Nothing Is Impossible For Those Who Believe

by Marnie L. Pehrson

I’m not sure whether it was this way back in 1910 when Mr. Wattles wrote The Science of Getting Rich, but today the words "Getting Rich" have a bit of a sinful connotation in most Christian circles. Perhaps that’s because many who have gotten rich over the centuries did so by stepping on the backs of others.

Perhaps it comes from a misquotation of the Apostle Paul: "money is the root of all evil." This wasn’t really what Paul said. He said, "the love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Timothy 6:10) Money is not an end, it is simply a means. Using money to gain power and dominate others is evil. Using money to build up the kingdom of God and promote virtuous, lovely, good and praiseworthy activities is what God wants us to do (Philippians 4:8). Our love at that point is not centered on the money but upon the light we shine forth to the world as an example of Christ.

Jesus admonished us to "Take no thought, saying What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Jesus also admonished us to "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet ...even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Matthew 6:33).

So how does one resolve this admonition of the Savior with a treatise on The Science of Getting Rich? At a glance, the average Christian would be inclined to cast Wattles’ book aside calling it sinful or at the very least adverse to the Savior’s teachings. But on a more careful study of Mr. Wattles’ work, one will find that Wattles actually teaches the same principles the Savior taught. He just comes at them a little differently. As a matter of fact, when I was first introduced to Mr. Wattles’ work, I picked it apart. I cross referenced it with scripture and the things I’d been taught in church and found that it did not clash with anything I’d been taught.

To be honest with you, I’m not convinced that Wattles aptly named his book. I think it’s more of a how-to manual on increasing your faith so that God can work miracles in your life, rather than obtaining riches in the worldly, competitive sense. It’s about learning the difference between what you control and what God controls. It teaches you how to ask intelligently so that you can receive, and how to knock so that it can be opened to you (Matthew 7:8). Once you’ve asked, you simply retain your vision and purpose, act upon the promptings of the Spirit and trust that you will be clothed just as those lilies are!

Most Christians misinterpret these verses that relate to wealth and riches to mean that we should resign ourselves to getting by on a meager penance. But Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10)." Christ is about abundance. He’s about clothing the lilies and feeding the sparrows and about giving you everything you need to fulfill your mission in life. He wants you to have joy, and He knows you can only do that by filling the full measure of your creation. The riches of eternity are in His hands and they are His to give. He wants to share them with you. He wants to teach you His mysteries and unfold the riches of eternity to your view. But if you never ask, you can never receive. If you don’t have faith, then you can’t unlock the treasure chest of blessings that literally has your name on it!

Too many of us are like the servant who hid his talent for fear that he’d lose it. Jesus taught "where much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48). If we have talents and gifts and we do not use them to build up and glorify the kingdom of God and promote righteousness in the world, then we have failed. We are as the unprofitable servant whose talent was taken away and given to another. It is our duty, our obligation to develop to our fullest potential in mind, body and soul.

This is what Wallace D. Wattles teaches in not only a "scientific" way, but also in a spiritual way. For you see, you cannot reach your full potential in mind, body and soul development unless you have the means and resources to do it. An individual with a talent to play the piano will never reach her full potential unless she has piano lessons, a piano and access to good music and all the training she can obtain. These things cost "money" in today’s world. But really, money isn’t even what The Science of Getting Rich is about. It’s about getting the things you need to fulfill your maximum potential. Money may never even enter the picture.

Since using this material over the last few years, I’ve found that many times money isn’t involved at all. For example, I have always had a desire to live on a farm and have chickens, goats, horses, etc. We live on 24-acres that we’ve never developed fully, and I’ve put a picture in my mind as to what it would look like developed with the animals and barn and a fence for the horses. It’s something I want not only for myself, but also for our children so they can learn responsibility and how to enjoy the beauties of nature and all that God has to offer. Two of our sons, in particular, love animals and have a knack with them. My vision in large part is driven by the desire that they be able to fully explore and develop their gifts.

The fly in the ointment was that I wasn’t sure where I’d get the money for all these things. In particular the fence and the barn had me stumped because I knew those would be expensive. In keeping with the teachings of Wattles’ book, I didn’t worry about the "how." I put that in God’s hands and focused on "what" I wanted. I spent time visualizing what I wanted so that I could ask intelligently, and then watched things start to happen.

It all started about a month after I began working on my mental picture of the pasture with a red barn and a fence around it with horses inside. My nephew, who lives next door (his parents’ house and ours are built on the same property), called me and said,

"Hi, Aunt Marnie, I have some friends who raise horses and they need some pasture for them to graze in. Would you mind if we put them out in the field?"

My heart skipped a beat. I’d said nothing to anyone about my vision. I said, "That sounds great. But what about a fence? They’ll need a fence. Won’t that be expensive?"

"They have all the materials, and they’ll put it in for us," he replied.

"Where would the fence go?" I asked.

His answer was the exact spot I had been envisioning! Of course I agreed and shared with him my vision for the property and how what he wanted to do fit perfectly into it.

A couple weeks later I found myself sitting on a hay wagon watching two cars pull up, people pour out and set to work building my fence! I paid for none of it. I didn’t have to figure out how to build it or what items would be needed for its construction. I didn’t even have to lift a finger! I simply envisioned it and God, in perfect Matchmaker fashion, found the people who needed what we had and were willing to give me exactly what I wanted in return. A field looks so much prettier with horses in it. Since then we’ve acquired some goats, and I’m excited to see how the rest comes into place!

I challenge you to open your mind and heart. Study Mr. Wattles’ words and see if they don’t ring true. Even if they feel a little uncomfortable at first, don’t let that bother you. Just open your mind to the possibility that they could be true and experiment with them.

To download Marnie Pehrson’s free ebook, "Nothing is Impossible for Those Who Believe: A Christian Perspective on Wallace D. Wattles' 1910 Classic, The Science of Getting Rich".

Written by: Marnie L. Pehrson,
marniep@mindspring.com
http://www.believersatwork.com

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Marnie Pehrson is an author, creator of www.IdeaMarketers.com, www.LocateACoach.com, www.SheLovesGod.com, and more. She is the author of inspirational books like Lord, Are You Sure? and historical fiction such as The Patriot Wore Petticoats. She also helps people earn money from home using the phone and the Internet. For more information on her projects, visit http://www.pwgroup.com or www.MarniePehrson.com