Much of the world is obsessed with thinking, writing and talking about money, wealth and riches. The internet often posts a list of the 10 richest people in the U.S. My guess is that most of us common folks could care less. We have a wall hanging in our home with the saying, “The most important things in life are not things.” John Rockefeller, one of the world’s greatest wealth accumulators of his time, was once asked, “How much is enough?” His reply, “Just a little bit more.”


There are more than 2,300 verses in the Bible that talks about money, wealth and possessions. Jesus spoke about money roughly 15% of his preaching and 11 out of his 39 parables. It was his most talked about topic. However much money we may acquire, it doesn’t guarantee success in life. In Proverbs 22:1 we read, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver or gold.” Reputation is far more important than riches. It is better to do what is right than to accumulate money by cutting corners, questionable practices or greed. Sadly, our culture values those on the ‘rich list’ far more than those starving in the poorer parts of the world. But the writer of Proverbs 22:2 says, “The rich and poor meet together: The Lord is the maker of them all.”


We read about and may even know people who have gone from ‘rags to riches’. However, there are very few who have deliberately chosen to go from riches to rags. We need to follow the example of Jesus who did just that. He left the splendor and riches of heaven to be born in poverty and ultimately died in poverty as he hung, naked and in agony, on the cross. In v.9 of II Corinthians 8 Paul states, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” This is the heart of the gospel.
As we reflect on the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22, may we recognize the foolishness of accumulating things if it in any way hinders our relationship to God. Rather, we need to seek the riches that will always bring something of far more lasting value – spiritual riches in Christ.