A few years ago, the banking empire Citicorp ran a series of billboards
about money: “Money changes hands—just be sure it doesn’t change the rest of
you!” and “If people say you’re made of money, you should work on your
personality!” These ads gave a refreshingly new perspective on riches.
God also has a surprising spin on wealth. From His perspective, you can
be “well off” when it comes to worldly treasures and yet be in dire poverty in
your soul. Or you can be poor in terms of earthside stuff and be lavishly rich
by God’s standards.
The distorting power of wealth reminds me of the story of the rich young
ruler. After a discussion about eternal life, Jesus asked him to sell his
possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. Unfortunately, the man “went
away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22). This prompted Jesus’ lesson to
the disciples: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom
of God!” (v.23).
It’s not that Jesus is against wealth. It’s just that He is grieved by
anything that we value more than Him. We can work hard and make money, but when
those things are the main pursuit of life, then Jesus isn’t. Placing Him first
and foremost in our lives is the key to true prosperity.
Don’t let riches—or the pursuit of them— derail your pursuit of God. (RBC)
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