I’ve been working on losing weight for the last 3+ months. It’s been simple and difficult. Eat less. Exercise more. No need for diet gurus, complicated plans, books…at times it really sucks (giving up donuts for example)…but it works.
I find the same thing to be true in keeping financially healthy. Spend less. Make more. Simple. Yet really difficult to do. I’ve bought a lot of books…listened to a lot of financial “gurus” but the real path to financial health doesn’t change.
I think these simple verses are the very best “prescription” for a successful, meaningful life.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Simple. No “gurus” or “religious professionals” needed. Very difficult to do on a daily basis…
Unfortunately knowing the truth doesn’t make you immune from wanting things to be easier. I’m still tempted to listen to people who tell me if I’ll follow their “easy” program or buy their complicated machine I’ll be able to eat Doritos, lay on the couch, and still be able to walk up a flight of stairs. I’m still tempted to listen to those with “easy” ways to become wealthy in just 5 minutes a day if only I’ll buy their program or “trading system”. And yes, I’m tempted at times to listen to the “religious professionals” who promise that if I’ll read their book, or join their church, I can avoid the hard work of actually trusting God and following him instead of my own mis-guided instincts by following their “easy” religious system. For some reason “complicated and easy” is really tempting…it sells lots of books…lines the pockets of “experts” of all kinds…fills the seats at auditoriums. Unfortunately, it’s never a substitute for the truth. The simple and difficult truth.