Article by: Norman Robertson
One of the most interesting Americans alive around the turn of the 20th century, was a man by the name of Russell Herman Conwell. He was born in 1843 and lived until 1925. He was a lawyer for about 15 years, and then later he became a Baptist minister.
One day, a young man came to him at the church and told him he wanted a college education, but was in such a fix financially that he just couldn’t swing it. Dr. Conwell decided right then and there what his aim in life was, besides being a preacher. He decided to build a university for the poor, but deserving youngsters. He had a problem however, he’d need a few million dollars to achieve his goal. However, things like that don’t seem to stand in the way of people with a real purpose in life.
Several years before, Dr. Conwell had been tremendously intrigued by a true story, which has a timeless principle to it. The story was about a farmer who lived in Africa and through a visitor, became intensely excited about looking for diamonds.
Diamonds had already been discovered in some abundance on the African continent, and this farmer got so excited about the idea of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm and headed out to strike it rich by discovering a diamond mine.
He wandered all over the continent, as the years slipped by constantly searching for diamonds, which he never found. He finally wound up completely broken by the whole thing, and became so despondent that he threw himself into a river, and drowned.
Meanwhile, back at the farm he’d sold, the new owner had picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of a country egg, and put it on his mantle as a sort of curiosity.
A few months later, the same visitor, the one who had brought the story of diamonds to the previous owner, came by again, and when seeing this rock on the mantle, practically went into terminal convulsions. Pulling himself together, he told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle was just about the biggest diamond that had ever been found.
Whereupon the new owner of the farm said, “The whole farm is covered with those things,” or words to that effect. Sure enough it was, because this farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine… the richest the world has ever known.
The farmer who’d sold the place had literally been standing on acres of diamonds, and then sold his farm and wound up in the river because he never found any.
In telling this story, Dr. Conwell likened each of us to the first farmer. The truth is that each of us are standing right in the middle of our own acres of diamonds, if only we have enough sense to realize it and develop the ground we’re standing on before we go charging off looking for greener pastures.
Dr. Conwell told this story more than 6,000 times. He must have been a wonderful speaker, because he attracted enormous audiences, and he raised enough money to build that college for poor, but deserving kids he had his heart set on.
In fact, he raised about $6 million and the university he founded is still going strong … it’s Temple University in Philadelphia. This renowned university is the 36th largest in the nation and the third largest provider of professional education.
When Dr. Russell H. Conwell talked about each of us being right on his or her own acres of diamonds, he surely knew what he was talking about. It’s a story that can’t get old, because it’s been true forever and it always will be.
Opportunity doesn’t just “come along” and fall in our lap, as most people think. It’s there all the time — we have to be able to see it. Start taking advantage of your acres of diamonds, by tapping into the God-given gifts, abilities, strengths and opportunities that you already have!
DISCOVERING YOUR WEALTHY PLACE
Living the good life and enjoying abundance in every area is God’s will for you! That means you are blessed and doing well in every aspect of your life — spiritually, emotionally, physically, socially, financially and family.
The word “blessed” is not just a nice catchy phrase; it is a biblical word that means to enjoy a rich and rewarding life.
Being blessed means empowered to prosper, empowered to succeed; it means an empowerment to win, an empowerment for wealth or a God-given wealth empowerment! We could say: a God-given ability to possess our wealthy place in life.
By consistently applying these ten spiritual laws for success you will be well on the road to possessing your wealthy place.
LAW #1: The Law Of First Priority
Matthew 6:33: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
2 Chronicles 16:9: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
Passionately pursue your relationship with God. The master key to the blessed life is to seek God first and not money or things. As you love, honor and obey God first and keep Him first, then you’ll become a magnet for God’s favor, abundance, health and happiness in your life. Make your relationship with God your number one priority!
LAW #2: The Law Of Responsibility
Deuteronomy 29:9: Diligently follow the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.
Isaiah 1:19: If you are willing and obedient, you will enjoy the best of the land.
Avoid the victim mentality and get out of the blame game! It’s your life — take full responsibility for it! Stop blaming the government, the IRS, your family background, the economy, your job, your lack of education, your church or your mother-in-law or anything else for your lot in life. When you stop playing the victim, you open the pathway to become a victor. As long as you blame others, you surrender your power to change.
LAW #3: The Law Of Accurate Thinking
Ephesians 4:23: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Develop a winner’s mentality. Renew your mind in the Word of God and choose to see yourself the way God sees you! Erase the negative, defeatist, mediocre mindset and refuse to be a small thinker.
We become what we think about! Your life won’t change until your thoughts change. Our state of mind always creates our state of results. When we change what we think, we change what we attract. Harness the power of accurate thinking.
LAW #4: The Law Of Focus
Habakkuk 2:2: Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.
You go where your vision is! Without a vision and without goals you’re sunk. Your vision is your future and goals are the starting point of all success. Having goals and a clear focus puts purpose and passion in your life. Goals are a to-do-list with a deadline.
LAW #5: The Law Of Recognition
Proverbs 18:16: A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Discover your assignment and prosperity will discover you. When you find and follow your calling in life, your life’s purpose, your true assignment — your acre of diamonds — then prosperity will find and follow you.
Don’t just make a living, design a life! Get into the life-work that God designed and engineered YOU for. Live your life by design and excel in it.
LAW #6: The Law Of Action
Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
Action is the key that separates dreamers from achievers! Take daily action steps towards your God-inspired dreams and goals. Be committed to what you want to see happen in your life and get serious enough to put action behind your beliefs. Remember: The road to someday leads to the town of nowhere!
LAW #7: The Law Of Wisdom
Proverbs 4:7: Wisdom is the principal thing. Get wisdom and no matter what it costs, get understanding.
Proverbs 1:5: A wise man will hear and increase in learning.
Wisdom is knowing and applying godly principles to solve life’s problems and situations. It is the correct application of knowledge. You cannot walk in wisdom without first obtaining knowledge, and this requires personal diligence in acquiring it. It means you attend the seminars, take the training courses, read the right books and upgrade your skills.
Dedicate yourself to educate yourself!
Make continuous learning, reading and growing a part of your daily routine. Spend more on your personal development than you do at the coffee shop. What you read, listen to and look at affects what you believe, and what you will eventually achieve.
LAW #8: The Law Of Association
Proverbs 13:20: Anyone who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Respect the law of association: pursue quality people in your life! Surround yourself with winners and associate with people who dream bigger than you do. Choose your friends carefully and only spend time with people who are going to encourage you, lift you higher and challenge you to go to the next level. It’s important that you discern and disconnect from toxic relationships. Remember: increase or decrease comes by association.
LAW #9: The Law Of Faith
Mark 11:22-23: Jesus said: Have faith in God!” …Whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Exercise your faith and turn obstacles into opportunities. When facing challenging circumstances: don’t get into a mental rut. Refuse to be sidelined or stopped by problems.
The only people without any problems are those in the graveyard! Any setbacks are just temporary. They are simply stepping stones to becoming the person you need to be, to create the life you want to have. You have mountain moving faith — use it!
LAW #10: The Law Of Generosity
Proverbs 3:9-10: Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Proverbs 11:24-25: Those who give freely increase all the more and become wealthy; but those who are stingy end up with nothing. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who blesses others will himself be blessed.
Honor the Lord with your finances and respect the law of seedtime and harvest. Be a tither, not a tipper! Be a sower, not a hoarder! Be a giver, not a grabber!
The law of the kingdom states: It is more blessed to give than receive! Why? Because as you give more, you get more… to give again! Practicing generosity positions you for a life of ever increasing returns. Not convinced?
Just take a look at Oprah Winfrey, whose spirit of generosity is legendary … Bill Gates certainly has lots of critics, but nobody on planet earth can come close to matching his personal giving record of over 1 billion dollars last year!
Giving as a lifestyle creates a flow of blessings to come back to you, and magnetizes you for more! It sets you up for favor, increase, promotion and the flow of God’s abundance.
Tithe on the gross, not the net: Giving from your gross, will yield gross blessings. Giving from the net, will yield net blessings.
Give joyfully, gratefully and expectantly! Living by this law is crucial because the majority who are usually on the take, selfish and looking for loopholes not to give DISQUALIFY themselves from receiving the supernatural provision of God.
This divine principle of generosity applies to ALL Christians, all believers in business, all churches and all ministries. If you fail to pass God’s money test with what you already have, then why would God trust you with more?
Dr. Norman Robertson has wide popularity across the body of Christ, due to his faith-producing teaching ministry. His mission is to equip believers to intentionally live out their destiny with passion, purpose and productivity. A dynamic communicator and best-selling author, Dr. Robertson hosts Norman Robertson TV, a nationwide television show that is positively impacting thousands of lives every week. For more information visit online at www.normanrobertson.com
