Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. Proverbs 13:11
Have you ever dreamed of suddenly coming into a lot of money?
Surely, a windfall of millions of dollars would eliminate all your problems and give you access to comfort and pleasure, right? In an article titled, “13 Things Lotto Winners Won’t Tell You: Life After Winning the Lottery,” 70% of lotto winners had lost or spent their winnings in five years or less. They also divulged details of feeling exploited by friends, impulse buys they later regretted, and other unexpected changes that came with sudden wealth.[1]
These stories and statistics reveal how important it is to learn to steward what we have. Stewardship is about being trustworthy, creative, and capable with any responsibility given to you. And stewardship is almost always best developed little by little. The Bible’s book of Proverbs says, “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time” (Proverbs 13:11).
Many stingy people think that if they just had a lot of money, it would be easy to be generous. The Bible says the opposite is true (Luke 16:10, Luke 19:17). If you’re generous with your little, you’ll be generous with lots. If you show integrity with a single dollar when no one is looking, chances are you’ll be honest with a million.
What are you learning to steward in your life in this season? Even if it seems small, know that today’s lessons in faithfulness, integrity, and creativity will grow with you as your responsibility grows! Embrace the small lessons that come with managing your time, money, work, and relationships. You never know what they’re preparing you for!
[1] Couch, Michelle, “13 Things Lotto Winners Won’t Tell You: Life After Winning the Lottery.” Reader’s Digest. April 27, 2023, Access at https://www.rd.com/list/13-things-lottery-winners/.
