It's No Fun Being Poor - Marvin J. Ashton

It's No Fun Being Poor - Marvin J. Ashton

The main question for every person to resolve is not what he would do if he had unlimited money, time, influence, or vast educational advantages, but how he will best use the means and assets he has and will yet have.

I. Thou shalt not lose a friend or cease being one.
It is hoped that in the days ahead more and more of us will free ourselves from expressions of, “If you need me, let me know,” or, “If I can be of help, call me,” and replace them with the development of a sixth sense that will let us know when and where our friendship is needed.

 II. Thou shalt honor thy character and protect it from self-destruction.
 An individual is headed for personal bankruptcy when he sells his character and reputation for cash, honor, or convenience.

 III. Thou shalt not deceive.
 A favorite tool of the devil is deception. He would have us all become poor by living and promoting the lie. Whenever deception is encouraged, the promoter is the greatest loser. He must bear the responsibility for those he injures. Satan’s skills win him the title of “the father of deceit.”

 IV. Thou shalt not compromise thy principles.
  A quality person will not compromise his principles regardless of the size or intensity of the foe or the situation.

 V. Thou shalt love thyself.
 A person is poor when he loses self-dignity, self-respect, and self-pride. How sad, how long the day when we become low on ourselves! The worst form of defeat is to be conquered by self. Defeat is not pleasant, but nothing is so painful and devastating as self-defeat.

 VI. Thou shalt be honest.
Greatness is truly measured by honest self-appraisal. “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). How many times over the years have you heard the declaration that it is greater to be trusted than to be loved? Let me remind you that, regardless of the number of times, you haven’t heard it enough.

 VII. Thou shalt not wrongfully exploit others for personal advantage.
 A lie (dishonesty) is any communication given to another with the intent to deceive.  Thou shalt not wrongfully exploit others for personal advantage.

 VIII. Thou shalt not believe repentance is an announcement.
When important happenings and decisions in life come our way and we feel we are at the very valley in our life’s travels, we always have the choice of either repenting or rebelling. A person is poor only when he is unwilling to use and understand repentance. Repentance is a major stepping-stone in becoming rich. Repentance is not an announcement. It is improved conduct.

 IX. Thou shalt not stay poor.
It’s not fun being poor, but no one has to be. With friends, virtue, character, truth, integrity, repentance, and other God-given gifts and rights available, pearls of great price are ours for the seeking. Through prayer and action God helps us avoid being poor. He that has eternal life in its fulness is rich. It’s no fun being poor. It is much more fun to be rich. We can be rich if life’s ledger is filled with daily entries that show bottom-line totals including sound moral conduct, uprightness, and incorruptibility.
  
X. Thou shalt not allow thyself to be managed by money.
 Those who avoid the inconvenience of budget regulations must suffer the pains of living outside it.