“Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit. Put your investments in several places - many places even - because you never know what kind of bad luck you are going to have in this world. No matter which direction a tree falls, it will lie where it fell. When the clouds are full, it rains. If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything. God made everything, and you can no more understand what he does than you understand how new life begins in the womb of a pregnant woman. Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too. You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other” – Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

Wealth creation is a major challenge to so many notwithstanding several motivational and scriptural teachings regarding the subject. Not many people would risk time and money in order to create wealth; only the wise ones do that. However, there is no doubt that people lose money, and even their credibility in trying to create or build wealth. What then is a Christian’s approach to wealth creation? To answer the question, you must first realize that risk and risk taking are relative terms. This means that what you may consider a risk could be viewed by another as something relating to everyday life. Today’s scripture encourages us to take risks by calling us to act in three areas:

1. Do not be afraid to venture (verses 1 – 2): The outcome of taking action is that through your willingness to take risks, you may see a return on the investments you have made. Risk is a biblical principle. In Matt. 25:14-30 Jesus tells a parable about the business man that entrusted his money to three servants. The servants that risked the money gained a greater return and were praised. The one that did nothing with the money was rebuked.
2. Do not question the reality about life (verses 3 – 5): Some things in life cannot be changed, majorly because God made them so. For those things that we cannot change, we should simply let them be. For instance, clouds would release rain when it is their time to do so. If a tree is to fall, it will land in any direction, or in the way it was intended. Further to this is the fact that, certainty in life will never come. Therefore, a farmer who waits for the perfect conditions will never plant; a farmer who waits for the assurance of clear skies will never harvest. Also, single men and women waiting to get married until everything is perfect will remain single. Married couples who want to get themselves established before they have children rarely get it all worked out. Christians who wait to get involved in ministry until all the problems are solved will forever remain on the sidelines.
3. Call to diligence (verses 5- 6): We are expected to work hard, never give up or walk away. Everyday is an opportunity to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. Be persistent. Take risks and follow through.
Starting from today, make a list of the ventures you would like to invest time and money. Go into these ventures, for you cannot be so sure where your success will come or which of the ventures would truly create wealth for you.