How Wise People Build Wealth Series

Begin investing in what will bring true wealth. If our only investment is in money,

“…those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1 Tim 6:9 NIV).

If money is our only goal, it becomes a god; and our goods become our god; and our self worth becomes synonymous with our net worth. My prayer is that God will add another 20, 30, 50 millionaires to this church. That is our desire and our hope but before that happens; we need to build a sturdy and stalwart base because I don’t want you to end up with small heads, big chests, skinny legs, and a Speedo. We can be one-dimensionally strong with the rest of the areas of our lives very weak.

So define accurately what wealth is. What will make you wealthy? Then build slowly and start to invest on a daily basis in all of those things. Is it friendship? Is it honesty? Is it integrity? Is it a marriage that is true and strong?

If your marriage is shaky, then invest in it. A lot of times a marriage is shaky because you don’t invest in it. That is why it is bankrupt. The areas of your life and mine are like bank accounts. If we don’t invest, we don’t have anything. It is empty. Why do you think your marriage was so good in the beginning? It was because you invested in it. But after awhile you take it for granted and you don’t invest in it. You just withdraw and then you realize it is bankrupt.

The same is true with our faith, our devotion, our serving, and our friendships. What are the things that are wealth to you? Then begin to make deposits in those things.

The kingdom of God is like a pearl of great price. It is not just one-dimensional. The kingdom of God is what makes us truly wealthy. That is why the Bible says to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” for “it is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.”

God, what are you blessing? Join God in what He is blessing. The Lord called it a pearl of great price. That is a part of the kingdom of God. It is our second chance to invest wisely.

The parable in Matthew 13 tells the story of a merchant who had this beautiful, extraordinary pearl. A man exclaimed, “This is the most beautiful thing I have ever set my eyes on. How much is it?”

“A little more than you probably have.”

“Oh,” he replied, “I’ve got to have this. It’s beautiful.”

“How much do you have?” asked the merchant.

He took out his wallet. “I’ll give everything I’ve got - $180.00.”

“Good, I’ll take that. What else do you have?’”

“That’s it!”

“You don’t have anymore money in the bank?”

“Oh well, I do have a savings account.”

“How much?”

“I’ve got $4,000.”

“OK, I’ll take that.”

“Well then I won’t have anything. What will I retire on, just my pension?”

“Oh, the pension. I’ll take that too.”

“But what will I tell my wife?”

“Oh you have a wife? That goes in here.”

“Then my kids won’t have a mom.”

“You have children? Alright, we’ll take them.”

“Then my house will be empty.”

“Oh you have a house? We’ll take that too.”