A friend of mine calls this get-rich-quick mentality “lottery thinking.” I have to agree with him, lottery thinking is poverty thinking. The people who spend the most money on lottery tickets are at the bottom of the income scale. The help you need is not a big sum of money dumped in your lap, but rather a kick in the pants to start moving so God can bless your steps of faith.

Do not look for the big break, an insurance settlement, the miraculous provision, the chance deal, an inheritance or the lottery to get rich quick. The desire to get rich quick is really a lust for financial success without learning how to manage money. If we can just get this clear in our minds, we are far closer to actually learning how to advance.

Advancement comes to those who diligently apply God’s principles on a consistent, long-term basis. Look for steady progress through diligent, consistent work. God generally advances us gradually so we can concurrently grow the maturity to hold on to what he gives us. It is like a plane taking off—there is a correct trajectory of climbing that won’t stall the plane’s motor and yet gets you in the air before the end of the runway. Eyes set on the “chance that may come” will keep you from taking today’s step forward. Proverbs speaks to the trap of sitting around and waiting for your ship to come in.

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished (Proverbs 28:19-20).

I know a businessman who once said, “If you see money falling out of the sky, it is counterfeit; don’t pick it up!” If you build systematically, God will bring the growth. The answer is not out there somewhere; it is right in front of you with the step forward God wants you to take today. God’s nature is seed time and harvest. According to Hebrews 6, it is through faith and patience that we receive from God.

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised (Hebrews 6:12).

Patience is the power that will carry you through the obstacles of life into the seasons of blessing. It is notable that sometimes a wealthy person will lose all of their money, but somehow over time they seem to earn it all back and more. Amazingly enough this was actually Job’s experience. Let’s examine some more scriptures:

“…he who gathers money little by little makes it grow…All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty…The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (Proverbs 13:11; 14:23, 4:18).

Can you pick up the pattern here? Gather money little by little…hard work brings profit…shining ever brighter until the full light of day. If our eyes are set on the chance that may come it will paralyze us and keep us from taking today’s step forward. A prosperous soul will begin wherever it is and work toward advancement. Progress, God’s blessing, increase, promotions and favor are expected, but faithfulness and steady progress are the path to get there.