Live Rich — Die Poor - Gospel According to Rick Warren

Rick Warren, best-selling author of The Purpose Driven Life, was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald about being a Christian and being rich:

“I don’t think it is a sin to be rich, it’s a sin to die rich, I want people to make as much money as they can as long as they give it away as much as they can.”

I think he is wrong. It is not a sin to either to be or to die rich. It is the same problem people have with the passage “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10) - It is not the money that is the problem. That is too simple. Poor people can love money just as much or more than the rich.

“Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” I am working hard to provide for my family. By most of the world’s standard we are rich. But at this point I am sure that I will not have enough saved for retirement. What am I to do?

Warren Buffet just gave away a wad of cash — and will continue giving it away. But when he dies he will still be rich. Same goes for Bill Gates. As a matter of fact, Buffet had to hire Gates to help him give away his money! But back to the point. The amount of money they have, you have, or I have has nothing to do with our spirituality. The amount of money they give away, you give away, or I give away has nothing to do with our spirituality.

I am working on loving God with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind. I am working on loving my neighbor as myself. But I am also working on providing for my family as best I can. The two do not conflict. I just need to remember that the more money I have, the more opportunity I have to be a blessing to my neighbor.