I wholeheartedly agree with the principle that exchange creates wealth. However, I’ve also experienced instances where this can be taken too far, just like any principle. Specifically, I think that hyper-specialization can often contradict prophetic teachings.

For example, we’re counseled to grow gardens, whereas the “wisdom of men,” as regards specialization, may teach that that is unnecessary — we should leave the growing of food to “specialists.” As J. Richard Clark taught, “There are some who feel that they are secure as long as they have funds to purchase food. Money is not food. If there is no food in the stores or in the warehouses, you cannot sustain life with money. Both President Romney and President Clark have warned us that we will yet live on what we produce.”

So I think there’s a definite interplay and balance between specialization and self-reliance. Specialization becomes dangerous when it leads to unwise dependence, and self-reliance can be counterfeited to develop into a scarcity-based “do-it-yourself” mindset.

I think the key is to understand prophetic counsel on personal finance holistically and comprehensively, so as to avoid taking any one principle out of context or elevating it to the detriment of others.