Being Rich for Jesus

4:12 "I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need."

Most of us are rich. Compared to the world norm, and compared to the historical norm, most people who have access to this devotional are firmly in the category of the rich. We have more than enough food to eat. We possess things we don’t really need. We have numerous sets of clothes. We have cars and educations and locks on our doors to protect our stuff. If anything, we have problems being overweight and finding enough storage space to hold all our stuff. We are far from malnourishment or real poverty.

It is not sinful to be rich. It is something God does to some people:

“It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich.” (Prov.10:22)

But there are evil ways to get rich (e.g. stealing), and there’s an evil way to be rich.

The commands of God are somewhat different for folks in different situations (e.g. there are some things commanded of married people that are forbidden to unmarried people). And there are special duties God assigns to those He makes rich.

You see, there are special dangers to being rich. Jesus said that it is very hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt.19:23). You can see this demonstrated in the story of the rich young ruler, whose riches kept him away from eternal life (Matt.19:16ff.). It is very hard for rich people to see their poverty. It is very hard for them to let go of everything, since (in their minds) they have so much.

The special duties assigned to rich people are based on their need to avoid the dangers of riches, and to use for righteousness the resources that God has specially provided for them.

So, what is the special duty of the rich? We find it in 1Tim.6:17-19:

"Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."

Apart from the duty of not trusting in their wealth, there are four duties of the rich listed here:

1- to do good

2- to be rich in good works

3- to be generous

4- to be ready to share

Really these are all the same thing, repeated four times for emphasis. The point is that rich people are required to use their resources for the sake of others. God’s word to the rich is: Give! Give! Give! Give!

We said in the last devotional that some folks have a bad attitude toward the rich, and in particular that some assume that richness always goes along with love of money. Rich people need to be aware of this and work to prove that they are not lovers of money. They prove this by giving it away.

If you are a lover of money, you preach a false gospel with your life. Whether you intend to or not, you communicate the gospel of money. "Money is the really important thing. Money is what we really need. Money is what makes men happy." This is a lie from the father of lies, a lie many have believed, a lie that is leading multitudes to the pit of hell.

Father, forgive me for my gigantic stinginess. Forgive me for failing to think of myself as rich, when it is obvious that I am. Forgive me for thinking more often about how I can get more than about what I can do for Your kingdom with what You have given. Help me not to believe the devil’s lie about money. Help me to treat money as an earthly resource by which we can do heavenly good. Please, Lord, make me a generous man.