Yes, Jesus and his followers lived simple lives and countless other spiritual people taught against wealth and/or living in abundance, but it's only "the root of evil" if we make it so.
I've struggled with this for eons, thinking how can I be a spiritual person and still make money? Can I make money and have nice things and still be a good person? And for eons I've limited myself and what I allowed in my life. I thought, God will hate me if I make a lot of money/desire things.
First of all, God does not hate, and second, God actually says:
For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
I'm reading The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity by Edwene Gaines for the second time because it's so inspiring and has really helped me clear some blocks I had about prosperity and spirituality. I'd love to share with you a piece of her spiritual map to a guilt-free prosperous life.
If you want to be prosperous you must give what you get. In the book, Edwene writes about the power of tithing 10% of everything that comes into your bank account, and although I'm following this specific rule, I think it can be applied across the board. Anything we give comes back to us and how much we give correlates to how much we get.
This can be a tricky one, a particularly hard principle because it's hard to give, especially money, when it feels like you don't have enough for yourself. But it's a universal law. Even God said to put him to the test:
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Malachi 3:10
I just started tithing again and have given to authors, ministers, and inspirational teachers.
Here's one thing I know: the more I get, the more I want to give. A beautiful cycle of giving and receiving.
2. Set Goals
If you want to be prosperous you must set goals. This is where you learn to daydream again, to let your mind wander, and to cast aside your limitations.
Basically, if you want something, write it down and get to work achieving it. Don't worry about the how. Don't worry that it seems impossible or that you're too old or sick or broke to receive it. Edwene writes, "Focus on asking yourself, 'If money were no object, if time or responsibility or age or education were no concern, what would my life look like? What would the life of my dreams be?'"
I can't stress this enough - that expanding the way you think about what is possible will open up a whole new world.
Nothing is impossible!
Write that out 100 times. Say it three times a day. Do whatever you have to do to get that through your head. Stop worrying about how something will come to be and just believe. Write down your goals, have some faith, and get in motion. Even if the motion is small and doesn't seem like it will get you anywhere. Micro-movements are still movements and every little bit counts.
Get serious about what you want!
If you want to be prosperous you must forgive those who have done you wrong. Why?
Because harboring grudges isn't hurting the person you refuse to forgive - it's hurting you. Like Edwene says, it's like stabbing yourself with a knife and expecting the other person to feel the pain.
Holding grudges blocks you from receiving the good you desire. That un-forgiveness is taking up a lot of room in your spiritual house and you're trying to bring in new stuff. There's no where to put it!
Are you wondering why your mental and physical health is less than par? Do some self-inventory and see if there's anyone you need to forgive. It doesn't matter what they did to hurt you, you've got to forgive them. Forgiving doesn't mean you excuse their behavior; it means you let go of the guilt, shame, blame, hurt, and resentment they may have caused you. Forgiveness is a gift to yourself.
4. Follow Your Passion, Live Your Purpose
If you want to be prosperous you must follow your passions and step into your divine purpose. This is something we grow into and dedicate ourselves to for the rest of our lives. Seems daunting, but it happens quite naturally.
What is something your passionate about and how can you use it to create a better world? My passion is to write, and my divine purpose is to use the gift to inspire people all over the world.
Realize that you were not put on this planet simply to work hard and pay your taxes, retire, and then die. That's not your divine plan. We are here on this planet to discover and demonstrate our own divinity.
Edwene Gaines
Here's your treasure map in a nutshell:
- Give & receive
- Set goals
- Forgive
- Follow your passion
Implement these four things into your everyday and get ready for the blessings! What do you have to lose?