is through this kind of meditation in the Word that you will discover what Jehovah has to say about finances.

  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteh understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold,” Prov. 3: 13, 14. Thus, there is a better market for wisdom and understanding than for gold and silver. The merchandise of it is greater and will provide more.

  The life of King Solomon of ancient Israel proved this. People from all over the world heard  about the wisdom of Solomon and brought him wealth and riches because of it.” She (wisdom) is more precious  than rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour,” Proverbs 3: 15, 16. Wisdom actually possesses riches and honour. Does wisdom belong to us? Again, we go to our covenant with Jehovah for the answer.

  The scriptures say in first Corinthians 1: 30, that Jesus has been made unto us wisdom. And James says: ‘‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering,” James 1: 5-6. God affirms in the scriptures that we should bear fruit and succeed in every endeavour. The wisdom of God enables us to do this.

  Besides, I am taking for granted that you understand the efficacy of prayer – in every segment of human endeavour. My exhortation for prosperity is that you should spend time praying before Jehovah and in His word. In financial economics, the truly wise man will not borrow money to do business. He will not obligate himself by relying on the world’s system of finance where he will never be in control of his business affairs. God has a system of finance which will provide for everything you need. The answer is to use this divine and higher way; reach for it.

  Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve. God can and will provide anything any businessman can conceive in his heart or mind. But you can only grow spiritually in God’s prosperity. If you want one million naira to start a business, Jehovah will provide the means by which you will get it. But you will start by believing Him for your next suit. Then, you grow into the position at which you can ask Him larger forms of money. The wisdom of God will enable you gain such money just by spending time in prayer with God. By making God your friend and business partner you gain your desires.

  The wisdom of Jehovah is available to you. It resides within you. Bring it into use by meditating and strategizing with God. King David of ancient Israel came up with a plan for building a temple for God. But his son, Solomon actually built it. Thus, you should coin a strategy for building and fulfilling your dream. What is worse than having no dream is to have one without a plan to make it a reality. A strategy gives you energy, direction and focus. A study on how infrequently people develop strategies for achieving their dreams revealed that 26 per cent focus on specific, tangible targets for what they want in life. Nineteen per cent of the team set goals aligned with their purpose, mission and passion; fifteen per cent write their goals in specific measures, twelve per cent maintain a clearly defined goal for every interest and role, another twelve per cent identify related long-term goals with deadlines. Only seven per cent take daily action toward the attainment of their goals. According to the authors of the study, people fail to consistently take the actions necessary to move their dreams and visions out of their hearts into their lives. Dreams don’t come true because you wish them up. They come true because you seek God for direction, put them down on paper with specific actions and timeliness. So stop stargazing and start strategizing.

  Our champion this week is Benjamin Bradlee, the American editor who guided Watergate coverage leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Bradlee was an editor of the Washington Post newspaper who oversaw the coverage of the Watergate Scandal. He died last October at the age of 93. Bradlee left a lasting legacy at the Washington Post and in the wider media. He was hailed for having the courage of an army to pursue the scandal leading to the nailing of President Nixon. Bradlee was the greatest American newspaper editor of his time and had the greatest impact on his newspaper of any modern editor. When he charged reporters Robert Woodward and Carl Bernstein with investigating the Watergate scandal, it uncovered a vast surveillance and dirty tricks leading to the impeachment and resignation of the U.S. President in 1974, and the prosecution of scores of federal officials. ‘‘Ben was a leader, genius and true friend of Journalism,” Bernstein and Woodward said in a joint statement on the Washington Post website when the news of his death emerged in October this year.

  Bradlee’s Watergate coverage transformed political journalism and it became the topic of bestselling book and film: All the Presidents Men. Bradlee was born in 1921 to a Boston family which traced its history to early U.S. settlers in 1600. His maternal grandfather was Frederic Crowninshield, a descendant of King John II of France. After graduating from Harvard, Bradlee served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II.