THE PROBLEM HERE IS NOT THAT WE SOMETIMES CONSUME WEALTH.
THE SECRET IS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO CREATE
AND SAVE MORE WEALTH IN THE LONG RUN THAN YOU CONSUME.
Announcer: NEXT, AUTHOR AND FINANCIAL EXPERT, JAY RICHARDS
GIVES COMMON SENSE ANSWERS TO GUIDE US
THROUGH THESE TIMES OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.
JOBS ARE CREATED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR BY BUSINESSES,
FAMILY BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS, NEW COMPANIES,
OLD COMPANIES REACHING OUT INTO NEW VENTURES.
Announcer: MORE THAN ENOUGH -- NEXT ON LIFE TODAY!
§
Betty: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY!
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
I'M BETTY AND THIS IS JAMES.
James: WELL, WE'RE THRILLED
TO GET TO COME INTO YOUR HOME
AND SHARE WITH YOU.
I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS SPENT,
I GUESS NOW PROBABLY THE LAST
14-16 MONTHS WITH ME
IN PRETTY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP,
COMMUNICATING, WORKING,
AND WRITING TO TRY TO SHARE
SOMETHING WITH YOU
AND WITH OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY
AND WITH THE LEADERSHIP
THAT COULD REALLY PROVE TO BE
AN ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYERS
BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES
THAT WE'RE CONFRONTED BY
NATIONALLY AND PERSONALLY,
ECONOMICALLY,
IN EVERY AREA YOU LOOK AT
THERE ARE CHALLENGES.
FROM THE STANDPOINT
OF SECURITY, FROM HOPE,
ALL THE DIFFERENT ISSUES
AND MANY OF THESE ISSUES
ARE CONTINUALLY
IN THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE
THEY'RE BEING DISCUSSED
AND MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING
ABOUT WHAT IS GOING WRONG,
BUT WHO IS GOING TO GIVE US
SOME COUNSEL AND SOME ADVICE
THAT MIGHT HELP US BEGIN
TO STRAIGHTEN THINGS UP,
REALIGN OUR COURSE
TO TRUE NORTH, TO WHAT'S RIGHT.
WELL, JAY RICHARDS
AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE
WE HAVE BEEN CALLED
TO AT LEAST ATTEMPT TO HELP.
WHAT REALLY INSPIRED US
ON THE JOURNEY, FIRST OF ALL,
WAS A PURSUIT OF GOD IN BEHALF
NOT ONLY OF OUR OWN LIVES
AND FAMILIES BUT
IN BEHALF OF YOU.
REALLY, IN BEHALF OF PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE WORLD
JUST LIKE LIFE OUTREACH CARES
ABOUT THE SUFFERING.
AND WE KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU
WHO WATCH SAY, "JAMES,
YOU HELP THE HUNGRY,
AND THE STARVING AND
THE THIRSTY AND NEEDY PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE WORLD BUT
WE'RE HURTING RIGHT HERE."
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE'RE REALLY COMMITTED NOW
TO PUT IN YOUR HAND SOMETHING
THAT WILL HELP YOU GET ABOVE
THAT VALLEY OF DESPAIR
OR THAT PIT OF DEATH OR DEFEAT
OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS
PRESSING IN, THE UNCERTAINTY,
MAYBE EVEN A SENSE
OF HOPELESSNESS SOMETIME
AND WONDERING WHO
IS GOING TO HELP
AND HOW CAN I FIND THE ANSWER?
WELL, WE DO HAVE SOME REAL
ECONOMIC ISSUES NATIONALLY BUT
WE HAVE THEM PERSONALLY TOO.
LET ME TELL YOU
HOW I MET JAY RICHARDS.
A PASTOR THAT I RESPECT AS MUCH
AS ANY PASTOR I'VE EVER KNOWN
RECOMMENDED THAT I READ A BOOK
CALLED MONEY, GREED, AND GOD.
WHAT THIS PASTOR POINTED OUT,
HE SAID, "JAMES, WE REALLY HAVE
A TWISTED IDEA
ABOUT THE ECONOMY."
HE SAID, "WE'RE REALLY
TARGETING THE WRONG ENEMY."
OUR INCREDIBLE SYSTEM WHEREIN
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROSPER
AND BE BLESSED AND BLESS
THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD,
AND WE INDIVIDUALLY HAVE
BEEN BLESSED, WE'RE ASSAULTING
THAT VERY OPPORTUNITY
OF FREEDOM TO BE PRODUCTIVE.
AND JAY HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
HOW TWISTED OUR THINKING IS.
WELL, I GOT TO KNOW JAY.
I WANT TO TELL YOU,
HE CALLED US ON A JOURNEY
TO BE A REAL BLESSING TO YOU.
BY THE WAY, I WANT TO SEND YOU
THIS BOOK.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WANT TO
SEND YOU A SERIES OF TEACHING
ON MORE THAN ENOUGH,
HOW GOD IS ABLE TO BLESS
AND PROSPER YOU AND HELP MEET
YOUR NEEDS IN WHATEVER
SITUATION YOU'RE IN.
JAY RICHARDS IS WITH US TODAY
AND I WANT YOU TO WELCOME
MY GOOD FRIEND AND CO-AUTHOR
OF A BOOK I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT
IN A MOMENT.
WOULD YOU WELCOME JAY RICHARDS
BACK TO LIFE TODAY?
JAY, I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU!
Jay: GOOD TO SEE YOU!
James: WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD
-- VERY HARD!
WE'VE WRITTEN A BOOK
TITLED INDIVISIBLE.
GET IT!
I'M PRAYING THAT YOU WILL LOOK
AT WHAT WE SHARE BECAUSE
I CAN PROMISE YOU, IT CAN,
AS GOVERNOR HUCKABEE SAID,
IT'S THE GAME CHANGER.
MANY OF THE LEADERS
IN OUR NATION WHO HAVE READ IT
SAID, "THIS IS WHAT
WE PRAYED FOR."
JAY, YOU STUDIED, AS A PH.D.,
AS A STUDENT, AND YOU ACTUALLY
WENT FROM A LIBERAL BENT
OF BEING A MARXIST
LIBERAL THINKER --
Jay: DEEPLY CONFUSED
IN ALMOST EVERY WAY.
[Laughter]
James: AND YOU GOT
TOTALLY TURNED AROUND
BY THE POWER OF GOD
AND THE GRACE OF GOD.
YOU WENT ON ANOTHER PURSUIT
AND YOU FOUND THAT ECONOMICALLY
WE'VE REALLY GOT THINGS
PRETTY WELL UPSIDE DOWN,
NOT ONLY AT THE TOP NATIONALLY
BUT AT HOME.
SO I WANT YOU TO JUST SHARE
SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT YOU FEEL LIKE WOULD
BE MEANINGFUL TO OUR VIEWERS
TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THEY CAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT
IN THEIR OWN HOME.
YOU HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN,
YOU AND YOUR WIFE HAVE
TYPICAL CHALLENGES BUT YOU ALSO
LOOK AT THE NATIONAL ISSUES.
JUST SHARE WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART
THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE
A BLESSING TO HELP PEOPLE
KIND OF GET ON TRACK.
Jay: WELL, IF PEOPLE
ARE THINKING THEY'RE GETTING
ANOTHER ECONOMIC LECTURE,
THEY'RE GETTING READY
TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL,
I WANT TO ASSURE THEM WE'RE NOT
GOING TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMICS
IF YOU HAD THAT CLASS
IN COLLEGE.
THE REALITY IS ECONOMICS IS
ABOUT THE REALLY BASIC THINGS
THAT WE DEAL WITH EVERY DAY:
WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING,
WHERE WE LIVE, WHERE WE SEND
OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL --
ALL THE DECISIONS WE MAKE
HAVE SOME KIND OF ECONOMIC
ASPECT TO IT AND EVERYBODY
IS AWARE OF SOME REALLY
SERIOUS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
THAT WE HAVE.
JUST TO MENTION ONE, IN 2004
OUR GOVERNMENT, FROM THE MOMENT
OF ITS FOUNDING, 230 YEARS AGO
UNTIL 2004 RAN UP ABOUT
A SEVEN TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT.
BETWEEN 2004 AND 2011,
WE DOUBLED THAT AND ENDED UP
WITH A 14 TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT.
SO OBVIOUSLY, AT A NATIONAL
LEVEL WE'RE SPENDING FAR MORE
THAN WE'RE TAKING IN.
YOU CAN'T DO THIS LONG TERM.
SO WE ALL HAVE REASON
TO WORRY AND TO PANIC.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS
WE STILL LIVE IN A SOCIETY
IN WHICH WE'VE GOT THE RULE
OF LAW AND WE'VE GOT
PRIVATE PROPERTY, IN WHICH
PROSPERITY AND WEALTH CREATION
CAN BE REWARDED.
IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
OR TO LOOK AT COMPANIES THAT
ARE GOING BANKRUPT AND TO THINK
ALL IS LOST BUT EVERYBODY
IS PROBABLY HOLDING
IN THEIR POCKET A TELEPHONE,
A SMART PHONE THAT HAS
TECHNOLOGY THAT IS TWICE
AS POWERFUL AS IT WAS JUST
TWO YEARS AGO, AND TECHNOLOGY,
THE GREATEST KINGS AND QUEENS
IN HISTORY DIDN'T
HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE
WE STILL LIVE IN A SOCIETY
IN WHICH WEALTH CAN BE CREATED
AND WHICH HARD EFFORT
CAN BE REWARDED.
BUT THE REALITY IS WE'RE VERY
QUICKLY GETTING TO, I THINK,
A STAGE IN WHICH WE INDULGE
IN A POLITICS OF ENVY,
IN WHICH WE FOCUS ON
THE WEALTH CREATORS,
WE THINK THERE IS SOMETHING
WRONG WITH THEM, WE THINK
THERE IS SOMETHING EVIL
IF SOMEONE HAS GOTTEN WEALTHY;
WE ASSUME THEY TOOK IT
FROM SOMEONE ELSE.
NOW THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES,
PEOPLE CAN STEAL FROM SOMEBODY
ELSE BUT IN A MARKET ECONOMY
THE BEST WAY TO GET RICH
IS FOR AN ENTREPRENEUR
TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT
PEOPLE WILL FREELY BUY.
SO JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY
GOT WEALTHY, THEY MAY NOT
HAVE TAKEN THAT FROM ANYONE,
THEY MAY HAVE GOTTEN WEALTHY
BECAUSE THEY CREATED WEALTH
FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR OTHERS,
AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY FOR CHRISTIANS
TO UNDERSTAND.
THAT WEALTH CAN BE CREATED.
IT IS NOT LIKE WE'RE JUST
MOVING THE WEALTH AROUND
LIKE BREAD CRUMBS ON A TABLE.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE MAINTAIN AND PROTECT
THE INSTITUTIONS THAT ALLOW
WEALTH TO BE CREATED
IN THIS COUNTRY.
James: THEN SEE, IF YOU SEE
THAT AS THE PROBLEM,
THEN YOU IMMEDIATELY NULLIFY
THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING
A SOLUTION.
THE VERY FACT THAT YOU CAN
HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU BECOME
LET'S SAY POSSESSIVE OF
OR IT EVEN POSSESSES YOU
MEANS THAT THERE HAS BEEN
A SUCCESS ACHIEVED THAT
HAS BECOME SO ATTRACTIVE THAT
IT CAN BECOME ALL CONSUMING.
BUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN
GET THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM IS STILL THE HEART
BEING TWISTED AND FOCUSED
IN THE WRONG WAY, BACK TOTALLY
ON OURSELVES AND NO INTEREST
IN ANYBODY ELSE.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
I'VE USED THIS ILLUSTRATION
OVER AND OVER, JAY,
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN
REALLY BEST IT BECAUSE
GOD STARTED WITH A GARDEN,
HE TOLD THEM TO TAKE CARE OF,
AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE FERTILE FIELD
THAT GROWS THE CROPS,
THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM.
THE FARMER CAN ABUSE
ALL OF THE PRODUCTIVITY,
HE CAN WASTE IT, MISUSE IT,
OR BUILD BIGGER BARNS
AND BE CALLED A FOOL.
HE CAN ONLY THINK
ABOUT HIMSELF.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
IT'S THE HEART,
NOT THE POSSIBILITIES
THAT OPPORTUNITY AFFORDS.
AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
"WE WANT MORE JOBS."
WHO CREATES THE JOBS?
WHO CREATES THE OPPORTUNITY?
I THINK PEOPLE DON'T SEEM
TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
Jay: THAT'S RIGHT!
UNFORTUNATELY, IF WE'RE SAYING,
"WELL, WHAT GOVERNMENT POLICIES
IS GOING TO CREATE JOBS?"
WELL, YOU'RE ALREADY LOOKING
IN THE WRONG PLACE.
JOBS ARE CREATED IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR
BY BUSINESSES,
FAMILY BUSINESSES,
ENTREPRENEURS, NEW COMPANIES,
OLD COMPANIES REACHING OUT
INTO NEW VENTURES.
WHERE JOBS AND PROSPERITY
ULTIMATELY COME FROM.
SO WE CANNOT TEAR
THOSE THINGS DOWN, AS YOU SAID.
PEOPLE OFTEN SAY, "WHAT ABOUT
THE RICH YOUNG RULER?"
JESUS TOLD HIM TO GO AND SELL
EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE.
THAT REALLY REINFORCES
YOUR POINT THOUGH, JAMES,
BECAUSE JESUS KNEW,
HE LOOKED INTO THE HEART
OF THE RICH YOUNG RULER,
HE KNEW THAT FOR THAT GUY,
HIS WEALTH WAS A STUMBLING
BLOCK, IT WAS A HINDRANCE
TO HIS SALVATION BECAUSE
IT WAS HIS ULTIMATE CONCERN.
SO JESUS TOLD HIM, "GO AND SELL
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE."
HE DIDN'T GIVE
A GENERAL COMMAND FOR
ALL OF US TO DO THAT,
BUT THAT IS A GENERAL WARNING
TO US, THAT ANYTHING
INCLUDING OUR WEALTH THAT
BECOMES OUR ULTIMATE CONCERN,
THE THING WE FOCUS ON THE MOST,
THAT IT BECOMES AN IDOL
AND IT HINDERS
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
WEALTH ITSELF IS A BAD THING
OR THAT PROSPERITY ITSELF
IS A BAD THING.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE SUPPOSED
TO PRAY FOR AND HELP THE POOR
BECAUSE POVERTY IN GENERAL
IS A CURSE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT GOD
EXPECTS US TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT.
THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THAT
OF COURSE IS THE CREATION
OF WEALTH.
James: HE ALSO PRAISED
THE STEWARD, SAID HE ENTRUSTED
WATCH CARE OVER TALENTS
BECAUSE THEY MULTIPLIED IT
AND GOT IT BACK.
AND HE CALLED THE ONE
WHO DIDN'T, WHO JUST HID IT,
AND DIDN'T MULTIPLY IT
AND DIDN'T GROW,
HE SAID, "YOU'RE A WICKED
SLOTHFUL SERVANT."
HE WANTS US TO BE PRODUCTIVE,
HE WANTS US TO BE CREATIVE.
WHEN YOU'RE PRODUCTIVE
AND CREATIVE, YOU'RE --
IF IT WERE CROPS,
YOU'RE PROVIDING FOOD.
YOU'RE PROVIDING SOMETHING
PEOPLE CAN BUY.
SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN ACCESS,
OR YOU LEAVE THE CORNERS
OF THE FIELD SO THE POOR
CAN COME AND GET IT.
IF THEY'RE TOO WEAK TO COME
AND GET IT, YOU CAN TAKE IT
AND GIVE IT TO THEM.
THIS IS THE WAY WE LOOK OUT
AND SEE THE NEED AROUND US.
WE DON'T TURN IT OVER
TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE WEALTHY
IN YOUR HEART,
IF YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE WITH
AN OVERFLOWING HEART,
YOU'RE GOING TO WANT
THAT OVERFLOW TO BLESS
AND TOUCH SOMEONE ELSE.
DON'T FAULT THE FACT THAT
WE CAN OVERFLOW.
GOD SAYS YOUR CUP
WILL OVERFLOW.
WHO IS IT THAT MAKES
THE CUP OVERFLOW?
WHO IS IT THAT'S BLESSING US?
IT'S GOD!
NOW LET'S WORK ON THE HEART
SO THAT WE WANT TO SHARE IT.
I'M REALLY ASKING GOD TO LET US
DO THIS, JAY, IN OUR JOURNEY
WITH ALL THE THINGS
WE'RE TRYING TO SHARE.
THE PEOPLE THAT CREATE
THE WEALTH, THE PEOPLE
THAT CREATE THE JOBS,
CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY,
THAT MEET LEGITIMATE NEEDS,
CREATE THINGS THAT PEOPLE
WANT OR DESPERATELY NEED,
I DON'T CARE IF IT IS BETTER
HEALTH CARE, BETTER HOSPITALS,
BETTER HOUSING, BETTER
COMPUTER, BETTER PHONES --
ANYTHING YOU WANT BETTER,
ENTERTAINMENT THAT YOU ENJOY,
IF THEY'RE CREATING THAT
THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING FOR YOU
AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY MEETING
A LEGITIMATE NEED.
WE DON'T NEED
TO FAULT SOMEBODY.
THEY ALSO BY DOING THAT
ARE CREATING JOBS.
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE MORE OF.
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO GO AND BUY, YOU'VE GOT
TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO BUILD, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE
THE RESOURCES.
WE HAVE GOT THIS THING
SO MESSED UP THAT WE HAVE
LITERALLY TAKEN THE GOVERNMENT
AND MADE THE GOVERNMENT
ALMIGHTY GOD.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO MONEY!
THEY DON'T MAKE MONEY!
THEY TAKE MONEY!
AND THEN THEY DISPERSE MONEY
OR USE IT.
THEY CAN USE IT THE WAY
WE WANT THEM TO USE IT,
TO DO GOOD THINGS
OR THEY TAKE IT
AND DISTRIBUTE IT TO MAINTAIN
POWER OR DEPENDENCE UPON
A SOURCE OTHER THAN GOD.
ALL OF THIS HAS GOT US
TOTALLY UPSIDE DOWN.
WE REALLY HAVE GOT TO TRY
TO GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT
OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET OUT
OF THE DITCH THAT WE'VE BEEN
DIGGING BY REALLY
UPSIDE DOWN THINKING.
Jay: ABSOLUTELY!
THE PROBLEM HERE IS NOT THAT
WE SOMETIMES CONSUME WEALTH.
THE SECRET IS THAT YOU'VE GOT
TO CREATE AND SAVE MORE WEALTH
IN THE LONG RUN
THAN YOU CONSUME.
SO AS LONG AS
YOU'VE GOT THAT CYCLE RIGHT
AND ARE CREATING WEALTH,
CONSUMPTION IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK
HUMANS ARE JUST CONSUMERS.
ALL WE DO IS CONSUME.
WE'RE LIKE THE LOCUSTS
THAT COME IN AND DESTROY
AND PILLAGE AND PLUNDER
AND THEN MOVE ON.
THAT'S NOT HOW
HUMAN BEINGS ARE.
WE'RE CREATURES MADE IN
THE IMAGE OF THE CREATIVE GOD.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS GOD,
OF COURSE, CALLS THE UNIVERSE
INTO EXISTENCE OUT OF NOTHING
-- WE CAN'T DO THAT.
BUT WE TAKE THE MATERIAL WORLD
GOD HAS CREATED AND WE CAN
TRANSFORM THAT
INTO NEW RESOURCES.
WE CAN TAKE SAND
AND CREATE FIBER OPTIC CABLES
AND COMPUTER CHIPS
AND THINGS LIKE THIS.
THIS IS UNIMAGINABLE THAT
GOD GRANTS TO US THE FREEDOM
AND THE DIGNITY TO BE ABLE
TO CREATE THINGS THAT
WERE NOT THERE BEFORE.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE REALIZE THAT AND THAT'S
AN IMPORTANT THEOLOGICAL POINT
BUT IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
ECONOMIC POINT AS WELL.
Betty: I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED
THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD
THE MENTALITY OF "IF I HAD
EVERYTHING MY NEIGHBOR HAS" --
"IF I HAD HALF OF WHAT
THEY HAVE, BOY,
I WOULD BE SO HAPPY!"
BUT THAT'S REALLY A DECEPTION
BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE
THAT OUTWARDLY, THEY LOOK
VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL BUT
THEIR HOMES ARE BROKEN,
THEIR MARRIAGES ARE BROKEN,
THEY'RE TRYING OTHER THINGS,
DRUGS, WHATEVER, TO FIND THAT
HAPPINESS THAT THEY THOUGHT
ALL THE THINGS WERE GOING
TO GIVE THEM.
IT STARTS WITH THE HEART.
Jay: IT DOES!
IT'S WORRISOME TO HEAR
POLITICIANS TRY TO PIT
ONE AMERICAN OVER AGAINST
ANOTHER JUST BASED ON
WHAT SOMEBODY HAS
AND WHAT SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE.
I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE,
"LOOK, IF YOU HEAR A POLITICIAN
TRYING TO GET YOU TO ENVY
SOMEBODY ELSE, HOLD ON
TO YOUR WALLET BECAUSE
YOU'RE IN TROUBLE."
James: THE THING IS THAT
WE'RE FAULTING WHAT IS REALLY
FAULT WORTHY, THE GREED
AND TOTAL SELF ABSORPTION,
BUT YOU GO INTO
THE IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITY,
THEY'RE STEALING
AND ROBBING AND THEN A LOT
OF THEM ARE LIVING ON DRUGS
ON WELFARE.
THEY'RE SITTING BACK
AND NOT DOING ANYTHING
BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS GOING
TO SEND THEM A CHECK,
THEY DON'T EVEN LOOK FOR A JOB.
NOW PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING
FOR A JOB, THEY WANT A JOB,
IT'S RIGHT FOR THEM TO WANT IT
AND GO AFTER IT.
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN'T
FIND IT, IT BREAKS MY HEART.
I'M PRAYING FOR YOU,
I WANT TO PRAY WITH YOU.
LISTEN -- YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO GET A JOB
FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
WE CAN'T ALL BE IN THE ARMY.
OKAY? BUT WE CAN'T
ALL JUST SIGN UP
TO GO CARRY THE MAIL.
I MEAN YOU'VE GOT
TO BE DOING SOMETHING.
SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO BE CREATING
THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND JAY, THE THING THAT I FEEL
GOD HAS PUT ON OUR HEART...
ONE ASPECT, SHOWING PEOPLE
THEIR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY,
SHOWING PEOPLE THEY LOOK
FOR OPPORTUNITY, AND THAT
WE APPRECIATE PEOPLE
WHO CREATE IT, AND THAT
WE IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY,
WE IN THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH
NEED TO POINT AT
THE HUMAN HEART TO SAY
LET'S GET OUR HEARTS RIGHT
SO THAT WHEN WE ARE BLESSED
WE DON'T TURN AWAY FROM THE ONE
WHO GAVE US THE PRIVILEGE
AND OPPORTUNITY AND POSSIBILITY
AND BEGIN TO WORSHIP OURSELVES
AND SAY, "LOOK WHAT
WE'VE DONE."
WE TRY TO FOCUS THE HEART
IN THE RIGHT WAY SO THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT GOD
AND LOOKING AT OTHERS.
THIS IS WHAT NEEDS
TO BE CORRECTED.
THE OPPORTUNITY AND SYSTEM
IS NOT THE PROBLEM,
THE HUMAN HEART IS THE PROBLEM.
Jay: THAT'S RIGHT!
ITS TWO TRUTHS.
WE WANT A FREE MARKET ECONOMY,
WE WANT FREEDOM, BUT WE HAVE
TO HAVE A MORAL FOUNDATION
IN THE CULTURE.
YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE ONE
OR THE OTHER.
THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT LOVE THE FREE MARKET
AND THEY LOVE FREEDOM.
BUT WHAT THEY REALLY MEANS IS
THEY WANT EVERYBODY TO GET
TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT
IF WE CAN'T CONSTRAIN AND
RESTRAIN OURSELVES
AND EXERCISE OUR FREEDOM
WITH RESPONSIBILITY,
WE'RE GOING TO END UP
WITHOUT ANY FREEDOM AT ALL.
James: AND THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE HEADED BECAUSE
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO ASSUME
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
FOR YOU AND YOUR HOME,
AND IN YOUR FAMILY, YOU LOOK
AT THE GOVERNMENT OVERSPENDING.
JAY STARTED OUT TALKING ABOUT
HOW WE DOUBLED THE DEBT
IN A FEW SHORT YEARS
OVER 200 YEARS --
WE HAVE DOUBLED IT!
IN SHORT YEARS --
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO PROBABLY
ADDING ABOUT THAT MUCH MORE ON
IN THE NEXT DECADE.
THIS IS INSANE!
AND YET PEOPLE ARE DOING
THE VERY SAME THING, JAY
WITH THEIR CREDIT CARDS
AND THEIR CREDIT CARD DEBT.
THEY'RE LIVING WAY BEYOND
THEIR MEANS INSTEAD OF
BRINGING IT UNDER CONTROL.
PEOPLE ARE SHOUTING AND
SCREAMING TO THE GOVERNMENT,
"GET IT UNDER CONTROL."
LET THE VOICE OF GOD,
THAT STILL SMALL VOICE,
IT MAY EVEN SOUND
LIKE THUNDER RIGHT NOW.
GET YOUR BUSINESS
UNDER CONTROL.
DO WHAT YOU CAN RIGHT NOW
TO BEGIN TO LIVE BELOW
YOUR MEANS IF IT MEANS
YOU NEED TO DOWNSIZE.
YOU SAID, "IT IS A TOUGH TIME
TO DOWNSIZE BECAUSE I COULDN'T
SELL THE HOUSE I'M IN
TO GET A SMALLER ONE."
I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO START MAKING
A COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING
TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.
JAY, YOU'VE GOT
TWO YOUNG CHILDREN;
YOU'RE A YOUNG COUPLE.
YOU FACE ALL THESE CHALLENGES.
YOU CANNOT LIVE BEYOND
YOUR MEANS AND MAINTAIN
ANY SANITY OR STABILITY.
Jay: ABSOLUTELY NOT!
IN FACT, MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY
DON'T KNOW BUT IF YOU'RE OVER
50 YEARS OLD, A LOT OF FOLKS
REMEMBER YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET
CONSUMER CREDIT CARDS LIKE
EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO NOW
A FEW DECADES AGO.
WHAT'S HAPPENED NOW IS THAT
WE HAVE ABOUT A TRILLION
DOLLARS IN CONSUMER DEBT.
SO I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
HOME MORTGAGES AND THINGS
LIKE THAT, NECESSITIES,
I'M TALKING ABOUT CREDIT CARDS
IN WHICH YOU'RE PAYING
20% INTEREST ON SOME --
THE GUCCI PURSE THAT
YOU JUST HAD TO HAVE.
JUST AS IT IS INSANITY FOR
THE GOVERNMENT TO ACT THAT WAY,
IT IS INSANITY FOR US
AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS FAMILIES
TO ACT THAT WAY.
YOU SAID IT RIGHT, WE NEED
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LIVE
BELOW OUR MEANS,
NOT BEYOND OUR MEANS.
James: HERE'S THE THING,
LISTEN TO ME, WE SAID
WE'RE GOING TO LIVE BELOW
OUR MEANS.
WE MADE THAT DECISION
A LONG TIME AGO
AND WE'VE DONE IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE WE DID?
WE PUT GOD FIRST.
BY THE WAY, THAT CAN START
AT ANY POINT IN YOUR JOURNEY.
WITH US IT STARTED EARLY.
YOU SAID, "DID Y'ALL EVER HAVE
ANY CHALLENGES?"
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!
AND WE FOUGHT THOSE CHALLENGES
TOGETHER.
Betty: WE DID.
BUT YET AS A COUPLE,
WE WERE DETERMINED --
THAT'S THE KEY TOO,
IS YOU'RE ON THE SAME TEAM.
DON'T WORK AGAINST ONE ANOTHER
IN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO
IN YOUR FINANCIAL
AND YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE
WITH YOUR FAMILY, WHATEVER --
BE ONE IN THAT.
WE DID, WE AGREED FROM
THE VERY BEGINNING THAT
WE WOULD NOT WALK INTO
THAT DEBT TRAP.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT
THE CREDIT CARDS.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME
WE APPLIED FOR A CREDIT CARD,
WE COULDN'T GET ONE
BECAUSE WE HAD NO DEBT.
James: WE'D NEVER PAID OFF
ANYTHING.
HAD NO CREDIT.
Betty: IF WE COULDN'T AFFORD
SOMETHING, WE DIDN'T GET IT.
James: WE PAID CASH SO WE HAD
NO CREDIT RECORD TO PROVE
THAT WE WOULD PAY A CREDIT CARD
BECAUSE WE PAID CASH
FOR EVERYTHING.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO GO --
WE HAD GO BUY SOMETHING THAT
WE PAID OFF IN THREE MONTHS
TO PROVE WE'D PAY OFF SOMETHING
IN THREE MONTHS.
SO WE GET A CARD THAT WE WERE
GOING TO PAY EVERY MONTH
THE MINUTE WE GOT IT.
WE'VE BEEN MARRIED
NEARLY 50 YEARS, WE'VE PAID
EVERY ONE OF THEM
WHEN WE GOT IT.
YOU SAY, "WELL, SOME OF US
CAN'T DO THAT."
MAYBE IF YOU STARTED THERE.
ALL I'M SAYING TO YOU
IS WHERE YOU ARE NOW.
I'M NOT EVEN SAYING LIKE
DAVE RAMSEY, GET YOUR SCISSORS
AND CUT THEM ALL UP.
I'M SAYING CUT UP
THE EXTRAVAGANCE OR THE WASTE
OR THE POOR MANAGEMENT.
YOU CAN USE THAT LIKE
A PLASTIC CHECK.
IT CAN BE BETTER THAN CARRYING
A BUNCH OF MONEY AROUND.
THAT'S HOW WE USE IT.
WE USE IT LIKE A PLASTIC CHECK.
WE DON'T NEED TO USE IT
ANY OTHER WAY.
Jay: NO! AND YOU CAN GET
A LOT OF FREE PLANE FLIGHTS,
IF YOU DO THAT RIGHT.
NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
I NEVER TELL SOMEONE
IT IS INTRINSICALLY WRONG
TO ALWAYS USE A CREDIT CARD.
BUT THE REALITY IS DESPITE
ALL OF OUR NATIONAL ECONOMIC
CRISES, THE THINGS WE NEED
TO DO AS FAMILIES ARE
THE REALLY OLD-FASHIONED
PRINCIPLES OF THRIFT
AND CAREFULNESS AND PRUDENCE
OUR GREAT GRANDPARENTS TAUGHT.
James: JAY, WHAT WE'RE DOING
THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE
SO HELPFUL, I WROTE A BOOK
THAT REALLY TELLS THE JOURNEY
FROM ABSOLUTELY POVERTY
INTO BLESSING, TRUE PROSPERITY.
IT IS NOT ABOUT GETTING MONEY;
IT'S ABOUT HAVING THE FULLNESS
OF LIFE AND JOY AND WEALTH,
AND RICHES WITHIN
THAT MONEY CANNOT BUY
AND CANNOT TAKE AWAY.
IT IS AN INNER WEALTH.
BUT WHEN YOU WALK IN THE WISDOM
AND OVERSIGHT OF GOD,
YOU'D BE AMAZED AT HOW
HE IS GOING TO BLESS YOU
IN YOUR STEPS.
WE ACTUALLY SHARE WITH YOU
HOW YOU CAN WALK IN
THE BLESSING AND PROSPERITY
OF THE LORD.
THEN THE BOOK, TRUE PROSPERITY,
AND THE TEACHING SERIES,
WE WANT YOU TO HAVE
THE MATERIAL.
HERE'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU
TO DO.
IF YOU'LL SIMPLY DO THIS --
AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO DO IT, IT IS BASICALLY
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT,
BE GENEROUS --
WE HAVE JUST HEARD
FROM THE MISSIONARIES
THAT WE HAVE GOT
AN INCREDIBLE THREAT
ON CHILDREN BELOW FIVE
THAT ARE GOING TO NEED
SPECIAL EMERGENCY NUTRITION.
THAT MEANS INTRAVENOUS FEEDING.
THAT MEANS THEY'RE GOING
TO NEED POWDERED MILK,
SOMETIMES SUGAR AND WATER.
THEY'RE GOING TO NEED SOMETHING
TO STABILIZE THEM,
AND WE NEED OVER 400,000 MEALS.
THOSE LITTLE EMERGENCY FEEDINGS
COST 50 CENTS EACH.
WELL, IT DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG
TO COMPUTE THAT.
WE NEED A COUPLE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS IMMEDIATELY.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING
WE'D THOUGHT ABOUT.
SO HERE'S WHAT
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO.
YOU SIMPLY MAKE A GIFT
TO HELP US HELP OTHERS
AND WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU
MORE THAN ENOUGH.
IF YOU'LL MAKE A GIFT OF $100,
LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT WE WANT
TO SEND ALONG WITH THE BOOK,
ALONG WITH THE TEACHING,
THE CD'S,
WITH ALL OF THESE LESSONS,
WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU
MONEY, GREED, AND GOD,
ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT BOOKS,
I THINK YOU'LL EVER READ.
WHO SWITCHED OFF YOUR BRAIN?
UNDERSTANDING HOW
THE MINDS WORK.
AND THEN MANY PEOPLE
HAVE COME TO ME AND SAID
WHAT RABBI LAPIN SHARED
OUT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
AS A JEWISH RABBI,
HE HAS SEVEN CHILDREN.
HE AND HIS WIFE
ARE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE.
HE SAYS IF PEOPLE WOULD ONLY
UNDERSTAND THE WORD OF GOD,
THE PRINCIPLES OF GOD,
THE TRUTH OF GOD... UNSHAKABLE.
MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE SAID,
"JAMES, I HAVE SO HIGHLIGHTED
IN THIS BOOK THAT I WISH
I COULD READ THE WHOLE BOOK
OR AT LEAST EVERY HIGHLIGHT
TO EVERY PERSON I GET AROUND.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE?"
WELL, WE'RE ASKING YOU,
MAKE A GIFT OF $100.
YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MANY
OF THOSE NUTRITIOUS MEALS
WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET OUT
FOR THAT.
WE WANT TO SEND YOU SOMETHING
THAT WILL ENABLE YOU
TO BE BLESSED, TO HAVE
ENOUGH OF THE BLESSING OF GOD
TO BE ABLE TO MEET OTHER NEEDS
-- LEGITIMATE NEEDS.
ASK FOR THE MATERIAL.
JUST SAY, "LORD,
GIVE ME WISDOM."
I BELIEVE WE'RE OFFERING YOU
A REAL ANSWER TO THE PRAYER
THAT YOU'VE BEEN PRAYING,
"GOD, SHOW ME THE WAY."
AND THESE GIFTED
COMMUNICATORS AND TEACHERS,
JOINING TOGETHER TO HELP YOU.
I PRAY YOU'LL ASK FOR IT.
Announcer: IN RECENT WEEKS, WE'VE SEEN MORE AND MORE
YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE
COMING TO OUR LIFE CENTERS, CLINICS, AND FEEDING STATIONS.
MOST ARE SEVERELY MALNOURISHED,
REQUIRING SPECIAL CARE TO PROPERLY FEED THEM.
MORTALITY RATES ARE QUICKLY ON THE RISE
AND IT IS A NEED THAT CERTAINLY CANNOT BE IGNORED.
WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN PROVIDE
AN ADDITIONAL 400,000 EMERGENCY NUTRITIONAL FEEDINGS
THAT ARE SPECIALLY FORMULATED FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE,
INCLUDING POWDERED MILK AND INTRAVENOUS FEEDINGS.
AT A COST OF 50 CENTS PER MEAL
YOUR LIFE-SAVING GIFT OF $25, $50, OR $100 WILL HELP PROVIDE
50, 100, OR 200 EMERGENCY NUTRITIONAL FEEDINGS.
WITH YOUR GIFT, WE'LL SEND YOU MORE than ENOUGH,
A NEW DYNAMIC EIGHT-PART AUDIO TEACHING SERIES
THAT WILL SHOW YOU GOD'S PLAN
FOR YOUR FINANCIAL PEACE AND PROVISION.
ALSO INCLUDED IS JAMES ROBISON'S INSIGHTFUL BOOK,
"TRUE PROSPERITY."
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 OR MORE
TO HELP PROVIDE 200 EMERGENCY FEEDINGS,
YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST THESE DYNAMIC BOOKS,
THOU SHALT PROSPER BY RABBI DANIEL LAPIN,
MONEY, GREED, AND GOD BY AUTHOR JAY RICHARDS,
AND W HO SWITCHED OFF YOUR BRAIN? BY DR. CAROLINE LEAF.
FINALLY, AS A SPECIAL CHALLENGE,
PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP PROVIDE 2,000 EMERGENCY FEEDINGS
AND YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST THE BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND,
"AS THE DEER" BRONZE SCULPTURE.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK! PLEASE CALL, WRITE,
OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY AT LIFETODAY.ORG.
Isak: THIS CHILD IS THREE YEARS OLD
AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE TRADITIONAL SIGNS
OF JUST A BAD CASE OF MALNUTRITION.
THEIR HAIR CHANGES COLOR AND REALLY THINS OUT.
WHAT YOU SEE, THIS IS THE REAL BOMBAY --
AND CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING,
WHATEVER FOOD THIS CHILD IS HOLDING RIGHT NOW THAT YOU SEE,
WHATEVER THEY GET IS WHATEVER THEY PICK UP OVER HERE
OR SOMETHING THAT IS LYING DOWN, WHATEVER THEY FIND
OR IF SOMEBODY JUST THROW SOMETHING FROM THE RICKSHAWS.
Beth: IT'S AN INCONCEIVABLE SIGHT!
THERE IS NOTHING THAT PREPARES YOU TO SEE A CHILD
IN THIS KIND OF CONDITION.
IT IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE!
I THINK HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THIS HAPPEN?
Announcer: IN MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD,
SEVERE DROUGHT, FAMINE AND SHRINKING FOOD SUPPLIES
HAVE LEFT THE YOUNGEST OF THE YOUNG
FEELING THE HARSHEST EFFECTS.
MORTALITY RATES ARE ON THE RISE AND
IT IS THE INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE
THAT ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO DISEASE AND SICKNESS.
James: THIS IS A TYPICAL LITTLE --
POOR LITTLE CHILD'S DOLL.
THIS LITTLE BABY CLOSES ITS EYES AND OPENS ITS EYES.
THIS IS SOME LITTLE CHILD'S TOY.
ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS OF ALL, BETTY,
IS THAT MANY OF THE LITTLE CHILDREN THAT PLAY WITH THIS
BEFORE THEY'RE FIVE, THEY DIE
AND THEIR LITTLE EYES CLOSE LIKE THIS LITTLE DOLL.
THEY CLOSE AND NEVER OPEN AGAIN.
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM A FUTURE HOPE.
James: WE WANT TO SEND YOU
MORE THAN ENOUGH.
YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT
GOD WILL BLESS YOU
AS YOU BLESS OTHERS.
FATHER, I PRAY FOR EVERY PERSON
WATCHING THAT THEY WILL
ALLOW YOU TO DIRECT THEM,
GIVE THEM THE WISDOM
AND INSIGHT --
AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE A HELP
-- THAT THEY MAY MANAGE
WHAT YOU'VE ENTRUSTED
TO THEIR WATCH CARE
AND THAT YOU WILL MEET
ALL OF THEIR NEEDS
ACCORDING TO YOUR RICHES
IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.
THANK YOU, GOD!
WE ARE ASKING YOU WHEN YOU ASK
FOR THE MATERIAL
IF YOU'D CONSIDER HELPING US
FEED SOME CHILDREN EMERGENCY
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED TO GET INTRAVENOUS
FEEDING, WE NEED TO GET
THE POWDERED MILK
AND SUGAR WATER INTO CHILDREN
THAT ARE TOO WEAK TO EVEN
TAKE NORMAL NOURISHMENT.
MISSIONARIES HAVE TOLD US
THERE IS SOME REAL CRISIS
SITUATIONS AND THEY'VE ASKED
FOR AN ADDITIONAL
400,000 FEEDINGS TO SAVE
THE LIVES OF THESE CHILDREN
UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE.
WOULD YOU MAKE A SPECIAL GIFT
TO HELP US DO THAT?
FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
JOIN BETTY AND ME IN SAYING
THANKS TO JAY RICHARDS
FOR BEING WITH US.
JAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!
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Announcer: TOMORROW, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR MAKING MONEY!
BUT MONEY IS A SPIRITUAL MEASURE
OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OTHER HUMAN BEINGS.