I recently received an email from my mother that really highlights how much my thoughts and feelings about these principles have been shaped by her wisdom. She wrote:

Scripture couldn't be clearer that wealth is 'given', albeit it must include the willing of it by the person seeking it. It either is used to build the kingdom or it becomes a test that is meant to refine; or it is withheld as it would harm.

She shared a story of a man of great wealth and recognition who once told her, "Plough thru it! Just DO IT!" — yet he lost everything because he couldn’t understand that his wealth had been allowed for a purpose. Pride and greed took over. Some of his children, raised with privilege, felt entitled and made serious financial mistakes as adults. Now, they are learning the hard way that the 'laws' of governance warn against ego, which stands in direct opposition to Christ’s teachings. There is beauty in what remains, but also ashes from the fortune and empire lost because he ‘willed’ it without humility.

But how beautiful it is when love, respect, effort, caring, and sharing move something forward to benefit all. Or when individual effort—willing instead of just wishing—brings wealth that builds and blesses many.

The ashes of that great man’s fall hurt him most of all. He willed self-gratification on every level, and his broken family still wishes he hadn’t.

So here’s the question that arises: Is wealth bad or good? How can we pursue it without harming ourselves or our families?

Over the years, my family has experienced everything from no money, to relative abundance, back to scarcity, and now we’re learning to build wealth with wisdom and prudence.

Interestingly, fear showed up in both extremes—when we had little and when we had a lot. Now we’re learning to live in faith, pursuing long-term goals grounded in timeless principles: patience, diligence, hard work, and delayed gratification. At the same time, we integrate the principles of Rare Faith to overcome the obstacles that arise.

It’s a powerful, unstoppable, glorious combination—the marriage between Rare Faith and Wisdom.

We’ve discovered that walking the fine line between settling for less than our highest potential and chasing quick, flashy success is essential. Pay attention to the voices tempting you toward either extreme. All good things, when taken to excess, can cause harm.

Alma the Younger taught,
“I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world. …I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things.” (Alma 7:6, 23)

Later he instructed his son—and us—to “be diligent and temperate in all things,” and to “see that ye are not lifted up unto pride,” (Alma 38:10, 11). As Kent D. Watson explains,
"Being temperate means to carefully examine our expectations and desires, to be diligent and patient in seeking righteous goals," (emphasis added). (He even compares a temperate person to tempered glass—a great analogy.)

But many of us skim these verses and reduce their message to this:
Riches, pride, vanity = bad
Humility, no riches, suffering = good

That’s not what they’re really saying. Instead, the scriptures remind us to 1) not set our hearts upon riches, 2) be humble, 3) live patiently, and 4) exercise temperance. And we are reminded to pursue righteous goals. What does that look like?

Jacob 2:19 clarifies,
"After ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and [but] ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted," (emphasis added). These are righteous goals—and these are the reasons we should seek riches.

Yes, we can seek riches for any reason. We can even use the principles of Rare Faith to create whatever life we choose. But power without wisdom and restraint brings pain. We choose our actions, but not always the consequences. There is a way to have it all—but it must be done in the Lord’s way. Anything else leads to heartache and regret.

That’s where humility comes in.

Are you willing to learn how to harness the power of Rare Faith while staying humble enough to let God guide you? To tune in and follow His divine timing?

Related: The fine line between making it happen, and letting it happen.

Proverbs 4:7 reminds us,
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore ...with all thy getting get understanding," (emphasis added).

So wealth itself is not the problem. It’s even biblically idealized—as we see with Job, whom God blessed abundantly after proving his faithfulness through trials.

Many of us consciously understand this, but deep down, old associations linger:
Riches, pride, vanity = bad
Humility, no riches, suffering = good

This false belief causes unnecessary suffering—and even worse, it stops many from accomplishing the great things God has planned for them. What might God want to do through you? If you gain wealth with wisdom and prudence, in the right order, how might you serve His children?

I read a powerful Facebook post today that perfectly captures this truth. With the author’s permission, I’m sharing part of it:

GOD WANTS US TO HAVE LOTS OF MONEY... WHAT?!

The big church I belong to has launched a global "Self Reliance" program to help people change their money beliefs.

Who knew?

I always thought wanting money, thinking about money, or needing money was a no-go—our culture pushes “trading” instead.

But this self-reliance mastermind is full of scriptures and wisdom about starting and growing your business.

It’s down-to-earth and actually gets the economy we live in (which goes way back to bartering sheep and stuff).

It’s permission to be real about money, markups, ROI, profit and loss, and ideal customers.

I used to have junky money beliefs from people who didn’t understand life or God’s perspective on economy. They taught me it wasn’t okay to ask for what my value was worth.

Business owners reading this will get me.

We talked about a couple guys selling watermelon roadside. They bought watermelons for $1 each, sold them for $1 each, and wondered why they had no money to live on.

Money breakthrough moment:

I sold bread once. Customers often said I should sell it at cost.

I almost quit.

Now I’m like, “Um... rude! I’m trying to improve my personal economy by selling bread! I must mark it up to cover costs, pay helpers, gas, and profit!”

I say it again: We HAVE to spend and receive money if we want to grow our personal, national, and world economies.

Economy is a BIG topic at my house. ;)

Anyway, now that I have scripture and quotes backing me up, I’m spreading this truth:

God does want people to have lots of money.

Let’s stop using that as an excuse to avoid using our God-given genius to make a difference—by offering real value and asking for what we deserve.

I have big philanthropic dreams:

• Helping homeless people who want to help themselves get a launch pad back on their feet.

• Supporting rescued women with healing facilities and professionals.

• Regularly supporting an orphanage.

All those dreams require money—and thinking about that fills my heart with joy!

Yay for ditching the poopy beliefs that kept me thinking MONEY IS A BAD THING! :D

https://www.facebook.com/bronweno/posts/10213917564486991

So yes, Bronwen, I’m with you—let’s prosper!

Anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ, let’s seek wealth for righteous purposes. The pursuit can be a trap—but only when chased without wisdom, patience, and prudence. The good news? ALL good things can be achieved when wisely pursued, in the right order: wisdom, prudence, patience, delayed gratification, diligence, and vision.

Don’t hold one law so tightly you break others. It’s not necessary!

All truth, principles, and laws, when used rightly, work together to bring about the highest outcomes.

Sometimes that means stop when you want to go. Sometimes it means go when you want to stop. Sometimes it means slow down when you want to run.

Moderation. Temperance. Self-control.

MASTERY.