I don't consider myself rich by any means. I live in a relatively modest neighborhood. I drive a sixteen year old van and a seven year old car. We don't have the latest gadgets, electronics, or big screen TV. We don't have cable or a dish. We use a lot of coupons for groceries and buy new clothes only when necessary or on special occasions. I don't have a boat or a jet ski or own lots of acreage.
Having said that, compared to many people around the globe, in third world countries and inner cities, I'm well off. I don't worry about where my next meal is coming from or where I'm gonna sleep tonight. Sure, I live paycheck to paycheck, but at least I have a paycheck.
Sometimes I look around and wish I had more. I dream of what it'd be like to be Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. What would it be like to have billions of dollars? I'll probably never know. (Okay, I'll never know.) I guess I'll just have to settle for a few cool million. Right.
Why is it that what we have is never enough? I saw a survey a few years ago that asked the question, "How much money would you need to make to be happy?" Ironically, every income bracket chose the income bracket above what they were currently making.
God has a different definition of what makes for wealth. Rich in God's terms doesn't necessarily equate to the world's terms. To the world, rich is the accumulation of material goods. To God, rich is the generosity of our heart and spirit toward others. It is giving versus getting. Jesus said the two mites given by the poor widow was a bigger gift than the large sums of cash tossed into the Temple coffers by the wealthy man.
Jesus didn't condemn the rich farmer for his material success in this parable. He did, however, point to the fruitlessness of his labor collecting goods only for himself. He didn't condemn the man for having or enjoying his wealth. The criticism came for his selfish hoarding. Jesus points out the futility of amassing great wealth. Eventually, it only ends up in the hands of someone else anyway. How much better it would have been in life, if the rich farmer had been a blessing to others. According to God, I'm rich when I share my resources to the aid and benefit of others.
God, you know I have limited personal financial resources, but I want to be rich toward you. I want to be your vessel whereby you bless others. I open myself to you. Make me rich in your eyes.
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