How to get rich

The Bible talks a lot about rich people. And there are a number of rich people in the Bible who were good folks. Still there are warnings about putting our emphasis on riches of this world.

1 Timothy 6:7-11 tells us, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things..."

Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth..."

And James 5:1-3 says, "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days."

Ecclesiastes 2:18 advises: "....I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool."

And finally, Jesus said in Matthew 6;25, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life...."

Americans live in a very rich society, certainly so in the eyes of the people living in Bible times; so we are all rich. The Bible recognizes that one can be rich and serve God; but the warning is there not to be placing our desires, goals, and very lives in the pursuit of earthly things.

Thanks for reading! See you next week.