WEEK ONE: BE RICH

How much would it take for you to consider yourself to be rich? John D. Rockefeller (the founder of the Standard Oil Company, the world’s first billionaire, and at one time the richest man in the world) was once asked the question, “How much is enough?” His reply was, “just a little bit more.” He perhaps unknowingly made a profound statement about the human condition. Our minds are wired to want. We want more time, more love, more vitality, and yes… more money. Just a little bit more.

There are a couple of items that I own that I value (outside of people) more than anything else. In all reality, they are probably not worth very much monetarily speaking, and to the average person looking at them, they would most likely see them as nothing special. However, to me they are invaluable and irreplaceable. They are pieces of my family history, and there is no price tag that could cover the value they hold for me. I feel I am richer because of what they mean to me. Because richness isn’t based on the value of what you have, but rather on what you value.

Jesus talked about two men who found something of great value and were willing to do whatever it took to possess that treasure. (Matthew 13:44-45) In both instances, Jesus compared the situation to the Kingdom of God. He was teaching us that the Kingdom is so valuable that we should be pursuing it with everything we have and be willing to give up whatever it takes to possess it.

True riches come from God, and they will either become your god or they will be a gift to be used for God.  You see, God’s economy works a little bit different than ours. God says things like: to be first, be last; to live, die; to be full, empty yourself; and to be rich, give it away. All of this sounds so counterintuitive to the “just a little bit more” statement, and in most cases, to the way we view and live our lives.

But could it really be that simple? Could the key to being rich be less about getting and more about giving? Could it be less about working for ourselves and more about serving others?  God takes our little and turns it into much. He checks the size of the heart and not the bank account. He looks deep into us and sees what we truly value and not the value of our stuff.

So what would it take for you to be truly rich? Let’s make the decision to receive the richness of God’s love and discover that we have everything we need from God so that we can use it for God and to serve others.