Answers

By   •   May 11, 2005   •   Topics:

Q:

Is having lots of money a sign of God's blessing? I got to wondering about this because I read an article about some of the world's billionaires recently, and it didn't sound like most of them have much use for God. For that matter, most of them didn't seem very happy.


A:

No, wealth isn’t necessarily a sign of God’s blessing—and in fact money will become a curse to us if we worship it and allow it to take over our lives.

In fact, some of the most miserable people I’ve ever met over the years have been some who had great wealth—and yet their souls were empty. They thought money would bring them happiness and security, but it didn’t—and it never will. The Bible warns, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Not every rich person is like this, of course, but some take great satisfaction and pride in their wealth. Tragically, however, they allow money to control them, and if they were to lose their wealth, they’d have nothing. More than that, they have ignored God, and forgotten that someday their life will end and they are unprepared for eternity. Someday they will hear God say what Jesus quoted in one of His parables: “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you” (Luke 12:20).

Don’t let this happen to you. Yes, God grants wealth to some people who see it as a gift from Him and seek to use it for His glory. But set your sights on the only thing that lasts: eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.