Does God want us to be rich?

Dan Miller —  August 29, 2012 — 16 Comments

When my good friend Rabbi Daniel Lapin is asked – “Does God want us to be rich?”  He responds by saying “God wants us to be obsessively preoccupied with the needs of others.”  And you know what he observes happening when that occurs – money shows up in multiple ways.  In Thou Shall Prosper, Rabbi Lapin points out that money is a testament to your having served another human being.  “Having money is not shameful; it is a certificate of good performance granted to by your grateful fellow citizens.”

Too many people shun the idea of making money as evil and believe good can be done only by nonprofits. Money -- womanUnfortunately many individuals who self-righteously bury themselves in nonprofit organizations spend 80 percent of their precious time begging for money in lieu of working on the cause about which they are passionate. Don’t get caught in the delusion that being destitute is a necessary framework for helping the world. In fact, it will hamper your ability to do so. Money is like fire: it can burn you and leave you disfigured, or it can keep you warm and safe.

When Wisdom and Passion meet, the result is likely to be that money appears in unexpected ways.  When we are serving others in the area of our greatest joy, the world will become a better place and we will be blessed to be a blessing. (ref Genesis 12:1-3)

How would you categorize your current work or business?  Is it a conduit for serving others or primarily a scheme for making money?

From Chapter Eight: Not (Only) for Profit – Wisdom Meets Passion

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  • Dennis Lutz

    “Bullseye!”

  • http://www.markjcundiff.com/ Mark J Cundiff

    Dan,

    Good word!

    Mark

  • http://www.selfemployedmoneymanagement.com/ Ryan Eidson

    What a paradox…those who feel like selling products/services in an for-profit situation is an evil thing, then end up becoming so focused on the non-profit surviving with continuous pleas for more donations! This is an excellent topic included in your new book.

  • http://twitter.com/MichaelFordII Michael Ford II

    Excellent!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Don-Roulo/1161347140 Don Roulo

    “Money answereth all things.” It makes a difference in EVERY area of life. It is not the most important thing, but try living without it.
    Money follows mission.
    God has called us all to accomplish a mission in our individual lives. When we take up that mission and as we pursue that mission, money will follow.
    The bigger the mission, the more money it will take. If I only focus on “me and my four and no more”, then thats the amount of money that will flow to me and through me. However, if I focus on a larger mission of taking care of me and my four and many more – then more money follows that mission…
    2 Cor. 9:8…”And God is able to bless you ABUNDANTLY, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in EVERY good work.”

    • 48DaysDan

      Don – right on! Let the blessings flow through you to many others.

    • http://www.michaelgholmes.com/ Mike Holmes

      I love that!

  • http://marleeward.com/ Marlee

    Hi Dan!
    This is such a hot button topic, and one I have a lot of strong feelings about. I love Rabbi Lapin’s perspective on this, and when I ask myself the question “Does God want us to be rich?” My gut responds with “Sure, but really – He does care THAT much.”

    To me, I think that God cares far more about the people we become and what we do with what we have than what we actually have. I think if you can be trusted with much, you’ll probably receive more. And, at the end of the day, if you keep Him first (whether you’re a millionaire or a miner), you’ll be on the right track. And, if you’re doing that, then your business is never just about being profitable, but it’s also about profiting others (in whatever capacity you do that).

    I think God is far more concerned with the condition of hearts than the condition of our bank accounts. And that is why I think you and Rabbi Lapin are right on target. When you lead with sincere service the rest follows.

    • 48DaysDan

      Marlee – it is indeed a hot topic. And one that we should continually be evaluating in our own lives. How it looks externally is going to vary but the condition of our hearts should be the same. Thanks for your comments.

    • http://www.michaelgholmes.com/ Mike Holmes

      Marlee, I remember reading this book a few years ago. It really did change my perspective on a lot of things. Personally, I believe that God wants us to be abundant in our thinking. What do I mean? Simply this: abundant people give more, love more, share more, and do more than stingy people. That’s how I have vowed to leave the rest of my life with an abundant mentality

    • http://www.threedimensionalvitality.com/ Ann Musico

      I agree Marlee!

  • http://www.threedimensionalvitality.com/ Ann Musico

    Most definitely a conduit for serving others. I love Rabbi Lapin and what he shares in Thou Shall Prosper – so much wisdom and common sense!

  • L

    The challenge in this is that Biblical Christianity, like any religion worth the name, is set up to challenge the conventional worldly voices around (and internalized within) the average individual – voices that are there in any given culture regardless of time or place. The tendency of man is to be selfish…usually. Then there are those of us who are set up differently.

    I am set up in such a way that my orientation is toward serving others, to and well beyond a fault. For the most part I am of service because an internal voice keeps speaking my basic vision for my life in community. I want to counteract the often harmful effects of the world at large on the people I work with. I want dearly to make a difference and this is why I chose this career.

    Then there is another voice that puts me over a dangerous edge at times. It is so codependently compliant – so completely obsessed with meeting others’ needs and desires and demands – that if that voice had its way I would literally be working in excess of 18 hours a day. (I might get an hour or two off on a holiday. Maybe.)

    For someone like me, there is no need for a reminder to serve others. There is a reminder needed however to care for the self. And I don’t know why this is the case but for all my service…I’m not rich. In fact at present I’m taking a break from scrounging up the money to pay a bill!

  • C Thompson

    Money isn’t everything, but it’s right up there with oxygen! Money is not a finite object. There is plenty to go around! I agree with comments shared, especially in reference to our heart attitude. To whom much is given, much is required. My aspiration is to be willing to work hard, love hard AND play hard! Money is a byproduct of hard and smart work!

  • Food for thought

    7 There are two things, Lord,
    I want you to do for me
    before I die:
    8 Make me absolutely honest
    and don’t let me be too poor
    or too rich.
    Give me just what I need.
    9 If I have too much to eat,
    I might forget about you;
    if I don’t have enough,
    I might steal
    and disgrace your name.

    Proverbs 30 7-9

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/SZ5FJQFULZYIROWVHFK6BOQDUI Shannon

    YES! Poverty never blessed anyone else