How do You Define True Wealth

How a person measures wealth says a lot about their values. Do you consider yourself well to do if your 401(k) is making money or by a different manner?

Wealth by the today’s standards can be a confusing idea.  Some think they are wealthy if they have a big house, a new car, or a good job.  Surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of the earth’s 7 billion people don’t have most of the basic essentials that we often take for granted. If you were to ask many of these “poor” people about their situation you would certainly get a different idea of wealth.  Recent studies suggest that if you have running water, some type of shelter, clothes to wear, and food to eat today then you are in the top 15 percent of the world’s most wealthy people.    You are rich afterall!  

Perhaps wealth isn’t to be measured by some outward standard but something more?   Proverbs 15:16 tells us, “better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.”  Money may bring stuff but stuff sometimes brings trouble!

History is full of accounts of the richest of rich being miserable and alone.  John Rockefeller once said, “I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness” and Andrew Carnegie even admitted that “millionaires seldom smile.”  Money can’t buy love or joy. The link between cash and a good mood can be greatly exaggerated.  Material wealth usuallyonly grows the desire for more material wealth.  That may be why Jesus once told a rich ruler to sell all he had before he could become a disciple.  Biblically, our prosperity is first found in our relationship with Messiah.  We should consider ourselves rich in faith, hope, and love.  What good does it really do you to gain the whole world but loose your soul?  Proverbs 13:7 explains, “there is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;  And one who considers himself poor, yet has great riches.”  

Here’s a final thought to consider today…Money will buy a bed but not sleep; books but not brains; food but not appetite; finery but not beauty; a house but not a home; medicine but not health; luxuries but not culture; amusements but not happiness; religion but not salvation; a passport to everywhere but heaven.