4 Streams
Gen 2:10-15
Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
God placed man in Eden: pleasure, delight. Ideal Environment
4 Rivers to insure productivity & increase
God puts us in the middle of opportunity – we must learn to recognize & seize
The first river is the Euphrates: fruitful. Represents the stream of Work
Even though Eden was ideal, it still needed to be “tended & kept”
· It had to be worked
Work is to sustain us and meet our needs…
2 Thess 3:10
If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
But the River of Work does not produce wealth – our paycheck is not enough
You cannot earn your way to wealth or financial freedom with a 9-5
The more we make, the more we spend
We need to do more – we need more rivers
Gihon: the breaking forth
“break heaven open” Mk 1:10
Tithe is a key to Keeping heaven Open – Mal 3:10
The “breaking forth” starts with understanding The Principle of First Things
God is ‘the giver’ – He grants us what we have
Of what He gives, there is always a portion that is devoted to the Lord
If we keep the devoted thing for ourselves, it becomes “accursed”
This Principle has been in place from the beginning
Tree in the Garden
God gives full & free access, but must keep not touch the devoted thing
When Adam ate the devoted thing, God cursed the ground – Gen 3:17
Reverse the curse by giving God the devoted thing – the tithe
1. Opens the heavens – Creates favorable circumstances for Increase
2. Rebuke the Devourer – consumes everything from Euphrates
The tithe is not law – it is the Covenant Principle of First Things
Gen 14:17-20
After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him,
18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. communion
He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram,
20 Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
This Covenant Principle continues
Jesus…
17 For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
Us
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. – Gal 3:29
Jericho is another example of The Covenant Principle of First Things
God said that Jericho was devoted to Him
All the other cities belonged to the people
Apple illustrates the Principle of the Devoted Thing
Healthy fruit w/ antioxidants if we eat it
The seeds are poisonous if we eat them (amygdalin releases cyanide)
Apples are the blessing
Seeds are the devoted thing
When seeds are used right – the cause increase
When seeds are used wrong – they poison
Pishon: increase. Investments & making a Profit
We MAKE money – know how to SPEND
We Must learn how to INCREASE it
Increase has been part of God’s plan since the beginning
“Be fruitful and multiply”
We are to be multipliers more than consumers
Two Instances where ‘Believers’ can be called wicked:
1. When we don’t pay our bills – Ps 37:21
The wicked borrows but does not pay back
2. When we don’t cause increase with what we have – Matt 25:26-27
His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant!
27 You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers,
so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
What does God have to say about how you handle your resources?
Our money should be working while we sleep – understand the seed
One reason we fall short: We have never been taught
Principle Jesus mentioned in Matt 25:27: Compound Interest
Ø Albert Einstein: “Compound interest is the eight wonder of the world.
He who understands it, earns it… he who doesn’t, pays it.”
Ø Warren Buffett, 2nd wealthiest: “My wealth has come from a combination of
living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest.”
Example of compound interest from Tony Robbins’ Money, Master the Game
Garrett
Started at age 20
$4000 per year @ 10% return
20 years, until age 40
Earned almost $2.5 million
600% more
Joshua
Started at age 40
$4000 per year @ 10% return
25 years, until age 65 – 5 yrs longer
Less than $400,000
$2 million less
Another means of Increase through Investing is Land
God’s Promise to His people: Land
Genesis 12:1–2
The Lord said to Abram, “Go… to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make of you a great nation.”
You cannot be a great nation without land – just sojourners & renters
Land is Source of Wealth
· Dollars are disposable
o Blacks aren’t very good friends of dollars
· Land (home equity) can finance our ideas,
· Land can finance our children’s future
· #1 way Black entrepreneurship in financed is through home equity
We fight for our Space
Nothing significant happens in space
Jesus goes to prepare a Place
Don’t pay for a space – pay for a place
Home ownership is an important way to increase
To own land, you must protect your “good name”
Prov 22:1
A good name is more desirable than great riches
Hiddekel (Tigris): Riddle of lightness; sound
Light & sound are Creative elements – this river has to do with our creativity
Jesus said, “We are light” – we can imagine (images)
We are carriers of a sound
Sound is creative: “And God said… and it was so”
“You shall have whatever you say” – Mk 11:23
Solve the riddle of light – Who am I?
Follow the river – follow your curiosity & creativity
Gen 4:20-22
Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. (cattleman)
21 His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. (musician)
22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. (artisan)
Most people are uncertain about this river of curiosity
Because creative ideas can be scary
We never learn to deal with our fears
No one taught us how to navigate it’s choppy waters
Creativity tells you, “Do things that others haven’t done.”
Fear says, “Don’t do that. Nobody’s ever done that. It won’t work.”
When we give in to our fear & not our curiosity, you dam up the Tigris River
We kill our creativity & limit our future
The Tigris runs parallel to the Euphrates (could become work or business)
Or, it could just be like tithing, not adding money
But creating conditions for Eden
Conclusion:
Understand this revelation & have these 4 Streams flowing in our lives
1. Work
2. Tithe – Open Heaven
3. Investment
4. Pursue Creative Ideas