To answer that question, we need to go back to the Scriptures and study the craftsmen who built the temple. These men were the best craftsmen of their time. But what was it that made them such great craftsmen? Was it the material they had to work with? The incredible project they were working on? Or was it the resources they had at their disposal?



While all of those things played a part in their success, none of them made anyone a great craftsman. These experts were great before they were given the best material in the land to work with. They had their skill before they worked on the temple. And they gained their reputation long before they were given the resources of the king.

What made these craftsmen great was their ability to use the tools of their trade. They knew how to use those tools; they understood the materials that they shaped with the tools; and they had the ability to evaluate each project in relation to their ability to use the tools.

So if you really want to become skilled in making money, you have to learn how to use the tools that can make you money. For instance, those who make the most money in real estate know a lot about their area of expertise. They know which tools work and which ones don't. They know a great opportunity when they see one. And they know when to stay away from certain opportunities.

Another example is debt. Debt is something most people should avoid. Why? Because they don't know how to use it wisely. Most people use debt to spend money. But there are some rare occasions when debt can be used wisely to make money. Unfortunately, few people are aware of the proper use of this tool.

Look at Warren Buffet and you'll see a man who invests only in what he knows. He and Bill Gates are good friends, but Buffet has never invested in Microsoft. Why? Because he doesn't understand the tools of that business.

How well you learn the tools of a trade will go a long way toward your success. But just because you're a good craftsman (or some other skill), doesn't mean you know how to make money. Just as the tools of each trade are different, the tools needed to make money require a completely different expertise. For example, if you want to become a rich craftsman, you have to know how to use a craftsman's tools well. And you have to know how to make money. There are a lot of poor craftsmen in the world simply because they don't take the time to learn the trade of making money, too.

Most people want to have a lot of money, but they don't want to learn to use the tools needed to make money. Lottery winners are notorious for losing their fortunes because they don't know how to use the tools to keep their money and grow it. It's like a craftsman who is given the tools and all the raw materials needed to build the temple, but he doesn't know how to use the tools. Once he begins, he's far more likely to ruin the raw materials than he is to build a majestic temple.

So no matter what field you're in, take the time to become an expert in making and managing money.