Good News, Bad News Series

Want to start new series- How to be Rich.

Adapted from-series by Craig Groeschel-lifechurch.tv

With the beginning of a new year and in light of the current financial difficulties (challenges),

I thought it would be prudent- talk about money

In particular, may seem strange- How to be Rich.

We have people going through some difficult times financially- but the principles true- for majority.

Even those in financial difficulty- better off than most of the world- important keep things in perspective

The Bible was not written just for citizens of USA.

Often we have a very narrow perspective of what conditions are like in the rest of the world.

How to be Rich

Not about- How to Get Rich, but How to be Rich.

How many as a kid hoped they would grow up rich and have lots of money?

How many know/know of someone who is super rich?

Have you ever thought …

If I were rich I could do a better job of being rich. They spend money on stupid things.

How many- consider themselves to be super rich?

Not many here who would say they are super rich.

We have people here that …

are rich- do not know that they are rich, others

are rich- do not feel rich because they know someone richer than they are.

We have all seen people- we would say are poor.

We have seen people who we would say are rich.

Problem- we do not know where the rich line is.

Many will cross that line at some point- but because- they do not know where the line is, they are not

going to wake up someday and say- I am rich

Chances are- when you get your next pay check- you are not going to say …

I was not rich but now I have crossed the line and I am rich.

I want to look at how to be rich in a way that allows us to honor God.

Because we do not know where the rich line is, when- Bible talks about the rich- does not apply to me.

Here is what is important- if I know where the line is and I cross it, then, when the Bible talks about

the rich, I know it is talking about me.

If I am going to be rich, I want to live- to honor God.

1 Timothy- Paul instructs Timothy about the rich …

1Tim 6:17-19 NLT

Paul’s counsel is so the rich can take hold of the life and purpose that God has for them.

What is Rich?

Let us ask the question, What is rich?

The problem is, is that rich is moving target.

What you thought was rich a year ago, you may not consider rich today.

Perhaps you make $20K a year and know someone who makes $40K a year.

You would consider that person to be rich.

If I could just earn $40K a year I would be rich.

Then, perhaps you have six kids.

Now what happens- $40K is no longer rich.

Gallup poll …

Asked people- What they would need to earn to be rich? When he asked those who made $30K or less per year, the average answer was $74K.

Some here- make $74K- but you do not feel rich.

Yet those who make $30K look at you and say you are rich, even though you do not feel rich.

Why? Because rich is a moving target.

Gallup asked people who make $50K a year what they would need to earn to feel rich. Most common answer was $100K per year.

Some here might have a combined income of $100K.

You would say- I do not feel rich after …

taxes, mortgages, college, braces, car loans, etc.

Here is the challenge ...

If we do not feel rich

then we will never learn how to act rich,

so we will continue to try and get rich, and

we will not recognize that we are already rich, so we will never learn how to be rich.

Let us look at some good news and some bad news.

Good news: You are rich!

Why is that good news?

Because we have many rich people opportunities.

Live in houses- A/C, electricity, running water

Some of you can put- children in private school

Most all of us have one or more cars

Many have opportunities to travel-take vacation

Many have internet, cell phones, computers, etc

Here is the really good news …

God has made you rich so you can use the resources that you have to make a difference.

Have we learned to enjoy-blessings God has given us?

Eccl 5:19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. NASU