25 August 2010
So we’re going to continue in our review of some of the quotes and lessons from Dr. Thomas J. Stanley’s recent book “Stop Acting Rich and Start Living Like a Real Millionaire.” On Page 12, Dr. Stanley says that “the buying behaviors of the glittering rich, especially brand selection patterns, are completely opposite to those of the millionaires who may never in their lives have had an annual income of $100,000 or more…They invest regularly and wisely.” And then later on Page 12, Dr. Stanley goes on to write, “Bottom line, it is far more attainable to become a millionaire through hard work and saving than it is likely to become a celebrity millionaire, win the lottery, or inherit from a mysterious rich aunt.” And so, as we look at what Dr. Stanley is writing about here, and trying to communicate to people, we want to first of all look at it and say okay, is what Dr. Stanley is writing here true? That’s question number one.
Question number two: how would we even know if it was true? And then of course you can get into a discussion of truth, is there such a thing as truth? Pontius Pilate had a problem even believing that there was such a thing as truth even as he stared the Truth (Jesus) in the face. But, as for me and you, we believe that there is a truth. And we believe that we can find truth in God’s word, also called the Bible.
So if we look in God’s word about work and being able to work hard and save along the way, a few verses pop into my mind. Exodus 34:24 is one of those verses, and it says, “You shall work six days.” The Bible says in 2Thessalonians 3:10 - “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.” The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, verily do it with all your might.” Proverbs 12:27 says, “The precious possession of a man is diligence.” So as we look at some of these scriptures about work, we can see that working hard or diligently is certainly something that God has prescribed for us in His word. So we can give 2 thumbs up to Dr. Stanley’s words concerning hard work.
He continued on Page 12 when he says that “We [meaning Americans] are not interested in emulating the Toyota-driving, modestly-attired, blingless entrepreneur or sales professional.”
