Bible Reading: Luke 12:13-21
One of our congregants shared with me some few thoughts that I felt were interesting for reflection. See the thoughts in our bulletin note for this week, permission to share them was granted:
Very few economically progressive nations/countries have an ability to create wealth without strict and controlled and regulated economies. Free market form of capitalism is probably the most restrictive of all. The USA is the largest but to do business with an American or American company you will lose. They are ruthless and would abuse a blind man without blinking. My personal experience and observation have laid down that all are guilty until proved innocent
Decisions have to be correct. No bad decisions otherwise you will lose!!!
Very little time to learn how to make the right decision. Not found in books. Cannot be learnt or taught. Only way I know of is to mix with people that you can learn from. Listen carefully. If your mouth is open, then your ears are closed!!! Emotional decisions will fail every time. Your partner has to understand that to enable you to create wealth you cannot accept the family responsibilities that one would be expected to be part of.
Vision. Courage. Attitude and Hard Work. These 4 words form a closed circle. The wealth is created by a single person within the circle. By leading and by surrounding yourself with competent people. 365 days and 24hours per year. Challenge that very few can meet. An entrepreneur cannot be academically shown how. Tertiary education will not help. It grows from the bottom up. After an entrepreneur has taken the opportunity and set a structure around him/her and sells out.
Further value is added by capitalists who have access to capital.
In RSA the wealth to be created will come from within the people suffering at the bottom. The Bible is quite clear. It is not a sin to become wealthy provided the wealth is distributed downwards. The reward will be that you will be blessed with bigger opportunities to create wealth and thus become wealthier. It is criminal for an entrepreneur to stop doing what the Lord expects from him. There is no retirement/resting for the very few that have achieved the wisdom given to them. I have been exposed and achieved through the grace of God. In the 78 years in the world economy I have been blessed and for the very first time believe that the wealth created has an opportunity to grow and that my family will serve those that the Lord loves more than ever. The poor and sick.
To become a future successful businessperson that commits to His command and for us to live in peace and harmony together with all given the basic dignity of living, capitalism will need to accept that compassion must become a powerful incentive in the future and the way forward. My wisdom tells me that the next generation will accept the challenge and that we will all live together in sharing, caring, understanding and dignity and this will lead to happiness which is what we are all seeking