| What does God think of rich people? You and I | | | | Nothing in the Scriptures even remotely hints that |
| know what many people say about rich people. | | | | God chooses who is going to be wealthy and who is |
| You've probably heard phrases like "filthy rich," | | | | going to be poor, and the rest are just supposed to |
| "stinking rich," or "greedy rich people," attributed to | | | | exist somewhere in the middle. If that were really |
| those who are wealthy. | | | | true, then so many promises of help, blessings and |
| For some, it seems that there is an underlying belief | | | | prosperity wouldn't be so prevalent. |
| that being rich is wrong, and yet, most people | | | | A number of years ago, "The Prayer of Jabez" was |
| wouldn't mind it at all if an extra zero or two, or | | | | very popular. All the items that were associated with |
| three, were added to the end of their bank account | | | | it were basically derived from one verse in the Bible: I |
| balance. | | | | Chronicles 4:10. If you read that verse, you'll find that |
| Some people assume that those who are rich got | | | | Jabez simply asked God to bless him, to enlarge his |
| their wealth dishonestly, or never had to work for it. | | | | coast, to be with him, and to keep him from evil. |
| Some see the rich as snobs who look down upon | | | | God granted Jabez what he requested! God didn't |
| the rest of the world. It is rare to find someone who | | | | say what most people would have said: "Hey there, |
| is actually glad that someone else has tremendous | | | | Jabez, you're getting greedy. Why don't you just be |
| wealth! | | | | satisfied with what you have?" No. God gave him |
| Many people think that rich people don't deserve to | | | | what he requested. |
| be rich, in other words, it's wrong to be rich. It's just | | | | Over the past ten years or so, a number of |
| not fair for people to have all that money! There are | | | | preachers have been labeled "prosperity preachers." |
| some religious people who actually think that being | | | | Some of those have preached an honest message |
| rich is not right in the sight of God. | | | | of God's abundance, while others have polluted the |
| But what does the Bible say? Often misquoted, the | | | | message with something short of a circus act. |
| Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil; | | | | Biblically, prosperity simply means that you are |
| rather, it says that the love of money is the root of | | | | successful at what you are endeavoring to do. Only |
| all evil. That means that you could have a dollar and | | | | you can define prosperity for yourself. It may involve |
| love it, or, you could have a million dollars and not | | | | a lot of money and it may not. But God plainly states |
| love a dime of it. | | | | in the Bible that He wishes above all things that we |
| When you take a minute to stop and think, there are | | | | prosper and be in health. |
| a number of great people mentioned in the Bible who | | | | Wealth can be obtained honestly or dishonesty - |
| were very rich. Job was the greatest man in the | | | | ethically or unethically. But far too many people too |
| East. He lost everything and God restored double | | | | quickly judge those who are wealthy and successful. |
| back to him! If he had so much wealth, and then lost | | | | I personally know a number of Christians who are |
| everything, isn't it interesting that God gave him back | | | | millionaires, and they are very loving and giving |
| double of what he lost. God did that for Job. | | | | people. |
| In the Bible, Abraham is called the friend of God and | | | | I think it is a shame that a lot of wonderful, |
| the father of all them that believe. Abraham was | | | | successful Christians, are being unfairly judged and |
| very rich in cattle, silver and gold. How about David | | | | condemned by their brothers and sisters in Christ, |
| or Solomon? The list goes on and on. | | | | because of the blessings they have received from |
| When Jesus died, it was Joseph of Arimathea, a rich | | | | God. They work hard, apply effective principles, |
| man, who took care of the burial. He had a wonderful | | | | expect God's blessings, and receive from Him |
| heart for God. He had the means to do what he did. | | | | abundantly. |
| It may seem quite easy to argue that those | | | | So, what does God think of rich people? Is God |
| mentioned above were special people with special | | | | displeased with the wealthy? Does He want |
| reasons for having riches, or that they were a rare | | | | everyone to be poor? No. God desires, above all |
| exception. There are some who believe that those | | | | things, for all His children to prosper and to be in |
| who are wealthy are just "meant to be" wealthy. But | | | | health. Prosperity is a blessing from God that is |
| If that is true, why are there so many promises of | | | | available to all. |
| prosperity in the Bible? | | | | |