How to Be Rich

Yesterday, I stumbled across a sermon series that Andy Stanley did last year. It's called How to Be Rich. I've only listened to the first part (there are four), but it completely blew me away.

He talks about a survey that was done…asking people what they thought it takes to be rich. If you ask someone who makes $20,000 a year what it means to be rich, they might say you have to earn $50,000 a year. Well ask someone who makes $50,000 if they are rich and the answer is usually no. That person might say if they made $75,000 a year, they’d be rich. Again, ask someone who makes $75,000 if they are rich and you’ll probably hear no. On average, if you ask most Americans what they think it means to be rich, they’ll say you need to make $120,000 per year. Once again, ask the person who makes $120,000…are you rich? Generally they say no.

On and on this goes. Even the person who makes a million dollars might not think they are rich! So what’s his point? His point is that “rich” is a moving target. There’s no line that you cross one day and suddenly say I’M RICH!! I can finally stop worrying about money!! That doesn’t happen. So instead of trying to figure out how to GET rich, let’s try to figure out how to BE rich. All the books and gurus and tape sets tell you is how to get more money, how to get rich. They don’t tell you how to behave once you are rich.

Let me just pause here and say I realize I’m not doing this message justice. But it was so powerful when I listened to it that I couldn’t help but share. Just this one time, take a chance…click on the link…listen to the message. It’s only about 45 minutes-it’s free! Listen.

Okay, moving on. Did you know that if you make over $30,000 per year you are in the top 4% of earners in the world???!! FOUR PERCENT.

If you can go to your closet and stare at a rack of clothes trying to decide what to wear….

If you can go to your cupboards or your refrigerator and make an actual decision about what to eat…

If you have to plan what to do with your leftover money…

If you have a house for your car…(yes, this is called a garage)…

I’m sure you see where this is going. Andy Stanley had everyone repeat this phrase. “I have more than I need. I’m rich.” Then he took it a step further for the Christians. “God has blessed me with more than I need. I’m rich.”

Try it for yourself. Actually say the words out loud. Yes our country is going through an economic “crisis”. But we are rich beyond measure. You don’t have to feel guilty about it either. God has placed you where you are, God has given you opportunities, talents, etc. God has blessed me with more than I need. I am rich. Now my goal is to learn how to be rich the way God wants me to be.