Perspective

16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,

   when the splendor of their houses increases;

17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,

   their splendor will not descend with them.

18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—

   and people praise you when you prosper—

19 they will join those who have gone before them,

   who will never again see the light of life.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding

   are like the beasts that perish.    

- Psalm 49:16-20

These are sobering words from the Psalmist. It puts wealth in perspective.

I was meeting with a young man a couple of weeks ago whose business is doing well and he is watching his wealth grow. Growing up in a conservative, Christian church (that did not necessarily practice good theology), he was of the mindset that wealth was evil, and he found himself feeling guilty for the income he was making. I reminded him of the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Paul never said that money is the root of evil, but that the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil. As he goes on to say, it is the eagerness for money that lures people away from God. Talk about perspective.

When the rich young ruler came to Jesus (Luke 18:18-23) and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. When the rich young ruler heard this, he went away sad, for his wealth was not something he was willing to give up. He loved his money.

In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus tells a story about a rich man who had an abundant harvest, so he decided to build bigger barns to store up his surplus. But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?

The Apostle Paul reiterates this in 1 Timothy 6:7 when he writes, “For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

As I shared with the young man with whom I was meeting, I hoped he made more money than he could count, as long as he used it for God’s Kingdom and His glory. God may choose to bless him, or you, with lots of money, or just a little money. Either way, the focus is not on how much, but on what we are doing with that which God has given us. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to put money and material possessions in proper perspective. Money is not the problem; it is our heart that is the problem. As the psalmist writes in verse 20 of today’s Psalm, “People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.”

Friends, it is not about how much money we have, but about what we are doing with that which God has given us. It is a matter of perspective. And even more importantly, it is a matter of the heart. May we use what God has given us to be Good Neighbors and further His Kingdom on earth.

As June comes to a close, I pray you are having a great summer and are already preparing for what God wants to do in and through you the second half of the year. God Bless You.

Pastor Ken

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