You're RICH, you SINNER!

Is being rich a sin? Does the Bible condemn being rich? These questions are dependent, of course, on the definition of ‘rich’. Rich is defined as, “Having great material wealth. Having great worth or value.” The word great is the key word. How do you define great? This is important, for if being rich is based upon economic numbers of ‘great’, are you and I ‘rich’? According to Forbes.com, “the typical person in the bottom 5 percent of the American income distribution is still richer than 68 percent of the world’s inhabitants.” (http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/06/01/astonishing-numbers-americas-poor-still-live-better-than-most-of-the-rest-of-humanity/) This statistic is mind blowing. And if you remove the developed countries, we are richer, even the poorest American, than a huge majority of the world.

The question remains, is being rich a sin? The easy answer is no and this misses the point. Is our response to justify our immense wealth, which we do have. Jesus spoke to a young man one day who asked him, Mark 10:17 (ASV) “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” The response by Jesus is jaw dropping. Mark 10:19-21 (KJV) “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” The scene described next is convicting. The young man, head and pride fallen, leaves because, “for he had great possessions” Mark 10:22 (KJV). Ah, that word great, again.

Scripture is not a little silent on being rich. Proverbs 28:11 (KJV) “The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.” Ecclesiastes 5:13 (KJV) “There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.” Luke 6:24 (KJV) “But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (KJV) “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” James 5:1-3 (KJV) “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” Being rich is not a condition the Scriptures seems to endorse.

Apparently, the young man in Mark 10 was quite wealthy. There are numerous examples of wealthy (rich) people in Scripture. We could start with Job and of course Abraham, David, and, how about Solomon. Solomon may have been wealthier than the Rockefellers, Bill Gates, and the King of Saudi Arabia, combined. In the New Testament, we see Joseph of Arimathaea, who let Jesus borrow his tomb. These men, blessed by God and even anointed by Him for special service, were possessors of GREAT wealth. Abraham is the father of faith and a man of great wealth. Abraham was wealthy enough to field his own army, even Bill Gates can’t do that.

So where does that leave us. Rich is a relative term, in reality. Standing next to Gates, I’m not rich. But next to a child from Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty stricken India, or any Third World Country, I’m immensely rich. I can’t just justify myself next to the 'Bill Gates' of the World, I must rightly divide God’s Word and figure out my position, in Christ. David Platt, in his book, ‘Radical’, seems to say we American’s are too wealthy and should reevaluate our whole spending patterns and habits. Francis Chan, former pastor of a Mega Church in California, recently resigned to serve the poor and be a better steward of God’s blessings (my words). Are we too wealthy, too rich, and like the rich young ruler, God says to us, “Sell ALL!”

I struggle with this notion. What is the line, the line that says, you’re too rich? I mean, Peter asked Christ, what’s the limit on forgiving, and Jesus even gave a mathematical formula (I know He was exaggerating to make a point). Why can’t there be a mathematical formula for us, like so, “thou shalt not be in excess of the poverty level by more than 7 times.” In 2015 the poverty level for a family of 4 is about $24,000 (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/15poverty.cfm). So, at 7 times that, we are at almost $170,000 a year, so I’m not rich! But doesn’t that miss the point? At $24,000 a year, to a family in Haiti drinking from the waters on the streets, we would be WEALTHY!

I think the answer may be in what we feel and think about wealth. Spurgeon gave this illustration, “I knew a brother who, when he had a little money, rejoiced to have it because he gave to the cause of God abundantly. I believe that he is worth a hundred times as much as he was then, and he gives a hundredth part of what he used to do when he was poorer. In proportion as his pocket has grown golden his heart has grown bronzy. He has gone down in himself in proportion as he has gone up in his property, and now he does not enjoy things as he used to do. He is a poor creature to what he once was; even in his own esteem he is not the happy man he once was.” (Barbed Arrows from the Quiver of C.H. Spurgeon).

Does our wealth now have hold on us? Is it in possession of us or we of it? Maybe ‘rich’ is a term of the condition of the heart? 1 Timothy 6:9 (KJV) “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” Being rich may be a hindrance to us spiritually, as Christ warned, Revelation 3:17 (KJV) “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Seeing possessions as a means of ‘quality of life’ is a foolish trail to take.

Paul’s warning to his protégé, young Timothy seems to answer our question, 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (KJV) “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” God needs not our wealth, but we need not be consumed by it either. Be careful that your ‘riches’ become not the thing that hinders your walk in the Lord, however rich you may be.