So I was helping a friend to search the internet using Google to find out what business one can do that will last for many generations, one that you can pass over to your children and they can pass over to theirs, and so on. Most investments are volatile, real estate go up but also crash, shares the same, fixed deposits and treasury bills appear good, but the currency could lose value. One could start a business such as a saloon, restaurant, pharmacy or a farm but you are not sure it will last for a long time.
So I was not praying or anything like that, but just doing a business research, however rather than getting a good investment idea, I came across this scripture online, in Proverbs 27:24 and it says, “For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.” So this hit me that there is no business that can last for every generation and no crown, monarch, dynasty, ruler or human kingdom that will last forever. So just imagine just less than 100 years ago the richest man in the world was John D Rockefeller a billionaire in the oil business, his wealth in today’s terms is more than Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos who is the founder of Amazon and is now the one of the richest mans in the world. However, today many people do not even know who this man is, most of his wealth was given to Charity through his foundation, but his great grandchildren who control his remaining wealth are not as rich as he was. We can also take a look at the richest man who has ever lived, King Solomon. When Solomon was king silver was as common as stone, because most things he owned were in pure gold. However, today where is Solomon’s wealth and where is his kingdom? Both have passed away, and if you do not read history books or the bible you may never even know that someone like Solomon ever existed. So this shows that the things we see that are very important today like wealth, status, and power, they will all pass away, they are transient or temporal. A time will come that nobody will know who Dangote was or who Bill Gates was, because they would have passed away. This means that it is unwise to store up wealth or money for our children or think that because we have position we can continue to pass it on. Why? This is because none of these things will last forever. If people can understand this they will probably not be killing and doing anything to acquire money. In fact, there are times that in just one generation wealth is lost, you see a rich family and their children ended up in poverty.
So then if money and power does not last forever, then what does lasts forever? Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” God’s word last for every generation and cannot fail. So what you can pass on to your children and your children to theirs and to all your generation is the Word of God. The values and teaching in the bible. It will equip them to overcome the challenges of life irrespective of whatever generation they are born in.
The bible says in Psalm 90:1, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.” This means that forever God has been a shelter and home to people who trust and believe in Him. So now that we realize that wealth is not forever, whenever you have it, use it to help others, the poor, the sick, the oppressed and more people. When you die, you will not take it with you and you are not sure that your children will inherit it. Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward them for what they have done.” So use your wealth, skills and time to help others. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Have a blessed day!
