Define Rich

A question was presented to me recently about what I would do if I had an inordinate amount of money.  Years ago there was a TV show called The Millionaire in which a man by the name of Michael Anthony was the messenger instructed to deliver that incredible windfall to a specific person.  The rest of the show illustrated how the money was handled.  If any of you remember watching the show, you may also recall that, in the end, the recipient was worse off than before.  It reminds me of today when someone wins the lottery and very soon they are broke.  Or, witness what often happens to professional athletes who sign big contracts, find “relatives” coming out of the woodwork and suddenly find themselves not only wiped out, but also in debt.

The Bible does not say that money is a curse.  Abraham was wealthy in flocks and herds.  King Solomon not only got wisdom but tremendous wealth, too.  The Scriptures say that it is, rather, the “LOVE of money (that is) the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

As I pondered the question, I thought of all the missions and organizations that could certainly use a benefactor so there are ample places to “spread the wealth around”.  But, there is also a big responsibility when one has a great deal of money – making the right choices in its dispersal.  I guess in that way, it’s easier not to have a lot so you don’t have to worry about that!

Truth be told, if we were to compare ourselves with a large part of the globe, we would see that most of us in America are rich by comparison.  In fact, the definition of rich is:

“having wealth or great possessions, abundantly supplied with resources, means or funds”.

Some synonyms are:  comfortable, independent, and prosperous.

But, here are the most interesting ones:   bloated and fat.

To a degree, that actually describes our country.  We have so much, but it seems it’s not enough.

My mother-in-law became a widow at the young age of 34 with four children and a fifth born just six weeks later.  She raised all of her offspring on Social Security.  They had a home and food on the table and little else, yet she always managed to share whatever she could with those who had even less.  She claimed her family was one of the richest in town because they had each other and their health.

As I reflected more on the issue, I was brought to the realization that money itself is nothing more than a barter system we use to exchange goods and services.  Like my wise mother-in-law, I have my home and my health and I also have family and a host of friends.  I am indeed rich – and it has nothing to do with my bank account.

How about you:  how do you define “rich”?

“Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have.”   (Hebrews 13:5)

Because God is “rich in mercy”  (Eph. 2:4), we have the “riches of His grace.”    (Ephesians 1:7)