Three Ways to Make a Million Dollars


THREE WAYS TO MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS

1. Hit the Lottery.

2. Inherit it.

3. Work for it!


I do not know anyone personally, who has done the first two. But I know a lot of people who have done it the third way. Does making money make you happy? Obviously not, but it sure helps in relieving the pressures of our debt ridden society. I am pretty sure the reason you are even reading this article, is that you would like to be more prosperous.

One of the greatest lessons I have learned in my life, is that I can learn much from those who are older than me, who have walked down life's path before me, and have shared with me their wisdom. As a teenager, most of us rebel against our parents, and then around age 24-30 we wake up and say, "Hey Mom and Dad were right. Why didn't I listen to them?" Unfortunately for many of us, we have already screwed up something in our lives, and we have to begin to correct the error of our ways. My Mom and Dad were always there to help with that journey back to the right path.

In the Book of Proverbs, chapter one, Solomon wrote "Listen to your father and mother. What you will learn from them will gain you many honors." Now this fellow Solomon, lived three thousand years ago, but the "wisdom of Solomon" is legendary, and I have found many practical applications to my life in his writings.

You can access that story by clicking on this link. 

Well, my Mom and Dad taught me a very important truth years ago. It too comes from the writings of Solomon. "Wealth gotten little by little." That is the secret. People sometimes ask me how I was able to purchase 35 pieces of investment real estate. And my answer is always the same. One at a time.

As a real estate investor, I had purchased some of those tapes from those fellows who advertise on TV. When they came in the mail, I glanced at them, and put them on the shelf of my closet. It was two full years later, that I pulled them down and began to listen to them, and start to fulfill my dream of purchasing properties. I purchased my first piece of real estate in 1975, which was my first home, and then my first investment property was purchased in 1978. The next one was in 1981. Not exactly burning the track up with a fast start. But today, both of those properties are paid for and all the income from them is pure profit. Then around 1986 my construction business was catching fire, so I was able to purchase properties at an accelerated rate.

Now since I financed a bunch of them in 1986 on a fifteen year mortgage, guess what happens in 2001. You got that right. All those nice rental people paid for my property, and during these fifteen years, I made about 100 bucks positive cash flow from these properties. Now the rent of 500-700 a month is all mine. Thank you nice people for paying off my properties.

But there have been some nightmares along the line. Flooding apartments with water line breaking, roaches galore from one nice lady ( a nurse-- can you believe it), and lots of other fun stories about property management. So life is not a bed of roses. Now when things get looking bleak, go read your Bible and get God's perspective on things.

I did not have the Internet in the 1980's, but believe you me, I felt like dumping those "headaches". I am glad I didn't quit.

Well, let me clarify one other thing I learned. As I said above, the income will be all mine when these properties are paid off. Again, let me refer to Solomon, in Proverbs 3:9,10 "Honor the Lord with your wealth, and with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing." I have found that for me personally, if I give of my wealth to where God directs me, then he keeps his promises to me. Does this mean that everyone will be rich. No. Money does not make you happy.

I have found that the most important truth that I have discovered in my sixty years on the planet, is that there are two things that are going to last forever. One is the Word of God. 1 Peter 1:25 states, "The word of God stands forever" The other thing that is going to last forever is People. The Bible makes it very clear in many passages that this is a consummate truth. Probably the most vivid example of this is found in Revelation 20:11-15. You might get a Bible and read that.

My name is written in that Book of Life, and has been for many years. My life is entwined with the truth of Romans 1:16. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, (good news of Jesus Christ coming to save me),. because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."

I do not in any way apologize for claiming to be a Christian, but I am not a man who is perfect. I have failed God many times in my life, and my life is one of a daily walk with Him. I give him credit for all my accomplishments in life. Without the input from the Word of God in my life, I would be nothing.

Does God want us all to be rich? No, I think that he delights in taking ordinary people and doing what he wants to for His purpose. Is there anything wrong with making money? No, God expects us to use wisely what we have. I am reminded again of Solomon who wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:10, "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." And I might also remind you of that oft quoted passage, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief's."

So bottom line, what is the secret to making money. Like the commercial that hit our TV's about Paine Webber a few years ago. "We make money the old fashioned way. We Earn It." If your passion is to make the Internet Business your vehicle to success, or if you choose some other venture, you must remember, that it takes time, patience and a lot of hard work to become successful in the financial world.

Does God want everyone to be a millionaire? I do not think so. Does he want everyone to be successful? Again, I must refer you to my manual of success. Joshua 1:8, states, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

It works for me.

Jim Young

**If you have further questions about how I got to this point in my life in my relationship with God, please refer to the articles in my Personal Web Site. 


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