The Unfortunate Wealthy

I heard recently in the news that the United States just finished its most prosperous year ever. More Americans are wealthy than ever before. Nationally, we continue to be the wealthiest nation on earth. Most of us are inundated with news reports of the CEO's of company's who take home pay packages that exceed most state lotteries. We hear of the stellar earning power of movie stars and pop idols. But beyond the famous, material wealth is piling up in many other areas of our lives. We celebrate our success and are proud of the achievements of our young people when they "do well" financially. Watch the business, news, media, entertainment and even the religion circles in today's society and you'll see that money is very, very important to a lot of people. And Christians are no exception. I think this is a very slippery slope we're on.

Jesus said, in Luke 18:25, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God." What do you suppose He meant by those words? How many of us pay attention to those words. I know, for example, if I were Donald Trump or Oprah Winfrey or any of the other countless wealthy in today's world --- that those words would keep me awake at night. I wonder if keeps any of today's wealthy awake at night. Does it mean you can't be a Christ-follower and "do well?"

Money represents power, authority and success. With it, it is difficult for wealthy people to realize their need and their powerlessness to save themselves. The rich in talent or intelligence suffer the same dilemma. I just IPO'd my dot-com company and became a zillionaire? Can you picture me on my knees before the Lord, expressing my deepest heartfelt needs for His supernatural power in my life today? The point is that it is difficult for a self-sufficient person to come to Christ the way He demands --- because self-sufficiency runs contrary to desperate helplessness and powerlessness. You know, in Jesus' time, He surprised people by reaching down and saving the poor. I think it might be even more surprising today if He should reach down and save the rich.

Luke 12:13-21 gives us another picture of God's view of wealth. Again, it is Jesus talking. (The guy had quite a bit to say about money!" Listen to what He says. "Don't be focused on what you have or don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own." He concludes his story by saying, "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

Did He say that a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth? No! Rather what Jesus said is that the foolishness comes into play when the earthly wealth becomes our primary focus, our primary measure of who we are or how we are. Jesus challenges us to look at our wealth from an entirely different perspective. You see, I think God's attitude towards finances can really be seen in these verses. The downfall for us all is when our God does bless us financially. We lose sight of God as the source and owner of our wealth.

Living today in the world's richest nation, it can be very difficult for American believers to determine, "How much is enough." No matter what level of wealth we possess, we tend to establish lifestyles that require all of our financial resources to fund. Look at people you know who are maxed out on their credit cards, struggling with the mortgage payment, car payments, etc. Consumer debt is rising at an alarming rate. When we spend everything God has blessed us with, it is difficult (if not impossible) to honor the Lord by giving back.

So I think the lesson in here for us Christians is to try and live well below our means. When we get a raise or a bonus, let us not try to think of how we can spend it. Rather, let us get on our knees and ask the Lord what He might have us do with it. Perhaps He'd rather see us pay down debt, invest it or even donate it to fund work that honors the Lord. If God blessed us as the richest nation on earth, do you suppose perhaps He intended for us to be the most generous people on earth?

If you have wealth, are you using it to fund God's work in this world? Have you used your financial power to empower talented, good-hearted people to do work that honors God? I'm not talking about making a donation here. I'm talking about being a good steward of that money and wisely investing it where it can make a difference. Remember that camel struggling to get through the eye of the needle? Perhaps if he didn't have so much stored up in his hump it wouldn't have been such a struggle!

Me? No, I'm not afraid of wealth. I'm even less impressed by wealth. And I try to resist the temptation to be envious of people who have wealth and live better than I do.

"Lord, keep me humble about money. Help me to put it in its God-honoring perspective in every way. Do the same with my intellect and talents. Never let me lose sight of my deep dependence on You. This I ask in Jesus' name. Amen."