Think your way to riches!

Our world today is filled with ordinary men and women who were not born with "silver spoon" but have transformed their life and become wealthy by simply acting on and marketing a simple idea. A very well known example is the world's youngest self-made billionaire and founder of Facebook, Mark Suckerberg. At age 20, when he founded Facebook in 2004,
he was just developing a software to publish annual directory with photos (called Facebook) for Harvard University students. Today, in just six years of existence, that idea has grown to be a household phenomenon for connecting with friends and loved ones and boasted of over 400 million worldwide users during their sixth year anniversary last week. Mark, today, from nothing is personally worth over USD $2 billion. And, I believe that your success story in business and career is the next in line to be told!
In our text today, king Nebuchadnezzar got an idea of what the future holds for the political and economic empires of the world through thoughts that came to his mind while he was on his bed. He was troubled by the thoughts until he found out the interpretation through Daniel. Today, the Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2 has come true and is still providing pointers to the future of world system. Similarly, in Genesis 41, king Pharaoh also got a dream carrying solution to an impending economic recession in the world. Through Joseph, his dream was interpreted and Egypt positioned herself as a world economic power of that time in a global economic recession. Friend, you and I also need the foresight, ideas and wisdom that will address the myriad of problems (economic, social, political, educational, health, environmental etc) in the world today for wealth to flow in our direction. We cannot just talk about problems, we should be a solution thinker and provider. And I think, if these unbelieving kings could receive ideas that impact the world, the Lord is more than willing to release to Christians great ideas that will impact the world and bring wealth into their hands. Part of the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer is to show us things to come and give us revelation of things that are hidden to ordinary men (See John 16:13-15; 1 Cor 2:9-10
Let me share some vital points you need to note from our passage today on how to think your way to riches:
(i) Ideas are born out of coordinated thinking (vs 29): King Nebuchadnezzar's idea came to his mind through thoughts and he could not rest until he took step to find out what it means. What do you do when an idea cross your mind? Majority of people simply ignore them. Until you coordinate the thoughts that are communicated to your mind, great ideas cannot be born. A good idea, however, can open doors to your lifetime breakthrough.
(ii) Spend time alone regularly for thinking and reflection (vs 29): Nebuchadnezzar's thoughts came to him upon his bed. Great ideas can come in unusual places - while on bed, in the car, in the toilet, bathroom etc, so watch out for it and dedicate time at the close or beginning of everyday to think and reflect.
(iii) Ideas are no respecter of person (vs 30): God is interested in given great ideas to everyone that will seek and act on it. Daniel told us here that he did not receive the interpretation of King's dream because he is better than anyone, "this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living (vs 30)". But, Daniel spent time to think and acquire the right information. If you also seek, you will also receive, profit and be wealthy through your God-given ideas.
(iv) Wealth follows wisdom (vs 30): Having the idea alone is not sufficient to be wealthy; applying your ideas correctly to meeting a need or solving a problem in the world is what gathers wealth to you. The wisdom of knowing how to do a thing is what guarantees results (see Prov 4:5-9; Prov 24:3-5). Even though, king Nebuchadnezzar and king Pharaoh had dreams, it takes a "Daniel" and a "Joseph" to respectively gave the interpretations and wisdom to apply their dreams. As a believer, you have access to the divine wisdom to apply your God-given ideas for maximum results (1 Cor 2:12-13; James 1:5), but you must watch out for people that God will bring across your way to help you interpret your dream in life. If you are a business owner, your greatest assets are your employees. Communicate your ideas to them in a way that they can contribute. Don't be afraid to bring on a "Daniel" or a "Joseph" that is connected to your dream.
(v) Cultivate your skills (vs 30): Proverbs 18:16 says: "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men". Daniel and Joseph rose to the top by interpreting the dreams of others. So, cultivate and develop your skills and talents too, it will one day take you to great places in life. You will soon be sought after by kings and great men who need your services. And I need to say this: don't decide on taking a job just because of money, rather take a job that aligns with your talents; offers opportunity to develop your skills; and provide you vital work experience.
May you receive ideas that will impact the world and take you to the top of your career and business in Jesus name (Amen).
Have a great day!