Internetwork Marketing Training

As a professional mlm coach, I wanted to add a few thoughts to hit this questions head on.  It is an important question for the Christian in network marketing.  The goal and enticement presented so often in our industry is for wealth.  Just today I received and email from my upline who claims he is making near 100k/month in mlm.  I actually believe him, but how does that make YOU feel?  I'm not going to avoid answering this question - so please stick with me; the answer simply is:  It depends.

It depends on WHY you want to get rich.  The "WHY?" in this industry is often discussed, and it should be.  What isn't usually talked about is the validity of a person's WHY.  For the Spirit-filled disciple of Jesus, this needs to be addressed.  Actually scripture has clear wisdom on the topic.  God granted Solomon, not just wisdom, but wealth beyond measure.  Why?  His motives were pure.  WHY you want to gain wealth for the Christian is just as important as the desire for it.

"You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.  3  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.  4  You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?"  James 4: 2 - 4

To gain riches, you must want it, and ask.  Some never succeed in mlm because they don't ask.  There are many reasons we don't ask;  lack of faith, lack of zeal, lack of understand, etc.  But I have worked with many believers who ask, but their "why?" isn't any different than a non-christian.  They want the "stuff:"  bigger house, car, grand vacations, etc. etc.  Clearly the verses above address this.  The Lord is hitting on motives in the above truth.  What is the primary and driving motive for your desire for wealth?

Before we go to far, many have a limited understanding of the above truth and deal with it by lowering their expectations and simply claim they just want "enough" to get along and have a good life.  Although this can sound more spiritual, usually it is a cop-out not to press in and fulfill a destiny.  (Our "enough" in the USA would be considered "riches" for most of the people around the globe anyway.)  So dealing with the question of wealth simply by shrinking back is not the ultimate answer or design.  The answer again is in the motive.

Any other motive than pressing in to see the Kingdom of God built through your life comes up short.  Any desire other than to see Jesus glorified through all you do and are, will not suffice.  As a Christian, nothing else satisfies.  You can easily study the pop culture icons and see that wealth doesn't bring happiness or fulfillment.

One of the calls of my life is to see millions of dollars pass through my life into the work of the Great Commission.  That is why I want to gain riches.  100% of what I have and earn is the Lord's - not just 10%.  It isn't about the stuff.  If he wants me to live in a shack or a mansion to fulfill my purposes, I must be willing.  I may need to drive a nice car or live in a nice house to network with the people that Lord has called me to influence, but it isn't about the "stuff."  I am not against stuff.   Last year I lived in a flat in Fiji in a neighborhood that you would have a hard time finding one as poor, dirty or unsafe in most of America.  This year I am living in New Zealand in a modest flat, but the area is a high rent near a world class vacation spot.  I just want to be where he tells us to be.

Many Christians will quote this verse:   Philippians 4: 13  "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

But look what is the verse before it:  12  "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

It is all about motives, calling, and destiny.  So only you can really answer the question: 

"Is it OK to be want to be rich?" 

If all you want is stuff - hmmmm?  What makes you as a sold out servant of your Lord any different from anyone else?

My answer for me is YES.  It is not only OK to seek riches, I would be in rebellion against the Lord's guidance and calling  on my life is I didn't pursue financial freedom and prosperity!

Coach Curt