According to Proverbs 13:11 (NLT), “wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.” It is critical to understand that real wealth accumulates over time. The consistent and persistent application of knowledge is the source of wealth creation. You have to master the basics, and then repeat it over and over again. We yearn for wealth, yet it often feels elusive. But in this world of fast lanes and shortcuts, it’s important to remember that true wealth is a patient journey, a slow but steady process.
“We went around the suburbs fixing broken lights, and gates,” Strive Masiyiwa (Founder, Econet Group) said of his early days in business. “We invested every cent, into doing bigger and bigger projects. For me, nothing has really changed in terms of those basic principles: you start with what you have, you do what you can, you invest what you get, so that you can do bigger and bigger things. From there we built an engineering company, and soon moved to telecommunications.” This principle applies regardless of your profession or industry. Fortunes are built over time; they do not appear overnight.
Our world is full of stories about people who worked hard to plant the seeds of their wealth and then reaped a bountiful harvest. Warren Buffett, the legendary investor, has one such story. He did not become wealthy overnight. Instead, he invested slowly over time, carefully compounding his wealth. This approach helped him become one of the world’s wealthiest people. It serves as a reminder that wealth grows over time and with consistent effort. We, like Buffett, can choose to invest wisely and patiently, understanding that wealth creation is a marathon rather than a sprint.