Despite what many pastors and prosperity preachers are telling and promising you, not everybody is called to be rich! As a matter of fact, some are called to give up all their riches and possessions, like the rich young man in the Bible to whom Jesus said: “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21 NLT)
It went further on to say that when the young man heard what Jesus told him, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. (Matthew 19:22 NLT)
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” Matthew 19:23-24 NLT
Jesus made it unmistakably clear that it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Why? Because a rich person is often prideful, and has his heart set on his possessions and the accumulation of it. Rich people are usually greedy people, and in Ephesians 5:5 NLT it says that, a greedy person will not inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
But here is where it gets interesting, when Jesus' disciples asked Him: “Then who in the world can be saved?” Upon hearing this, Jesus answered them: “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” (See Matthew 19:25-26)
In other words, it is possible for a rich person to get saved and be obedient to God, and be willing to give his money and possessions away for the good of the Kingdom of God!
That is why rich believers in this world are being taught not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. (1. Timothy 6:17-19 NLT)
God does not entrust everybody with monetary riches, for the simple fact that He did not call everybody to be rich. And when you are not called to be rich, you are not going to be able to handle riches in a godly manner. Being rich as a believer is a calling from God, and therefore we should never long or pursue to be rich.
For this reason the Bible says that, 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 the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. (1. Timothy 6:9-10 NLT)
We must always remember that, God alone examines the motives of our heartsto see whether we are willing to please Him only, no matter what circumstances we are living under. (See 1. Thessalonians 2:4)
The reality is that in the Kingdom of Heaven, you will find Christian believers who are poor, and Christian believers who are rich.
Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. James 1:9-10 NLT
And God takes care of both of their needs, just like the apostle Paul testified: And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NLT)
We all should take the godly example of the churches in Macedonia, of whom it was said that,they are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. (2. Corinthians 8:2-3 NLT)
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