Is it wrong to become rich?

I once sat through a sales pitch for a nationally known cultish sales company that primarilly sells soap.

They claimed to be a Christian company but the sales pitch went along these lines; "Look at all the stuff I have. You can get it too. Just sell our stuff." The pitch took about 2 or 3 hours.

Being rich isn't wrong. God will bless with wealth those who He blesses. But getting rich for riches sake is wrong.

Also those to whom God blesses have a greater responisbility to use those riches and blessings for His service.

 

No. There's nothing wrong with becoming rich, or desiring to be rich. Money is not evil. It is the love of it which is a root of evil.

The poor cannot help the poor.

 

See the Scripture's warnings about the desire to be rich.

 

So subtle.

 

Theres nothing wrong with being rich, or becoming rich as long as it isn't the primary focus in life, as long as God, family and friends are not sacrificed for it. Soemtimes having money isn't worth what it costs.

 

I agree Katie. We just have to make sure we do not love money...or want it so badly that put it before God. These are some good questions to ask yourself when wondering if something is an idol.

What am I the most afraid of losing?

What do I delight in?

What could I not live without?

Anything you answer to these questions could be an idol. Money is a lot of times.

You is not Katie..I just use that when talking to everyone. This is not directed at any one person.

[ April 03, 2003, 11:30 AM: Message edited by: Molly ]

 

Well, for me, I put money behind God, country, and people. But I put money ahead of property and things. Like this:


God
Country
People
Money
Things

I've learned that if I put things ahead of money, the accumulation of material things becomes more important than finances, and I end up living outside my financial means. If I put money ahead of material things, I don't spend more than I have, and I also maintain the ability to tithe, give, and donate more readily.

So I didn't by a house until I managed to accumulated more wealth. Otherwise, I'd be unable to pay my mortgage every month.

If such desire regarding money is a curse, may God smite me with it, and may I never recover.

 

[ May 26, 2003, 08:39 PM: Message edited by: 3907 ]

 

By the global standard every American is rich.

For instance, the per capita income of Iraq is USD $2400, China $3600, India 1,700.

USA $31,500.

The US government defines the "poverty" level as
below 18,000-20,000 USD/Annum for a family of four.

According to this standard most of the world lives in poverty.

HankD

 

"I complained about having no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet"

Anyone is rich who has salvation. And even those who don't have salvation could say they were rich if they had a dry place to sleep and food in their belly.

I can count blessings in trials and misery. But is this thread about that?

 

To whom much is given, much is expected. It is not wrong to have monetary wealth, nor is it the reward for faithful living. However, we are to give back to God from all of our resources--money,
time, energy, wisdom, etc....

 

Well acording to that standard I am well below poverty level.

 

God is sovereign - He blesses different people in different ways. Those whom He blesses with material wealth have a responsibility to use that wealth for the sake of His Kingdom - which includes cheerfully parting with some of that wealth to help those who are less blessed in that department.

Yours in Christ

Matt