Are You Wealthy?
Ed McClanahan
Did you know that Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James’ annual salary is $41,180,544.00? This works out to $502,201.76 per 48 minute game! A variety of other endorsement deals more than doubles James’ salary to a reported 111.2 million dollars in 2021. For most of us this is difficult to even fathom, as the mere interest he earns while his 2021 wages sit in the bank is more than we’ll earn in our lifetime.
But as an American, did you know that if you own a home, a car, and can regularly put food on your table, your wealth exceeds 90% of the rest of the world? So whether or not you consider yourself wealthy largely depends on your perspective.
Consider then what 1 Timothy 6:17-18 says: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
Here are the four key areas from this passage;
Don’t become arrogant. In Deuteronomy 8:18 Moses reminds us, “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Go ahead and work hard to be successful, but don’t forget who the author is of your material wealth.
Don’t put your hope in your wealth. Proverbs 23:5 says, “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” A nice salary and its steady earnings can be here today and gone tomorrow.
Be rich in good deeds. A good deed is a free and voluntary act of service toward another person or organization. Doing good deeds for others is the fruit of your salvation in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10 tells us: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Be generous and willing to share. Hebrews 13:16 says “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Pleasing God should be what we want to do.
It’s easy for followers of Jesus to get our thoughts and ideas on wealth wrong. We tend to compare our financial resources with others, and it’s usually with someone who earns a higher wage. Lord, help us to get this right!