To become wealthy you must lead a double life. One part of your life must employ industry (industry comes from the Latin word ‘industria’, meaning ‘diligent activity directed to some purpose’) and thrift (careful spending of money, using of food or other resources, so that one can save or have some left in reserve). After the Lord Christ had fed the five thousand, all the leavings were carefully collected so that nothing should be wasted. This is in accord with the Universal law. There is a law of economy both in nature and spiritual worlds. Nature appears, on the surface, to be very wasteful, but, actually, she never wasted anything, if it can be avoided. Therefore, the action of the disciples was in accord with the universal law. What a lesson for us! To be careful and saving is a mark of superiority both in mind and character. The rule is that a man who cannot save money has not it in him to command success in life. Inability to deny himself certain things shows a weakness of character and lack of purpose which makes success and wealth impossible. There have been many men, throughout history, that have built fortunes, which they saved out of meager earnings. It is always the start that is difficult: if you cannot overcome the preliminary difficulties you have not the steadfast purpose to hold your own in the battle of life. On the other hand, once the initial difficulties have been overcome, it is not difficult to get your barge into the currents of prosperity and wealth.

Proverbs 6: 6-8 6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

The other part of your life is realizing that there is unlimited abundance in which you can share: when once you learn to live in the consciousness of this abundance, at the same time living within your present income and doing your present work as well as it is possible for it to be done, you have set on the path to success and wealth. One who realizes and really believes that there is abundance and plenty for him, puts into operation a powerful law which will surely bring opportunity to him, sooner or later. Many, however, ruin their chances of success and wealth by not knowing that for a time they must live this double life. They must be wealthy and prosperous in consciousness, but careful and thrifty in actual practice. The time will come when their means will largely increase, then, if they are wise, they will live on part of their income, instead of living up to it. This will give them a wide margin for charitable purposes, for the taking up of further opportunities and for extensions. Many people have let the golden opportunity pass, simply because they have saved little or nothing, owing lavish private expenditure.

Haggai 1:5-6 5Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never

have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

Ephesians 5:15-16 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity

While in its essence, the Source of Supply is spiritual, it comes to us through material channels, and, in order to have a share in it, it is necessary to earn it. We have to give something in exchange for what we draw from life in the way of supply. We must give in order to receive, and what we give must be something that the world wants or needs.

Psalms 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

The secret of wealth is, then, is to lead a double life, to realize there is unlimited abundance and to live in the consciousness of it, as completely as though no material channels existed, and, at the same time, to work as zealously and be as careful as though there were no such thing as spiritual supply. At the same time we must give the world something that it wants, or otherwise serve in some useful capacity, exercising honesty, integrity, and justice in all our affairs. It is a folly to expect wealth and abundance to drop ready-made in our lap; it must be earned by intelligent and faithful service.

God Bless, Carol Biondo