America’s most miserly millionaire was John G. Wendel
who died in 1915 at his home at Fifth Avenue and 39th Street, New York City. To
keep in the family the vast fortune he and his six sisters had inherited,
Wendel remained a bachelor and managed to keep five of the girls unmarried and
virtual prisoners in this house for 50 years. Furthermore, he instilled such
frugality in his sisters that when the last one died in 1931 it was found that,
while her estate amounted to more than $100,000,000, she had never had a
telephone, electricity or an automobile and that her only dress was one she had
made herself and worn for nearly 25 years. [1]
Believe it or not this story is repeated many times throughout
history, individuals that have more money than any of us could dream of, yet
never enjoy the use of that money. Many view money as evil, which the
Scriptures do not. It is our attitude toward money that is the key.
God’s Word brings to light some sobering warnings concerning the
truth that having a lot of money is not equal to being “rich” in
the truest sense. When God speaks on riches from His perspective, quality is
always the issue, not quantity. Consider what Scripture brings to light.
A. A rich man
can be poor – when he seeks satisfaction from Money.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance
with its income. This too is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 6:7
All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.
True satisfaction flows from what you “ARE” not
what you have!
B. A rich man can be poor – When Money increases his
worries.
Luke 12:15–20 Then
He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for
not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very
productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since
I have no place to store my crops?’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I
will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my
grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid
up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This
very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have
prepared?’
What quality of life is there when your possessions overwhelm
you to the point that you fret over them? Sadly with this example, after making
more room for more stuff, this man becomes complacent about life and decides
that his “stuff” guarantees him long life. Money can make you comfortable, but
not add one second to the time the Lord has given you!
C. A rich man can be poor – when he becomes a slave to his
Money
Isaiah 44:14–17
Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and raises it
for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes
it grow. Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them
and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and
worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it. Half of it he
burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is
satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the
fire.”
But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down
before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are
my god.”
In my years of ministry I have witnessed this fatal mindset
time and time again. An individual begins to make money in order to live, and
before he knows it he is living to make money. The very thing that was supposed
to serve him, as a slave has become his master!
D. A rich man can be poor – when his only “riches” is
Money
Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and
steal.
Luke 12:31–33
“But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Do not be
afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the
kingdom. “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money
belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief
comes near nor moth destroys.
Everything we own must stay here when we leave this existence
and move into eternity. However, how we handle what we own and what we do with
it can be investment in our eternity. God honors all that we do that would
truly be in His name. Helping those that are weak or poor, providing aid to
those in catastrophes, helping educate folks and most important, sharing the
good news of Jesus Christ, all of these are investments for His glory that go
into eternity with you.
It has been said many times: “You can’t
take it with you.” If we are talking of our possessions that is true, but if we
are talking about how we used our possessions, than a truer statement would
be: “You
can send it ahead!”
Meditation: What are your riches? Do you enjoy the possessions
God has given you? Do you believe He desires that? What’s the balance? How far
are you planning ahead with your investments?
[1]
Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700
illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations
for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible
Communications.
