Do you feel wealthy? Have a lot of money? Most of the readers of this publication likely rank above average on the US income distribution. Many are from overseas and probably still rank fairly high. But do you feel it?
I had a friend some 20 years ago whose income was greater than $100,000 per year. He complained about being poor. I’d tell him that he ranked among the top 5% of wage earners in the United States. Didn’t help his attitude. There was an article in today’s Dayton Daily News on the US middle class–household incomes from $39,000 to $118,000.
There was a book published a few years ago (I need to try to find the reference, I’ll browse my library later this week to find the book) that asked the question, if we are doing so much better today, why do we feel so bad. The author pointed out things such as we live in houses twice the size that we grew up in, have more money, have more toys, yet researchers continually return results that show Americans are not happy.
Jesus spent a lot of time talking about our relationship with wealth. The Menlo Park Presbyterian Church staff has been teaching on “Respectable Sins” and last week Kevin Kim spoke on wealth. He cited the story of Jesus and the rich young man. You know, the guy who was perhaps the most perfectly religious guy whom Jesus had ever met. But he went away grieving when Jesus told him to sell all he had, give it to the poor and follow. In his heart, wealth took precedence over God.
A group I’m in has been reading First Timothy. These are tips from Paul the builder to his young friend Timothy who was the church leader. At the very end of the letter, Paul gives instructions about wealthy people.
Typical regarding the subject, Paul does not try to shame wealthy people. Nor does he send them on guilt trips. Just like Jesus who loved the young man in the story. It’s not about having wealth. It’s about who is your God. Paul’s tips to the wealthy were simple, really.
- Don’t be haughty
- Don’t set your hope on riches
- Set your hope on God
- Do good
- Be rich in good works
- Be generous and ready to share
Those instructions apply to us today as much as in the first Century.
Faith Venture 
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