How to escape the rat race and advance in life

Observing the activities of humankind, one thing I have realized is that numerous people chase the wind in ignorance. I remember praying in one of my prayer chambers; the Holy Spirit whispered to me to come out of the room.

When I came out of the room, the Holy Spirit told me to observe the activities of some bees building their resting place on a high storey building. I love praying on top buildings because it helps me observe the surrounding from a distance.

As I observed the activities of the bees, I saw that some of the bees were trapped and lifeless in their resting place by a spider’s web. Then the Holy Spirit told me to observe the walls carefully. As I kept watching the tall building (walls), I saw other bees busily building their resting place.

I saw several bees gathered around a sizable white material. Then I saw another bee struggling to build its resting place. No bee was helping this struggling bee build its resting place. As I thought through the activities of the bees, the Holy Spirit told me that human beings walk on the same path as the bees.

All the labor of the bees ends in the trap of the spider’s web! Human beings struggle to pursue temporal things, not knowing they will not take these earthly treasures on the final day (death season). Solomon, one of the wealthiest and wisest men, writes,

 

I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:

I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 KJV

Solomon, son of David, stated that he built houses and vineyards. He had numerous silvers, golds, valuable treasures, maids, menservants, and multiple assets, yet concluded in his old age that it is vanity. Solomon did not end. He further wrote.

 

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 2:18-22 KJV

Solomon stated that he worked and acquired the world's wealth but began to cry in his old age because he did not know whether a wise man or a fool would inherit his assets. He concluded that life is a rat race.

 

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 KJV

 

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

 

Ecclesiastes 5:13-19 KJV

So, we can see from one of the wealthiest and wisest men that walked on earth writing these words. Solomon wept in his old age despite all his treasures and wisdom. I have had several visions where I saw people of wealth in great pain.

Money is good, but it cannot solve every issue in life. Do you know that most rich people do not have peace in life? Despite their attainment in life, most of them are not satisfied. They sleep in fear because of thieves and enemies.

Some wealthy people commit suicide because an invisible load sits on them. They go through a series of psychological, emotional, spiritual, and mental pain because they are not sure of their true friends and enemies.

Most of them go through invisible pain because of insecurity, greed, power, and fame. Get this key; acquiring wealth, and temporal assets are good if they will benefit the kingdom of God and humankind.

Acquiring earthly wealth legally helps in many ways. The issue is that many people do not understand the danger of the rat race. If you check the topic of this article, you will realize that I stated how one could escape the rat race and advance in life.

At the beginning of the article, I gave you a life key using the activities of the bees the Holy Spirit showed me. I explained to you the meaning of the rat race from the Holy Scriptures using the experiences of Solomon.

The Holy Spirit has also shown me several visions about the rat race where I saw humanity in great distress running after the things of the world. Numerous people were operating under curses in some of my visions because of the rat race.

So, what do I mean by rat race? If you study the word carefully, you will understand that it has two components. The first word is the rat and the second word is race. Rats are tiny animals that hide from human beings and predators.

These animals operate when humankind is vulnerable and asleep. Rats are more intelligent than many animals, but they are also destructive. Rats are swift in movement. So, in a real sense, the rat race is when humankind operates busily in life without understanding.

In other words, the rat race is a stage or season in life humankind pursues activities that brings nothing meaningful in the end. Most often, rats run because of danger. They can enter a dangerous place and the enemy’s territory when running because they don’t know where they are going.

They are escaping for their lives, and in the process, some perish. That is how some people live their lives. They run like rats having no vision for their lives. Christ Jesus expanded the rat race with these precious words.

 

…Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

Luke 6:39 KJV

Life without a clear vision and mission leads to destruction. If you want to escape the rat race, put things in order. You don’t follow the crowd because everybody is joining the queue. Ignoring wisdom and joining the rat race is to your detriment.

The fact that people become successful through formal education does not mean you will also progress in life by formal education. You can educate yourself without attending school. The fact that some people are progressing in a specific business does not mean you will also progress by that same business.

You must discover your purpose and pursue it with all your heart, or else you will join the rat racers. The wise man writes.

 

They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

Proverbs 1:30-31 KJV

When a man (including a woman) prospers without wisdom, he enters the room of destruction. I always say that money without vision is destruction. When I often see “rich people” bragging about their wealth, I pity them because they don’t know that they are attracting enemies.

The nature of the natural man is wickedness and jealousy, so if you try to brag with your wealth, you open yourself to attacks. As we can see from the wise man's words, the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

Prosperity is in dimension, so is poverty. Real wealth begins from your mindset. Real poverty starts from your mindset. Until your mind is programmed for increase, you remain in the prison of poverty.

You can be rich or poor psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, mentally, physically, biologically, and intellectually. Possessing physical cash isn’t complete or real prosperity. Real prosperity begins with the inner man.

Like a pig, it doesn’t matter how clean it is; it will always look for a dirty place to disgrace itself. That is how poverty and prosperity work. A man may possess trillions, billions, or millions of cash and assets and still walk in poverty if his mindset is not built for prosperity.

So, what is my point here? Ignorance has the power to limit you in life. If you want to escape the rat race, dominate ignorance with wisdom. In the book of Hosea, God Almighty makes a powerful statement.

 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Hosea 4:6 KJV

People perish in life because of ignorance. God is saying that he cannot work with people who hate knowledge. If you hate knowledge, you cannot walk successfully with the Holy Spirit and succeed in life. It is good to be purposeful in life, but you have to know the fundamentals and principles of life. In Isaiah, we see another profound Word.

 

Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

Isaiah 5:13 KJV

God states that his people go into slavery, poverty, and injustice because they have no knowledge. One thing you must know in life is that our mind controls most of the decisions we make in life.

Ignorance can make you oppose your deliverer and endorse your enemy. Get my book, the mysteries of jealousy, for more profound revelations. As we can see in the Holy Scriptures, honorable people perish because the citizens and leaders have no knowledge.

The people supposed to be honored and put into a vital leadership position have been ignored because of ignorance. Why do you think many African countries and some countries swim in poverty?

Why do you think some Christian believers hide in the prison of poverty? It is because of ignorance, laziness, hatred for knowledge, and failure to apply knowledge (wisdom). God has invested whatever we need to prosper in life, but ignorance has limited humankind.

You can be a Christian believer and perish if you have no knowledge. If you want to escape the rat race and advance in life, make knowledge your priority because we increase in value by wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Christ Jesus stated that humankind perishes in life because of ignorance.

 

…Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Matthew 22:29 KJV

If you want to break out from the prison of the rat racers, have time for the Word of God (Holy Bible). God’s Word can deliver your soul, spirit, and body from slavery and demonic attacks.

 

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8 KJV

After the death of Moses, God commanded Joshua to give attention to the Word because the Word has the power to break evil philosophies and ungodly cultures. Without the Word of God, total deliverance cannot take place (Meditate on 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

It is not enough to seek deliverance from anointed ministers of God. You must feed your spirit and soul with the Word of God to break out from the invisible prison holding your destiny. King Solomon writes that wisdom is the master key.

 

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Proverbs 4:7 KJV

If you want to escape the rat race, acquire wisdom because it is the principal thing. The principal means the first choice. Wisdom must become your leader, king, master, and compass of life, and real wisdom is found in Christ Jesus.

Without Christ Jesus in your life, you cannot break out from the rat race. I encourage you to read my book, the top 19 master keys to break the barriers of life. If Solomon, one of the wisest and wealthiest men who lived on this planet, says that wisdom is the principal thing, then we must believe it with all our hearts. If you want to advance in life, gather relevant information. As our Saviour and Lord Christ Jesus said,

 

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Luke 14:28 KJV

You cannot build a house without setting up the foundation. You need adequate knowledge to progress. Build yourself emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically because, without these foundations, you will fall and give up.

If you think people become successful by luck, you are ignorant. Miracles do happen, but it is scarce. The people you see making progress in life built themselves in their chambers before coming out.

I remember reading a book authored by a successful man and found that he read over 300 books to break out from the rat race. I said to myself; this man meant business! He knew knowledge was one of the keys to advancement, so he invested time reading and applying the knowledge he acquired in books.

Child of God, every successful person you see in life has something backing him. Some people use evil powers to succeed in life. Some people sell their bodies and soul to become successful in life.

What are you doing with your life? If you want to break out from the prison of rat racers, let wisdom become your compass of life. Even in sports, the stars train with all their might to perform well.

You cannot sit idle and progress in life. Acquire knowledge because wisdom is the principal thing. I showed you from the Holy Scriptures that one of the wisest and wealthiest men (Solomon) recommended wisdom as the master key to prosperity.

Solomon knew that without wisdom, no one could build legal wealth. Why do you think God gave Solomon wealth? Is it because he was a king? No! One reason God prospered Solomon was that he asked for wisdom and understanding. I discipline myself to write because writing, publishing, and marketing demands sacrifice, energy, resources, and consistency.

• Which path are you?
• Are you on the legal or illegal path?
• Are you on the path of the world?
• Are you on the path of evil spirits?
• Are you on the side of Christ Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

 

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Proverbs 16:16 KJV

So, we can see that it is better to get wisdom than gold. Solomon stressed on his counsel, “how much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"

Can you imagine Solomon writing in a strong language? We must value wisdom above money and earthly assets. We must prioritize wisdom above the treasures of this world because it takes wisdom to make, manage, and multiply resources.

Have you not heard on the media and read prosperous people committing suicide? This should let you understand that wisdom exceeds money and earthly assets. If you value money more than wisdom, you are immature because money without a goal, vision, assignment, and purpose is destruction.

 

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Proverbs 8:10-11 KJV

Have you analyzed the above scriptures? Solomon writes that it is better to receive quality counseling and knowledge than money or assets. Anytime you encounter a wealthy person, inquire how he became successful or ask how to become successful in life.

If you want to become successful, read the books of successful people because most successful people share some of their secrets in their books and articles. Listen to the messages and watch the videos of successful people.

As we can see from the Holy Scriptures (See Proverbs 8:10-11). Wisdom is better than temporal assets (jewels, diamonds, gold, and precious stones). Solomon further states that we can compare nothing to wisdom, and I stated that the perfect wisdom is Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus lives in us in the person of the Holy Spirit. If you are not born again, you act within the world's wisdom and influences of evil spirits. This wisdom cannot stand time and storms of life because it has an expiry date.

The wisdom with no end is the Word (Meditate on Luke 21:33). We can extract precious wisdom keys from the Holy Bible because it is the foundation of life. Within the Holy Bible rest the infinite spiritual and practical wisdom to advance in life.

Make the Holy Bible your compass of life, and you will become wise and prosperous (Meditate on Psalms 1:1-3). Read books that have their principles built on the Holy Bible, and you will escape the rat race.

 

…I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

Psalms 119:127 KJV

The psalmist exalts the Word above gold because none can be compared with it. In the olden days, gold was the mode (currency) of transaction. Money began from the days of Abraham. Money is not a new thing because it existed when creation began.

If you want to build a proper foundation for increase, build yourself. Build your soul with relevant information. Every successful person who did extraordinary things legally built himself with relevant books.

Do not ignore wisdom and knowledge if you want to progress in life. One reason Apostle Paul did great works in the kingdom of God was that he was a voracious reader. (Meditate on Acts 26:24, 2 Timothy 4:13).

Becoming desperate to succeed in life without wisdom and knowledge is a great error. You put your life, society, and those connected to you in danger if you seek increase without a proper foundation. Build yourself in the Spirit and acquire relevant knowledge. After acquiring the knowledge, practice them as led by the Holy Spirit.

 

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

Ecclesiastes 7:12 KJV

In summary, the wise man (Solomon) writes that money and wisdom have a great advantage in life, but wisdom exceeds money. Money can do many things, but it cannot solve every problem.

• If money can solve all life problems, why do some financially sound people commit suicide?
• If money can solve all life problems, why do some financially sound people chase anointed gospel ministers, doctors, herbalists, and spiritual centers?
• If money can solve all life problems, why do some financially sound people suffer from strange diseases?
• If money can solve all life problems, why do some financially sound people still pursue money and other temporal assets?
• If money can solve all life problems, why do some financially sound people keep working?

Wisdom can defend you in your time of need. Money can protect you in time of need, but wisdom has power over money because it takes wisdom to make the best decision. You can use the money to acquire friends and things, but it takes wisdom to maintain and regulate them.

Think over these wisdom keys and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the journey of life as you pursue wisdom (Christ Jesus) and His Word. If you are not born again, pray from your heart and follow the instructions.

 

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