"Grandmother, what big eyes you have!"

The Bible is replete with references to money. In particular I think of Paul's letter to young Timothy where he wrote, "Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses" (I Timothy 6:6-12 NLT).

Reading the emboldened statements in context helps me to see that pursuing money for the sake of getting rich opens one up to "foolish and harmful desires" and that some people will wander "from the faith and pierce themselves with many sorrows." Such pursuits don't compare to pursuing godliness, faithfulness, endurance and gentleness.

MLM Blog references an advertisement by a Christian millionaire. The ad represents a get-rich-quick opportunity ($100,000 in the first year). Solomon plainly said, "A greedy person tries to get rich quick, but it only leads to poverty" (Proverbs 28:22 NLT). Over and over Scripture speaks of the error of trying to get rich for the sake of richness. Conversely, Solomon writes, "The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22 NLT).

So what is the point? I believe that any effort to pursue riches without God's blessing is futile. As such, one who aspires to build wealth is wise to do so within a life of godliness, faithfulness, perseverance and other Biblical virtues. Such riches bring no sorrow. And, should God not permit the accumulation of riches, learning to live contented with His present blessings would not result in regret.

How sad to see wealthy individuals who lament the emptiness of their life. No amount of money can purchase happiness and inner peace. Only the joy of the Lord can provide a fullness that cannot be taken away.

Am I advocating that no one should work to attain wealth. Absolutely not!! I am simply issuing a warning about get-rich-quick schemes that wrap themselves in Christianity.

The Savior who had "no where to lay His head" offers life in superabundance (John 10:10). This life, however, is not based on monetary wealth or physical profusion. Nor is there any guarantee that wealth would ever result from a commitment to Christ's princples. I assert that using Christianity as a tool for building wealth is wrong, and demands a full-disclosure of the methods for comparison to Biblical standards.

I am increasingly becoming committed to the truth that God blesses those who are faithful to the proper use of wealth. It is interesting to me that there are some who are not Christians who are more committed to "Christian" principles of wealth than many who profess to be followers of Christ. Could it be that their wealth is the result of God's blessing? That's another blog.

Hope these thoughts are provocative, and give place to not allowing the word "Christian" to blind you to the Truth. Let me hear from you!

Always make a difference!!