Solomon’s surprisingly boring secret to getting ahead
Get-rich-quick schemes have been around forever. Pyramid plans, too-good-to-be-true investments, promises of easy passive income—they all play on idle daydreams of hitting the jackpot.
After all, wouldn’t it be nice if a windfall simply landed in our laps?
Preferably without requiring much effort on our part.
Solomon apparently had some thoughts about that.
“Work in your garden—you’ll end up with plenty of food; play and party—you’ll end up with an empty plate. Committed and persistent work pays off; get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.”
Proverbs 28:19–20, The Message
Well. There goes that plan.
Solomon knew something about wealth. During his reign, Israel became extraordinarily prosperous. He also knew that lasting provision doesn’t generally appear out of thin air.
Unlike some financial gurus of our day, Solomon didn’t charge a hefty price before revealing the secret of his success. Apparently, the secret wasn’t getting rich by selling people the secret to getting rich.
His advice was remarkably ordinary:
Plant your garden.
Use what you already have.
That might be money, but it might also be your time, experience, abilities, relationships, creativity or opportunities. Plant something with them. Tend it. Give it time to grow.
And when something extra does come your way, perhaps don’t immediately spend the whole thing celebrating the fact that something extra came your way.
Save some of the seeds from that harvest and plant them again.
There’s another thing about gardens. I’ve yet to see a sensible vegetable gardener devote every available inch of ground to spinach.
Nothing against spinach. But that’s a lot of spinach.
A healthy garden usually has some variety. Perhaps there’s something in that for us as well. The gifts, abilities and resources God has placed in our hands may have more than one use. We can invest them in different places, bless different people and plant things whose harvest we may not personally live long enough to enjoy.
Of course, get-rich-quick schemes offer something much more exciting.
Fruit without all that annoying labour.
Unfortunately, enjoying the fruits of your labour does require some actual labour.
Who knew?
So when somebody promises enormous rewards for remarkably little effort, it might be wise to put down the credit card and ask a few questions.
Talk to people who have demonstrated wisdom with their own resources. Ask someone who isn’t going to profit from your decision. Listen to counsel, particularly when you’re excited enough that you really don’t want anyone talking you out of it.
And if something sounds too good to be true?
It still probably is.
Meanwhile, there’s a garden in front of us.
We might as well start planting.
Until next time,
Kath
