I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when I became a financial adviser that people had an expectation that it was my job to make them rich. I remember one client who came right out and asked me “Are you making me rich?” every time I saw him. A little intimidating actually! The thing is that I didn’t become a financial adviser to help people get rich. My Life Mission was to “free people financially so they could live the life they were meant to live”. Now, reflecting back on it, perhaps I really did want to help people get rich….just in a different way.

I met with a coaching client some time ago who was struggling to find meaningfulness and purpose in his life. Something led me to ask him, “what are the gold nuggets in your life?”

“Gold nuggets?” he asked.

“You know, the most valuable things in your life.” I said. “Things you treasure most.”

After some time, he identified several. What was interesting is that every one of them was a relationship: family, children, and friends of course, but also encounters he had with strangers as he helped them through difficulties similar to his own. He felt these were the true riches that filled him up, that made his life worth living. Not one had to do with money. I asked another client, and another….same answers each time. What are your gold nuggets?

A few years ago, a friend of mine told me that relationships are the building blocks of the universe and love is the currency. It stuck with me. The more I thought about it, the more I saw the truth in it, beginning with God himself (Father, Son, Holy Spirit – the ultimate relationship). In attempt to destroy, it was Satan who led man to sever his relationship with God in the garden of Eden. God has pursued us ever since to restore our relationship with him.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus Christ in John 3:16 (NLT)

Even scientifically we can see how God holds the universe together in relationship. Think about it.

If true riches come in the form of relationships how can you get rich?

In other words, how can you build up more gold nuggets? This is where worldly financial principles and God’s ways seem to align. To become rich, we must invest into things that yield returns. God, in his wisdom, has laid down foundational principles of investment, “God’s laws of Sowing and Reaping”, for us to follow. Just as we can count on gravity, we can count on these laws. Here are a few:

• I reap what I sow
• I reap more than I sow
• I sow in one season and reap in the next

Ask a farmer, they understand these laws well. If they plant corn, they get corn back. If they plant apples, they get apples back.  If they plant one kernel of corn, they reap several ears of corn at harvest time. A good deal! The laws of sowing and reaping are universal and apply whether used positively or negatively. Plant a good deed, get good back. Plant a “bad decision”, get the consequences. The good news is that we can consciously invest where we choose. Powerful! Whatever we want more of, we need to sow. Works like this: Invest. Wait. Harvest more than we planted.

^“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul makes it very clear – Sow generously if you want to become rich!

Financially we invest our money into stocks, bonds or real estate to get a return on investment. But how do we invest for gold nuggets? Jesus said:

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT) 

We invest love, our currency, into relationships to get bountiful returns. What relationships? Certainly, we should reconcile with and build into our family and friends, these are vital relationships. But Jesus calls us to invest more… Interestingly, right after he told us the greatest commandments, he told the story of the Good Samaritan to describe who our neighbor is…. Essentially saying, don’t just invest in those we are supposed to love, but also in those who need our help. Align with your Life Mission to serve these people – others that struggle as you have. Kindred spirits of sorts. Conclusion? Actively pursue your Life Mission – get rich.

God, who made us in his image, imprinted us with the desire for good, intimate relationships. As a result, we have the ability to know when we make a good investment….or a poor one (those that cause unrest in our souls until they are made right…becoming gold nuggets). How are your investments doing?    

Start the process of getting rich… Let’s figure out what your Life Mission is. Pursuing it will change your life. Go to www.bobblackcoaching.com to schedule a free consultation.