That phrase has captured the attention of many people through the years.Whether it is in a newspaper advertisement or on a television infomercial, the appeal of fast wealth is a sure attention getter.We want to know how to get rich now with no waiting.
Our world is obsessed with obtaining and maintaining wealth.This is simply because mankind places greater value upon material possessions than upon anything else.Therefore, the more wealth a person has, the more valuable he is considered to be.We have equated wealth with importance.One who has obtained a great deal of wealth is considered successful, but one who is poor is called a failure.The Proverbs acknowledge this:
"The poor is hated even by his neighbor, but those who love the rich are many.” (Prov. 14:20)
"Wealth adds many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.” (Prov. 19:4)
"All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.” (Prov. 19:7)
This reasoning of man is faulty, and it leads to destruction.Consider what Jesus said in Luke 12:15 – "Beware, and be on guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”He followed this saying with the parable of the rich fool, who tore down his barns to build larger ones in order to store his grains and goods (Luke 12:16-21).The rich fool convinced himself that he would be well for many years to come.He trusted in the wealth which he had acquired.However, God spoke to him and said, "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?”Jesus ended the parable by saying, "So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”This parable is a perfect illustration of Proverbs 11:28 – "He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.”
Thus, we see that the problem with the rich fool was not that he was wealthy but that he was poor.He was poor because he was not rich toward God. His wealth was only for this world, and so God called him a fool.Notice the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21:
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Therefore, we know that we have acquired true wealth when we have become rich toward God and lay up treasure in heaven.So how do we do this?Consider 1Timothy 6:6-8:
"But godliness is actually a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”
Therefore, if we are godly, that is, if we have the attitude of doing what is pleasing to God and giving Him our hearts, and we are content with whatever we have in this world, we are indeed rich toward God.We are also rich in our own minds because contentment is something that money cannot buy. A content, godly man has the attitude of Proverbs 15:16 – "Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and turmoil with it.”He also understands the admonition of Proverbs 23:4-5:
"Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.”
Truly, God’s plan of godliness and contentment through Jesus Christ is the greatest get-rich-quick scheme of all time.It is simple; it is easy; everyone can do it; and the reward is greater than any other.The wealth that we acquire in heaven will last forever (1Pet. 1:4), and no treasure of earth can boast of that.Therefore, let us be godly and content.Let us realize that the true value of life is not in this world but in heaven.Let us be rich toward God and share the wealth with others.
