THE COVETED COMMANDMENT and The Root of All Evil © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr

from: http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/

According biblical scripture, Moses was given 2 tablets of stone by God with what was reported to be the 10 Commandments inscribed on them.  According to scripture, Moses was charged by God to use those commandments to lead the children of Isreal to the Promised Land[1].   Nothing herein, or forthwith, shall be deemed to be in conflict with what biblical scholars have revealed to date.  What is in question however, is what biblical scholars have not revealed.  What is in question is the fact that there are other books of scriptural value that were not included in the Bible as we know it today. [2]  These books were eliminated after much consideration and were never allowed to be printed as we have come to know the Bible.  These books that were excluded were often referred to as the “Lost Books” of the Bible. [3]

 

These so-called “Lost Books” were said to be lacking in some context to those 66 which were eventually allowed to be incorporated into what we now know as the Bible.   The “Lost Books” were reportedly lacking in scriptural value and were not in keeping with the inspiration of bringing men to God.   Further, we know that the Bible has been interpreted and revised many times, all in an effort to ensure that those who are believers in God’s Holy Word, receive the most clearest of information in order to live their lives accord to the word of the Lord. 

If we were to do a quick-study, we would find that there is, at least, 30 or more versions of the Bible.[4]  And why is that?  Why do we need so many variations of the Bible?  Are our languages so much different, that our sins too, may differ?  And if there are more than 30 versions, whose to say how many translations there are?  And if there are various translations of the Bible, then, it is possible, that those who determined those translations could have very easily, deleted, overlooked, or removed from the Bible, wording that focus more on man’s personal development, rather than man’s commitment to God.  Is that possible?

If there are books, or were books that were excluded from the making of the original Bible, is there a possibility that there were commandments as well?  Is it possible that there were 2, 3, or more commandments that Moses and God worked out to encourage and inspire man to not only worship God, but also to live with and build wealth among men?  Is it so improbable that there was at least one other commandment that encouraged man to improve his life by investing not only in gold, silver, or other riches, but also in himself?  And if that commandment existed, would it have also encouraged man to do that which would have made him more marketable, or worthy to others of his community?  Would not it be better if any man if he could produce for the community something of value, in exchange for something of further value?  Wouldn’t such a commandment have made an impact on the lives of those who otherwise believed that there lives had no other meaning except to exist or to serve God by way of other men?

I contend that there was such a commandment, and that that commandment, like the so-called lost books of the Bible, was eliminated or prevented from being apart of biblical teachings.  Speculative for sure, but it is not out of the realm of possibility that that one commandment was: Thou Shalt Build Wealth.[5] 

The Bible for many is subject to literal interpretation.  However, for many of us, we are able to read it, and then take from it what we will.  And if I may, I ask that you reference that portion of the Bible that says, “it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven” (paraphrased, but it can be found in Matthew 19:24).[6]  This passage suggests for those who would take a literal interpretation, that to be rich here on earth, is a sin.  This passage, that quotes Jesus, suggests that one has a better chance of being poor and getting into heaven, and that to be rich is a consequence, not a benefit.

Another passage of the Bible references Lazarus and the Rich man, which follows:

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. -- Luke 16:19-25 [7]

As we review this passage, the rich man is condemned because he is alleged to have failed to provide to the poor.  What is not clear, and certain subject to further interpretation is, what is rich and what is poor, in the Bible?  Further, what is rich and what is poor today?  I am not a biblical scholar, and will prepare for my daily beatings for those who are willing to subject me to them, but to be rich is seemingly frowned upon while being poor is seen as noble from various readings of the bible.  There is a strong possibility that neither the rich nor the poor are necessarily going to heaven, for situations such as these, as these kinds of actions surely cannot be the total measure of any man’s life.  If getting into heaven requires giving to the poor, then there perhaps are more rich men in heaven that you can shake a stick at.  And if being poor is all there is to getting into heaven, then we have a lot of men and women laying around ravaging our sympathy under false pretenses so that they can get into heaven. 

The problem is, is that the rich, as far as the Bible is concerned is undefined, and are cast in a wide net as being irreverently qualified to go to, or to be in heaven, just because they are perceived as rich.

Further, what we don’t see, is how the Bible rewards those who become rich.  As such, for those who acquire riches and wealth, no doubt earned their wealth, and possibly provided opportunities that these parables or examples fail to take into account.  Whether rich or poor, the Bible seemed to suggest that there should be a division between rich and poor.  The Bible seems to suggest that the poor should feel honored at their station in life, and that they who have acquired wealth, will be cursed, just because they are rich. 

These examples are indicative of the importance of the Coveted Commandment[8] and why this supposed, or proposed commandment, maybe some how secreted and locked away for only a select few to be inspired by.  For it appears that exposure to such a commandment, would discourage anyone with wealth, to not let their achievements encourage others.  By exposing others to the wealth of the rich, would be cumberson on those who are privileged.  In other words, “Build your wealth, you select few, but be sure to place a seed of doubt, that to possess wealth is bad, and certainly not spiritually beneficial. 

As a matter of fact, the Bible speaks in this last passage, as I conclude this message. 

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 griefs.[9] 

Frank J. Thomas[10] recently noted that the passage is often misquoted, as I was about to do in this piece. I too was focused on the passage as I had often heard it, that “money is the root of all evil.”  The passage above is the correct version based on the New International Version of the Bible.  But, I will not be undone by the mistaken understanding of the passage, and here is why.  You see, regardless of our station in life, the actual passage speaks exactly to how we, as man choose to do that which pleases us.  We have heard for too long, that the root of all evil is money, or anything similar thereto.  And such, even the corrected version, ‘the love of money is a root of evil’ has no different meaning.  In essence the message, from the Bible has always been:  “money is the root of all evil”. 

But money being the root of all evil or anything similar thereto, is not my point.  My point is that money, by and large, and the possession of it, seems to have gotten a bad reputation.  Whether I blame the Bible, the interpreters of the Bible, or even some of those who have been quoted from the Bible, that the acquisition, the maintenance, or the aspiration to acquire wealth, seems unfairly denigrated. 

Money, wealth and riches have been unfairly targeted as being associated with evil, or something bad.  I disagree and I believe that the absence of a commandment that encourages wealth building contributes to that perception, or a stereotypical view of the possession of wealth.

If we want to talk about evil, then let us look at the real culprit:  man.  My contention is that man is the root of all evil, and here are my examples:

1. September 11th, 2001-Attack on America[11];
2. The Holocaust[12];
3. Slavery in America[13];
4. Increasing population in America’s Prisons favoring low income citizens[14];
5. Homelessness in America;[15]
6. 6.13 million unemployed [16]
7. Ethnic Cleansing [17]
8. Black on Black Crime[18]
9. The introduction of drugs to poor  and black communities [19]
10.  Government Response to Disasters-Hurricane Katrina-2005[20]
11. No Child Left Behind Act[21]
12. Rape[22]

This list could go, and on.  While it may seem selective, it is more indicative of man’s inhumanity to man, not only historically, but as we speak today.  The point of this message today is that any association, or love of money, however direct, or indirect, to be paired with evil, is immaterial.  That to overlook man’s history of evil, inhumanity to his brothers and sisters, where money is less an object and power is the ultimate weapon, makes either the love of money, or money itself, irrelevant. The list above shows that man is capable of dastardly deeds, whereby the accumulation of wealth is secondary.  Because in many cases, money was never the object, power was.  So the accumulation of wealth should not be frowned upon, discouraged, or left to the belief that its acquisition or the possession of money is far worse than the acts where man has no love at all, particularly for his brothers and sisters.  What can we hope to accomplish that puts the act of acquiring wealth, or even the possession of wealth in a more positive light?  Here are three options:

1. We can unearth The Coveted Commandment.  We should travel back to the heights of Mt. Sinai, all 7,000 plus feet[23] where, according to biblical scholars, Moses met with God, and spent 40 days and 40 nights, not once, but twice, only to bring down only 10 Commandments.  The commandments were not revised, shortened, or even longer after Moses destroyed them the first time. They were the same, original 10 Commandments, as we know them today.  I encourage you to go back to those mountainous peaks, those cracks and crevices, with pickaxs, shovels and brooms, and unearth what is most likely to be one more commandment: The Coveted Commandment. Or,
2. We can unlock the biblical vaults where there are stored many scrolls, stones, and books, all in their attempt to share stories of old, including the one commandment that will uplift not one man, but millions of men, to build a life that they are most deserving for themselves and their families.  Search deep within those vaults, in dark corners, where no light dare shines, search deep under shelves where spiders and rats work feverishly to feast on decaying papyrus[24] or brittle stones;  search honeycombs hewed out of the walls for storage and look deeply within; search high on stacks and rolls, knowing that there is but one commandment, that will make open the door for a dying child to receive medical care that has evaded her all of her young life.  Search behind tables, and chairs, where possibly, there is that one commandment, long thought to be unscripturally relevant, or deemed to be too insignificant to be apart of the original 10 Commands.  That if found, will feed not only a family facing hunger and homelessness, but a city in ruins;  a state facing bankruptcy, or a nation facing economic instability. Or,
3. We can propose the legislative process.  We can propose that our council representatives convene to propose an ordinance; we can propose that our state representatives and federal representatives enact a law that raises the hopes and dreams of every citizen within their districts and states.  It would be a law no less equivalent to the 6^th Commandment[25], that prohibits murder; it would be a law no less equivalent than the 7^th Commandment[26] that adultery; it could be a law no less effective than the 8^th Commandment[27] which forbids stealing, or, it could be no less effective than the 10^th Commandment[28] itself which forbids coveting.   We can propose the equivalent of anyone of these commandments because we know that the power lies within you as leaders to protect the common good. But is it not in the common good to make law that encourages, inspires, and uplifts a community?  Is it not reasonable to pass a law the encourages building wealth?

That if such a law were to be passed, that its equivalent be to the as yet unearth, or unreleased, Coveted Commandment:  Thou Shalt Build Wealth.

As I close, I don’t fully disagree that the love of money is at the root of all evil.  What I disagree with is our association with money and the power that it has to affect a positive change, not a just a negative one.  I disagree with the idea that money should only be limited to the rich and powerful, while those in need are left to suffer.  I disagree with man’s portrayal or perception of being wealthy as evil, while acts of evil by man are overlooked or considered business as referenced in the above list.  I disagree with the little known, perhaps unsubstantiated fact, that there are only 10 commandments.  I believe that we have just one more commandment that is wealth -oriented, and that if it were unearth, released, or enacted, we would all be better off.  

Right now, we can only hope that a commandment is reborn, or discovered that encourages man to work together, to collaborate, to create, or to partner with his fellow man in building wealth.  Right now, we can only hope that our leaders will one day take the time to look at where we are as communities and know that we can all be more productive, and successful, because we have one more tool in our arsenal to improve the quality of our lives.  That one more tool is, the Coveted Commandment:  Thou Shalt Build Wealth.

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[1] God speaks to Moses about leading the children of Isreal our of Egypt-http://www.bibleview.org/en/Bible/Moses/BurningBush/

[2] “Lost Books of the Bible” http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/lost-books-of-the-bible-faq.htm

[3]  Books that were excluded from the Bible  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_apocrypha

[4] How many versions are there of the Bible? http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-versions/

[5] The Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build Wealth. © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

[6] Rich Man; Eye of a Needle-http://bible.cc/matthew/19-24.htm

[7] Lazarus and the Rich Man Luke 16:19-25 -http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/16_19-31.htm

[8] The Coveted Commandment © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr. - http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/

[9] Root of All Evil-http://bible.cc/1_timothy/6-10.htm New International Version

[10] Thomas, Frank J. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Love-of-Money---Root-of-All-Evil?&id=3098152

[11]   9/11-http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks

[12] The Holocaust-http://remember.org/educate/mtimeline.html

[13] Slavery in America-http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/timeline/index.html

[14] Increasing Prison Population-http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/02/u-s-prison-population-seeing-unprecedented-increase/

[15] National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty- http://www.nlchp.org/

[16] Unemploymentin America-Unemployment Statistics.org

[17] Ethnic Cleansing-http://www.crimesofwar.org/a-z-guide/ethnic-cleansing/

[18] Black on Black Crime-http://news.msn.com/politics/video?videoid=10eedfe0-cebe-4838-979d-ab4c1aa94e6e&ap=true&ap=true

[19] Introduction of drugs into poor and black communities-http://niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.view&backgroundid=00486

[20] Government Response to Hurricane Katrina- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_government_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina

[21] No Child Left Behind Act-http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml

[22] Rape and Sexual Assault- http://www.rainn.org/

[23] The Height of Mt. Sinai-http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_height_of_mount_sinai

[24] Papyrus- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus

[25] The 6^th Commandment- http://godstenlaws.com/ten-commandments/index.html

[26] The 7^th Commandment- http://godstenlaws.com/ten-commandments/index.html

[27] The 8^th Commandment-http://godstenlaws.com/ten-commandments/index.html

[28] The 10^th Commandment- http://godstenlaws.com/ten-commandments/index.html

Why is The Coveted Commandment[1] Coveted? © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

 from the blog:

http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/

 

            January 1, 2013, I suggested that there was a specific commandment that was not on the table.  I called that commandment, the Coveted Commandment.  Why?  Because I believed then as I do now, that the 10 commandments aren’t all there is, and that there had to be at least one other commandment that should be on the table to help us improve the quality of our lives.  I believed then, as I do now, that there is one commandment that is purposely being kept in a vault, or a secret location that could help change the lives of so many wonderful people.  I believe that this is the commandment that can inspire more people to focus on making a better life for themselves and their families.  And what is that commandment? Thou Shalt Build Wealth. [2]

 

Initially, I looked at back Moses, who having spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mt. Sinai, brought to his people, the Ten Commandments.  Maybe, I owe him an apology.  But I am not going to rush out right now to apologize to him or anyone else right now.  This concept of a coveted commandment is real to me.  Call me paranoid, delusional, or a conspiracy theorist.  If that is what you think of me, I wear those accusations with pride.  But this is not about me, specifically, it is about governments, organizations, and those in power who take their power to a level that places their followers and/or constituents at a great disadvantage financially, if not economically.  Below, I put used three hurricanes as examples to propose my point.

 

For example, Hurricane Katrina[3] (2005) exposed several flaws in the government’s  response to those who were victimized by disaster, particularly here in Louisiana.  People who were victims of flooding in the New Orleans area were left for up to five days without the benefit of assistance from the military, while that same assistance was no more that a mere 5-10 miles away with water, food and ice. [4]

 

Hurricane Katrina exposed our government selective response from national to state, as well as local, that participated, or contributed to the further devastation of citizens who were made homeless, not by their own hands, but due to a failure of a levee system[5], only to be further impacted by egos and bureaucracy that implemented road blocks to rebuilding citizen’s lives.  The long and short of it, 6 years later, many residents are still being short-changed, or denied access to either their homes, or monies to rebuild, while millions of dollars sit in either federal, state or local coffers, waiting to be distributed for as many as yet to be developed projects.[6]

 

To be unable to point a finger is nothing short of insulting to those who are current victims of political stonewalling.  To be unable to get what is rightfully the owners’ full value for their properties, or to be able to return to their properties because of the bureaucratic wranglings, suggests that governments hold their constituents in low regard, and work intently to suppress those who have the least amount to mount an offense, or even a defense for what is rightfully theirs. 

 

In 2012, two hurricanes struck again in the United States in the last half of the Hurricane season.  Hurricane Isaac struck the Gulf Coast[7], with more of a direct hit on south central Louisiana.  Hurricane Sandy[8]  struck the central east to northeast Atlantic coast, having its greatest impact on New Jersey and New York.  Both disasters forced residents out of their homes due to flooding, high winds, or tornadoes.  The aftermath for both storms, like Hurricane Katrina, indicated a pattern of bureaucracy that is noteworthy, and perhaps, predictable.  Whenever people are impacted by disasters, those in power don’t move to help as quickly as they move to block, obstruct, or suppress those who are at the most vulnerable point in their lives. 

 

Like Hurricane Katrina, residents of the latest two storms are still fighting not only the government, but their insurers and their mortgage companies to regain some semblance of control and normalcy.[9]  Why?  Why indeed, are victims of another disaster, who in the time of the proverbial storm, or, in the time of devastation, do those in need, are often turned away, or put on hold until those in power, get theirs first?  Correct me, if I am wrong.

 

Let’s be clear, I am expressing a perception of unfairness.  But I can do so because I was a victim of the very same antics of the mortgage company holding my insurance check for my home and then demanding that I pay a note.  Or that while the mortgage company held my insurance check, and then demanded that I repair my home, with the very funds that they held out of my reach. 

 

I can also relate to those whose homes were devastated by hurricanes, while the government received monies on my behalf, and then demanded that I and hundreds of others provide proof of ownership, proof of insurance, only to deny me the full value of my house through a sham set of policies and appraisals.[10]  I can relate to those who were impacted not only by a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster, when levees, designed to protect our properties, gave way, and flooded over 50% of New Orleans.[11]  Yet, I and many other residents were victimized for being victims  and not of our choosing.

 

So as we look at residents impacted by Hurricane Isaac, and Hurricane Sandy, we should understand that history is repeating itself.  That while victimization by disasters is unavoidable, that to be victims of governmental bodies, insurance companies, mortgage companies or bankers, is inherent as a result of disasters, or so it would seem.  What seems to happen, from the three storms referenced here, is that the compulsion to ensure that victims of disasters, will be the last to benefit, or will be the last to be made whole, while those who are least impacted, those who hold the gold, if you will, seem to work tirelessly, and perhaps needlessly, to keep victims from rebuilding their lives, lest they, as victims not only be made whole, but actually exceed their pre-storm value, by and large, achieving wealth.  Why?  Why is this necessary?  I don’t think it is necessary, but this is how wealth is built, maintained, and ensured.  Victimization be damned. 

 

I don’t want anyone to be sorry for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Isaac, or even Hurricane Katrina.  To be sorry is to show emotion against objectivity in the quest to build wealth.  Those entities who have subjected us to what we perceived as unfair treatment were doing what they have always done.  And for those of us who were victims of these storms, we should have learned our lesson from history. We should have learned our lesson from previous disasters such as Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Hugo, Hurricane Camille, or Hurricane Cecile.[12]  We should no longer  put ourselves in harm’s way.  No, not in the way of storms.  We should not continue to put ourselves in the way of those who use our tragedies, or our investments to their benefit.  We should not put ourselves in harm’s way of lenders, insurers, or even governmental bodies who take advantage of us by implementing road blocks, while we try to rebuild our lives.

 

The purpose of this blog was to answer the question:  Why is the Coveted Commandment coveted?  While I can give a generic answer, the answer is really within each of us.  Many of us may conclude that it is greed.  I can’t disagree, any more than I can agree.  I contend that the Coveted Commandment is what inspires each one of us.  I contend that when we buy our homes, we are looking to build wealth.  When we insure our properties, we are looking to protect our wealth.  And that, when bankers, insurance companies and governmental bodies put up roadblocks, they too are building and protecting their wealth.  The only thing about it is, when the wealth is distributed, as victims, we are not first to get a piece of the pie.  As much as we maybe entitled, it is virtually a crumb, or a morsel of wealth that we may receive, if that. 

 

The object of the game, so to speak, is to build wealth, and for those of us who are on the lower tier of the wealth building spectrum, this is our baptism by fire.  We should learn from these experiences, because no one is going to change how they achieve wealth because of one or two storms that destroy our homes.  No one is going to change their goals to build wealth because one or two people loose their lives.  Unfortunately, we are not on that planet.  Nor, are we on that list of importance to those who hold the greatest wealth.

 

We are not on that planet that empathizes, sympathizes, or exercises compassion.  If we have lost our homes, too bad, read the fine print of your loan papers.  If we have lost our livelihoods, too bad, read the fine print of the insurance policies.  If we have lost a few thousand dollars out of our lives, no one cares.  It’s in the fine print of the Constitution-Somewhere in the Pre-amble, or one of those Amendments to the Constitution:  Thou Shalt Build Wealth. 

 

For those of us who have suffered any type of loss, whether by fire, tornado, hurricane or earthquake, it is in the fine print, that your neighbors, your family members, or your livelihood, will be forsaken at the risk of building wealth.  That is how America does it!  That is how our governors do it!  That is how our Congressional and Senatorial representatives do it!  That is how our mayors, councilmen, aldermen, and even our clergy do it-They do it to build wealth.  And as quiet as it is kept, that is how we all do it. We do it to build wealth.  The only problem is, someone is beating us at our own game, and the consequences to us, is far greater than it is to those who decide when to release funds to help us make our lives whole. 

 

It’s in the fine print-Thou Shalt Build Wealth!  It’s in that part of the contract, or agreement that we sign, but rarely read.  It’s in the fine print that the holder of the note may, at their discretion, withhold, deny, delay, or redirect, as they see fit, any and all that they control.  That is why the Coveted Commandment is coveted-It’s in the fine print.  And the moment we complain about the obstacles that everyone puts in our way to rebuild our lives, they can point to the fine print.  It either implies, or specifically states, that the holder of the note is protecting their investment, because, they are building wealth. 

 

Our challenge, should we decide to accept it, is to get back up.  To take on every obstacle thrown in front of us.  Our challenge, should we decide to accept it, is to call every representative that purports to represent us and call them out on their representation.  Our challenge, is to call every lender that holds the note, and sit on hold until someone comes to the phone.  Our challenge, should we decide to accept it, is to call our insurance providers and push them to the very limits to comply with our small print.  The small print that they didn’t read: our pedigree.  Let them know that we are in this game to win.  Let them know that whether it is our homes, our businesses, or our families, we will overcome every obstacle that they can throw in front of us.  Because, whether they believe it or not, we too are determined, to build wealth.  It’s in our fine print: Thou Shalt Build Wealth. 

It’s our time. 

It’s our call. 

It’s our move. 

Let us get back to doing what we do best: build wealth. Le us embrace the Coveted Commandment:  Thou Shalt Build Wealth.

 

 

Best wishes and remember the Coveted Commandment:  Thou Shalt Build Wealth.[13]

 

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[1]  The Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build Wealth © 20 13 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr. http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/

[2] The Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build Wealth © 20 13 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/

[3] http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hurricane-katrina-facts-and-information.html

[4] Hurricane Katrina Disaster Response- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_government_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina

[5] Hurricane Katrina and Levee failures http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2006/01/index.html

[6] How has money from Katrina been spent? http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0827/Katrina-anniversary-How-well-has-recovery-money-been-spent

[7] http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2013/03/hurricane_isaac_fema_reimburse.html

[8] http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hurricane-sandy-suffering-continues-article-1.1284125

[9] http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2013/03/07/opinion/columnists/8133.txt

[10] Discrimination during Hurricane Katrina http://understandingkatrina.ssrc.org/Gilman/

[11] New Orleans Levee Failure Hurricane Katrina 2005- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_levee_failures_in_Greater_New_Orleans

[12] http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/outreach/history/

[13] The Coveted Commandment:  Thou Shalt Build Wealth © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

Eight Ways a Poor Man May Build Wealth (C) 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

from the blog:

http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/

 

I was asked very recently by a very special person, how can I talk to people about building wealth, when I am not wealthy?  I answered that it was a fair question, and to look at me, I am not wealthy.  But I, as well as she, and you, have all of the makings of wealth.  I told her that she was right, because right now, I basically, don’t have a dime to my name.  But based on the signs, I am on the road to being wealthy, to having those things which I not only dream of, but I believe are mine to have.

 

As a result of her observation, I am forced to pose that same question here in this edition of The Coveted Commandment.  “How does a poor man build wealth?” Or, “Can a poor man build wealth?” I believe that a poor man can build wealth.  I don’t it’s extremely difficult, but it does require hard work and commitment to goals that we must set in order to improve our quality of life.

 

I remember my dad, Dan Lewis, used to share some tidbits of wisdom, which to me made little sense at the time.  But I never forgot one piece of information that he shared with me. It was,  “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealth and wise.[1]”

 

Little did I know that it may have originated with one of America’s earliest inventors, and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, as the editor of Poor Richard’s Almanac.[2]

Obviously, as a poor man, I can’t speak to those who may listen to multi-millionaires and billionaires such as, Donald Trump[3], Mark Zuchaberger of Facebook fame [4], Jack Dorsey of Twitter[5], or Bill Gates of Microsoft[6].  But maybe, I can speak to someone who is similar to me in one way or another.  Maybe, I can speak to someone who has worked low-income jobs where they have mopped floors and cleaned bathrooms.  Maybe, I can speak to someone who has driven trucks, washed cars, or pushed hamburgers for a living.  Or maybe, I can speak to someone who has stood as a night guard in freezing rain, or in dark buildings and who, having lost their job(s) due to no fault of their own, may want to know, how can they rebuild their lives.

 

My dad (who was originally my uncle when he first bought me to live with him and my aunt) was always employed.  He was a Longshoreman from the time I was six years old until I was 13, at which time he became disabled.  But he never stopped working.  He never stopped getting up and going into the garage  or the back shed to build something, or fix something.  He was a worker by trade.  He didn’t specialize in anything except going to work, and working hard.  I always remember seeing the fruits of his labor when he would fix a broken lawn mower, or repair the washing machine, or work on the car.  I point this out more because I was proud of a man who was ashamed of his educational achievements in that he was 8^th grade dropout, but he never quit trying to make a living, and never gave an excuse for he didn’t accomplish in life.  My dad and mom always made sure that I never got laxed about school. 

 

But my parents failed in one area: teaching me to save money.

 

I remember that my parents owned three homes since I had come into their lives.  But I remember that they had owned other homes, simply by buying and investing in rental properties.  There was always money coming into our house, but it wasn’t talked about much.  The most that I was told was to save my money.  I was always told to “prepare for a rainy day”.  It was an idiom as I later learned, but it was the best that they could tell me on how to build wealth. They even tried to help me by putting money on the side for me, whenever I would get money for my birthday, or Christmas.  But it was never enough to save to me, it was always enough to spend on something, or to “buy something”.  I always had the itch to “buy something”, not worrying about the return on what I would buy.  I had not grasped the concept of getting something for my money (Building Principle # 13- Look more often for your ROI for your investments (Return on your Investment).[7]

 

So, as I look back on how much my parents tried to teach me how to save my money, I have to realize that telling someone to save money was only good for those who were telling, if the one being told doesn’t have a clue about what they have to loose.  It’s just that for me, telling me was not good enough.  I had come to realize that everyone doesn’t learn the most obvious things in the same way.  I don’t fault Sarah and Dan Lewis for not teaching me to save according to my learning ability, or lack thereof, I fault myself.  But, at some point, I had to realize that money was going to run out, or that I wasn’t going to always have a job, or that the $2 or $7 I won playing lottery would only take me so far.  Unfortunately for me, like so many of us, we learn some things too late. 

 

By too late, I mean after a job layoff; I mean after a bankruptcy, or after a major disaster and our home is destroyed.  So, how does a poor man build wealth after all of that?  Well, it’s a work in progress for me in particular, but I would like to hope that while I still learning how to rebound, that I can still reach back, or reach out from my experiences and share some important things with you, that depending on your ability to comprehend, that you apply something that I share with you to apply in your life- soon, quick, fast and in a hurry.  It is my hope, that you aren’t like me, as I was, where two wonderful people, who adopted me, tried to share with me something very important on how to build wealth.  So what do I have?

 

I am going share 2 things on how I believe a poor man can build wealth.  After that, I am going to share 4 other things that I will pull from my research that I hope you will take a look at, and go further by clicking on the related links.  Please don’t do like I did and take wealth building lightly.  There is a reason why I want you to be successful, but it matters not, if you don’t want that same success for you and your family.  Here are some suggestion on how a poor man can build wealth:

 

1. Surround yourself with people who are wealth-oriented- When I think about surrounding myself with people who are wealth-oriented, please be aware that wealth is not necessarily limited to things such as priceless vases, or gold bouillons, or expensive paintings.  Bearing in mind that these things are the sum efforts of relationships and activities that were as a result of learning who and what were essential to align ourselves in order to acquire paintings, vases and gold.  It is important to know people who are not only committed to building wealth, but also conducting themselves in a manner where wealth is assured.  By that I mean, people who are wealth-oriented, limit themselves to places that they go, how they spend their money, and most importantly, how they invest their money.  Finding these people will be no piece of cake for those of us who are considered poor, so maybe, we should build a network of individuals who could very well share the same mindset, and are ready to begin committing to building wealth as well.

 

2. Set goals that allow you to gradually build wealth-  Many of us set financial goals more often than we realize.  If we have ever gone to the store, we go with a set amount to spend.  For example, we may decide to only spend $150.00 on groceries, and more often than not, wind up spending $175.00.  If that is the case, we are not necessarily on track to wealth building.  If we set a goal to spend $150.00 at the grocery store, then that’s what we need to stick to, otherwise, why set a goal?  Setting goals is how I see many wealth builders achieve wealth.  They set a goal.  If, for example, they decide to buy a 1960 Mercedes Benz convertible for $300,000, then at the very least, they probably will stop at $290,000.  I could be wrong, but I can’t believe that those who invest on a regular bases go over what they plan to spend on something that is considered valuable.  The key for these investors is that they know that the Mercedes Benz is most likely worth $375,000, and they want to build some equity into their purchase of 8-10%, because they know how much the vehicle is actually worth.  As an investor, they are going to stay within the goals that they set.

 

The above suggestions are my own.  Will they take you to the next level of investing your hard earned money?  Not necessarily.  But nothing is ever guaranteed.  You have to do your own homework.  You have to do whatever it takes to make something great and wonderful happen in your life.  Just in case you are looking for additional suggestions on how to build wealth, here are a few other suggestions:

3. From the website: Young Finances[8]
1.  Use Active Income –is based on your personal efforts to make money by exchanging hours for dollars.  It is the income that comes in when you are actively earning it, but ceases to exist when you stop your earning activity.
2. Use Passive Income-Income that is recurring such as royalties, dividend payments, rents, etc.  “When you can stop tradin hours for dollars and receive dollars even without giving up hours, you will have passive income.
4. From the website Ehow and wealth building strategies-[9]
1. Investments-One of the best ways to build wealth over long periods of time is investing in the stock market and in real estate. These two assets make up the lion's share of the net worth for many individuals in the United States. Buying a home has traditionally been a solid investment, as home and real estate prices have historically trended upward over time. Similarly, economy-wide stock prices have tended to trend upward over time, making long-term investment in the stock market a profitable wealth-building strategy.
2. In practice, debts are best paid off as fast as possible if the interest rate on the debts is higher than the return you could get if you put the money toward a different investment. For instance, if you had a debt that was at a 5 percent interest rate, but you could save your money in a CD at a bank for 5.5 percent, you should not pay off the debt quickly because you could use the money that you would have spent to pay off the debt to invest in the CD. In general, credit card debts should be paid off as quickly as possible to build wealth because they usually have very high interest rates that far outpace any alternative returns.
5. Here are two (2) additional suggestions from the website: About.com speaking to us about investing for beginners.[10] 
1. Wealth Building Rule 3: If You Don't Like Where your Parents Were at Your Age - Do Things Differently - The old cliché that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results," holds just as true today as it did when it was originally written. If you don't like where your parents were at your age, stop what you are doing. During your childhood, they taught you all they knew about money. For many people, these early years established how they feel about their finances today. In order to become financially successful, you must do something different than they did. Otherwise, you will end up exactly as they are.

Wealth Building Rule 7: Your New Commodity is Not Your Labor, It's Your Ideas- With the advent of the Internet and other technological advances, you are no longer limited to supporting yourself or making a living by your physical labor. The only limit you have on yourself now is your own imagination - your ideas are the most valuable thing you possess. Every man, woman, and child is a salesman for a living; if you don't own a business or investments, then you sell your manual labor to a company in exchange for a paycheck. Change your product. The gap between the rich and poor does indeed grow larger with each passing year, but not because of inequalities or any other such injustices. Instead, it is because the rich understand money and how to use it. Capital is literally a seed; learn how to plant it to produce the best harvest. When you do this, you will rule your finances, not the other way around.

I have pulled together ideas from several other sources to join with my own above.  Whichever you choose to follow, or pull from is up to you.  I do not endorse these ideas, not even my own.  The intent here and all throughout The Coveted Commandment[11] is to focus on as many avenues of investing and building wealth as you can find.  Find what is right for you.  Find what fits your financially.  There are so many ways and resources from which to build wealth.  Chances are, my approach will fade into the background.  But what I hope will not fade into the background is your desire to build wealth, and to improve the quality of life for you and yours.  You deserve it and there is no reason why you should not have more than a lions’ share of opportunity to have the best that life has to offer.  Best wishes.

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[1] http://voices.yahoo.com/phrase-origins-early-bed-early-rise-makes-7704036.html

[2] Franklin, Benjamin  Poor Richard’s Almanac. http://books.google.com/books/about/Poor_Richard_s_Almanac.html?id=a-CH_RKOiw4C

[3] Donald Trump- http://www.forbes.com/profile/donald-trump/

[4] Mark Zucheberger Facebook- http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/facebooks-zuckerberg-announces-100m-donation-schools-oprah/story?id=11718356

[5] Jack Dorsey, Twitter Founder- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Dorsey

[6] Bill Gates, Microsoft- http://www.thegatesnotes.com/

 

 

[7] Building Principles for the Coveted Commandment © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr. http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/2013/01/building-principles-for-the-coveted.html

[8] How You Can Build Wealth, http://www.younadultfinances.com

[9] http://www.ehow.com/way_5409248_wealth-building-strategies.html

[10] http://beginnersinvest.about.com/cs/personalfinance1/a/031001a.htm

[11] http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/