by Robert Fudge

16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; 17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. 18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed--and men praise you when you prosper-- 19 he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light [of life]. 20 A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

I heard a story of a mob boss who had died. At his funeral visitation, he was laid in a beautiful solid wood casket, had on a very expensive suit and was decked with several diamond rings and other jewelry. One of his former employees was overheard saying: “man, that’s living!” Actually he was dead and none of what they saw was his any longer. That’s not “living” that’s dead.

We had some friends who were extremely wealthy. (They left each of their children several million dollars.) On one occasion when I was with this wonderful lady, she told me that her granddaughter often said that she wished she had not been born rich. She said it would be much better to be poor. Well, this young girl grew up and got married. She moved out where she and her new husband had to pay all the bills on their income. (Before you start feeling sorry for them, they were
given a new mobile home, and a new Porsche as a wedding present.) After a few months, she came to her grandmother and asked if she remembered all the times she said that she had wished to be poor. Her grandmother said she did. She then said, “Well, I have now decided that I just want to be middle income.”

Several years ago at a family reunion, my siblings and I were discussing our finances (actually our lack of). As one of us complained about how much income taxes he was having to pay, another said he just wished that he could have to pay some taxes because that would mean that he had made some money. I later told my Mother that we were all broke, just at different levels.

What is the point of all this? Wealth is temporary, life is short and if we put our trust in wealth or our life in gaining wealth, we are foolish. We leave it all to someone else. A wise man understands that real wealth comes from serving God and helping fellow man with what we have.

Rich is relative. The one who appreciates what God has given and uses it for God’s glory is the one who is truly rich. Too often we “poor mouth” about our circumstances and complain about what we don’t have instead of being thankful for what we do have. By world standards, most of us (if not all of us) are extremely rich. Besides, in Jesus Christ we have all spiritual blessings, promise of eternal life, the Holy Spirit to live in us, plus a promise that he will provide all of our physical needs. How could we be any richer than that!? Before we ever complain again, remember that our Father owns the universe and we are his heirs. Praise God, I am rich!

Father God, I thank you for all your blessings, even though I don’t deserve them. You have made me rich in Christ Jesus. Help me to use what you have given me to your glory. Help me to trust you and not material things. Help me to be more thankful. Please increase my faith and give me wisdom from above. In Jesus name I pray.

May God bless each of us as we live for him today.