Yes I know that when one is young, the desire to become wealthy sometimes enters our minds. Usually we think in terms of money and assets. But the older one gets, the more he/she realizes that wealth is so much more than economic favor.

Our culture and society have sold us a bill of goods. They teach us that in order to be happy we have to have certain things. Should we not resist the world’s view of wealth, happiness and possessions? We do not have to have it all! We don’t have to wear just the right clothes, drive that certain brand of car, have the latest model available, buy a bigger home, own six large screen TVs, possess the latest digital camera, and carry a dozen credit cards in our wallet.

We must not allow our culture to dictate to us their world view of what things our life should consist of. Our society should not be allowed to design our lifestyle nor should they tell us what success is and what the picture of affluence should look like. Success is doing what God wants done.

Wealth is having only what you need to exist. A rich man or woman is one who has one penny more than he or she needs. But wealth is more than money. It is having a local church that inspires you to draw close to God. It is having a loving spouse and the blessing of children. Wealth is enjoying great health and great relationships. Wealth is having good friends. Wealth is receiving salvation and God’s gift of eternal life with Him.

This is a story in the Bible about a man who was very rich. “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'” Luke 16:19-31

The poor beggar by the name of Lazarus was left to die at the gate of the rich man without food to nourish him and keep him alive. All he wanted was mere crumbs that fell from his table, yet the rich man who lived in luxury refused to come to his aid or meet his need for mere survival.

When YOU think of wealth, what comes to your mind? In what ways are you wealthy? Send me a comment and tell me what you are thinking.

Content © Rich Brott, 2011

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