Here is something I see happen a lot. People try to make a lot of money fast and the ones that do end up destroying their lives. How many times have you seen lottery winners after five years go bankrupt? I am not sure the exact percent, but it’s around 80% of them end up bankrupt after some years. I am talking about even people that win 10 million.
Many times people can’t handle a small amount so when that small amount turns into a big amount they do not know how to handle it, and their character shows. How many times have you seen child actors end up becoming addicts and destroying their lives and the people around them?
Your character needs to grow while your income grows. This is why getting wealthy over a period of time is better than getting wealthy overnight. The more money you make, the more responsibility you have to society. You can’t just make the money and do nothing but party and have a good time. That will eventually destroy you and over time you will be completely out of money.
Why do you think Jesus challenged the rich young ruler?
Luke 18:22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Did you notice that he didn’t tell everyone to do that? He only told the rich young ruler. I believe it is because Jesus knew that the rich ruler possessions had his heart. Jesus knew that before this guy could follow him, he had to get rid of the greed from his heart. He had to change his character. Many people use that verse to try to show that Jesus thinks rich people are bad and greedy, but that is not what Jesus was doing here. The ruler’s God was his riches, and Jesus knew that.
Another point I would like to make about rich people is that when the Bible talks about rich it is talking about the world so if you live in the US and you make at least $20,000 a year then to the world you are rich. If you think the bible is talking about the rich, it is also talking about you!
This is why your character does matter. If you have great character then not only will money not destroy you but you will be able to do some great things because your heart will look for ways to serve people. Money in itself is not the problem. In all cases, it is a heart problem, and God can change that for you.
I am far from saying that you can’t make money because God is not against money and there are many examples in the Bible that prove that. What I am saying is that if your income is going up you have to grow your character at a faster rate than your income so that way when it comes you can handle it.
God doesn’t want you to destroy your life because of money. This is why he warns of money so much in the Bible. God wants to bless you and sometimes that is in monetary value and sometimes it isn’t. Money is not going to make you happy. If money made people happy, then there would not be so many people who destroyed their lives with money. At the same time, lack of money is not going to make you happy either. Look at the crime rate out there as that is proof that lack of money doesn’t work either.
Only God can bring true happiness and Joy in your life. When God comes into your life, and you build your character through hard work and working on you, you can do so many great things. God wants you to do great things, but he needs you to grow too. God can and will work in and through your life, but first he must work in your life.
Does your character need to be checked? Does God have your heart or do your possessions? Ask God to help you discern on that. Ask him to help build character in you. Ask him to bless you as your character grows and not sooner. Ask him to give you the humility to see things from his point of view. Ask him to come back into your heart and be the guiding force. Ask him to allow his desires to become your desires! AMEN!
Living a God-Inspired Life,
Chris Benton