LUXURY, NICE THINGS, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, HIGH CLASS, UPSCALE, FASHIONABLE, RICH, …
I grew up in an ecclesiastical culture where money was not glorified. Even as a teenager I was puzzled as to why we didn’t have what other kids had; big homes, etc., etc. A few years of my childhood we lived with my grandpa. He was rich, but no one knew it. My dad was an evangelist and most of the time, pastored a church. It seemed as though we were “pore” as Job’s turkey. Grandpa gave my folks money from time to time, but my mom and dad gave it to the church.
When in college I yearned for nice things and I worked my way through by singing/entertaining, meeting people with unbelievable wealth; met and stayed in the home of the largest school bus manufacturer in America, sang at Winston Rockefeller’s ranch, R. G. LeTourneau (inventor and builder of huge earth-moving machines), and met old Sam Walton. I wanted to “be somebody.” In recent years I’ve stayed in the homes of the internationally famous – wealth beyond what the mind can conceive.
SO WHAT!!!
“‘Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.’” (Luke 9:58) If Jesus was poor, why did he say so much about money and the things money can buy? In fact, there are more than 2,000 places in the Bible where money and stuff-stuff is mentioned. A rich kid came to Jesus and asked him what he should do to be saved. Jesus told him to sell his stuff. “Ooooooh nonono!”
You see, Jesus is challenging us the get our PRIORITIES straight!
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (esv)
Write It On My Heart 
Marshall,
Good words of encouragement.
These weeks we have been studying at mid-week “How to Be Rich” by Andy Stanley. He too mentions how often money is mentioned in the Bible. The book is on how to not put your trust in money.
Jesus on two occasions alluded to the giving of money. There was the rich young ruler which you mentioned and the widow with the mite.
I have struggled with the fact that I have a surplus above and beyond anything I ever dreamed possible. I do not want to be the rich man who built the bigger barns—but I live in three fully furnished homes, drive Dave Ramsey’s BMW along with the paid off mortgage!
I do not feel a spirit’s nudge to give more generously than my present giving level; however, on the other hand is my conscience seared?
There is a dilemma today, I believe, in the fact that the government instead of the church supports the poor of this nation to the extent that even the poorest of the poor are extravagantly rich in comparison to many of the people of the world.
There are the international relief agencies who seem to be there for the unfortunate of the world. I have been for some time a supporter of Samaritans Purse. When they got a chunk of my RMD I recalled the picture of Franklin Graham and some colleagues with a “sea” of plastic water bottles in the background and then (I am not a big environmentalist) the thought comes to mind: “How much of that garbage did my funds pay for?”
I just need to pray for guidance. I know the Bible says not to put your confidence in riches. We in America save for retirement. At the final judgement the Lord will say, “I was hungry, and you fed me, etc.” Have I given as the Lord would have me to give? He has richly blessed me. Is my trust in him?
You are I my prayers daily as you are caregiving. God Bless you and do not neglect your writing. It is an encouragement to many and divinely inspired.
Becky
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