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Desire to be Rich
August 31, 2013

There are those who work very hard to be rich, and there is nothing wrong with hard work or wealth. Many who work hard and many who are rich are wonderful people who live moral upright lives. Many become philanthropists in their communities and are the go-to person whenever a good cause is in need of funding. Hard work and wealth can do much good. Sometimes the desire to be rich can cause people to make decisions they would not otherwise make. It is at these times that the desire to be rich can bring about more harm than good. While there is nothing wrong with hard work and wealth, the Bible cautions us to not overwork to be rich. Let us consider this passage from the book of proverbs.

Proverbs 23:4-5
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

The concept shared in these verses is one experienced by rich and poor alike. I am considered middle class and when I started working twenty plus years ago, I thought I would have it made if I was making the money I have now. Today I think if I had X number of dollars I would have it made. I suppose, if I earn X number of dollars, that at that time I will still think I will do better with more money. A normal part of the human condition is to seek that which is greater than ourselves, and money is easy to count. No matter how much money we have, we always want more. An esteemed former colleague of mine once shared with me his idea that money was like an opiate and that once you are on money, you never want to come off it. There are some things in life we can chase we will never find, like the mythical pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I once saw a sign meant to be humorous in a restaurant that advertised free beer tomorrow, and tomorrow was always a day away. Jesus warned of seeking materialistic things during his ministry and advised us to seek those things that are spiritual.

Matthew 6:19-34
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Jesus showed that instead of laying up treasure here on earth, we should lay up treasure in heaven. There are those who might make this a verse about donating to your church. That approach seems limiting to me as I see a difference in perspective being presented in these verses. Jesus is showing that treasure is what we value, and we must value heaven and spiritual things more than anything here on earth.

1 Timothy 6:6-12
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

The love of money will lead those in love with money down a dark path removed from spiritual faith. It is the will to be rich, or the strong desire that leads us into this temptation and snare filled with many foolish and hurtful lusts. It is when we desire those things truly greater than ourselves, the spiritual character traits that we are rich, and as we seek that which is spiritual we are able to celebrate what is good, embrace what is good, and do what is good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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