That is not a statement you are going to hear many people say in our current culture. Poll the American people and I’m sure the resounding response of the country would be “I want to be rich”. Really you could say that poll is already being taken every week as over half of Americans play the lottery. A number that greatly increases as the pot reaches new records. All people who are hoping to strike it rich overnight. Many others that don’t seek instant riches work hard every day hoping to one day gain that title. I however am different. In the last few years, I have discovered that I truly don’t want to be rich.
Don’t get me wrong there is a definite part of me that would like to hang it all up never to work again. To live a life free of worry and the stress of a daily grind. To have a nice car and a lovely home. Living a life of travel and spending all my time with those I love. But I believe that part of me to be my flesh. Pulling me to desire things that while great, I don’t need. Constantly warring against my spirit which is trying to point me towards the Bible and what I really need.
Galatians 5:17 (ESV)
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
As a Christian, I want to follow after the spirit and not the flesh. I want to live according to God’s word. As I continue to read the Bible again and again it becomes more clear to me that I don’t want to be rich. Because for so many that have great wealth it will be the very thing that leads them away from God. In fact, Jesus even tells of the difficulty the rich will have to enter Heaven. Paul spoke of the many who will wander from the faith following after money.
Luke 8:14 (ESV)
14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
Matthew 19:24 (ESV)
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
So while part of me is drawn to the lifestyle being rich could afford me. The other part is thankfully able to see that it is not worth losing my salvation. When thinking over this subject one prayer in Proverbs is always brought to my mind. I pray it often and believe it can explain why I don’t want to be rich better then I can.
Proverbs 30:8–9 (ESV)
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.
The rich will often fall into sin by believing they have it all and fail to see God. While the poor must at times sin out of necessity yet it is still against the Lord. I pray the same that God would keep me from poverty and riches. I want to take the advice of the apostle Paul and be content with what I have. Because I have all I need in my God. I will choose to seek after His kingdom first and accept whatever He chooses to add to me. I don’t want to be one of those described in Revelation who believes they have all they need but truly have nothing.
Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Revelation 3:17 (ESV)
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
So I will be happy with staying where I am in this life and not seek after being rich. Instead, I will follow after the Lord and take whatever He decides to give me. Following the advice of the Word that I hold so dearly to lead a quiet life minding my own business and working with my hands. Trust in the God that has always been willing to meet the needs of His people. Whether that meant providing just the right amount of manna or having food left in the field. God is enough and I know I don’t need to be rich.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 (ESV)
11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
Exodus 16:16–18 (ESV)
16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’ ” 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.
Leviticus 23:22 (ESV)
22 “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
This is not like one of our normal articles on this website. I am not trying to teach an aspect of doctrine or cause you to change the way you live. Really I cannot even say I am trying to get you to agree with me about this. The truth is this subject simply began to fill my mind today and it felt right to share why I don’t want to be rich. You can choose to live and do whatever you see is fit. But I will say never place any amount of money above the Lord. Place all your trust in God first and never in something as unstable and ever-changing as riches. God will never change and will always be there when you need Him.
1 Timothy 6:17 (ESV)
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
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