How to Get Rich and How Not To

Same Sermon:

 

JESUS MAFA. The Rich Fool, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48266 [retrieved August 3, 2025]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).

Psalm 49:1-12

To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm

Hear this, all you peoples;
give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
both low and high,
rich and poor together.
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.

Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life;
there is no price one can give to God for it.
For the ransom of life is costly
and can never suffice,
that one should live on forever
and never see the Pit.

When we look at the wise, they die;
fool and dolt perish together
and leave their wealth to others.
Their graves are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they named lands their own.
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1606-1669. Parable of the Rich Man, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55520 [retrieved August 3, 2025]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rembrandt_-_Der_reiche_Narr.jpg.

Colossians 3:1-11

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all and in all!

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We get so impressed with ourselves, our titles, positions, and curricula vitae. We adorn ourselves with fading splendor and gaudy honor. We fancy our bodies indestructible and our minds bright and permanent. Yet ...

No matter how differentiated in minutia our DNA may be from that of the beasts, we fade, we falter, we fall, we die.

We go down to the pit of death with all of our confidence, boasting, and self-deception for we are dust and our pomp is but the costume jewelry of our silly make-believe games of childhood.

If it is all we have, we have nothing. Death is our shepherd.

But God has something else in mind for us, a rescue from Sheol, a ransom of our souls, a renewal of our lives, and an ignition of our significance and reason for being.

His intention is to receive us.

He is a receiving God.

Death and mortality equalize humanity like nothing else.

There is no wealth, no skin pigmentation, and no status in our dried bones and decaying flesh.

In the grave, no matter how ostentatious the stone is, above our heads, we are equal.

In the grave, no matter how ostentatious the stone is, above our heads, we are equal.

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DISCUSSION from my Notetaker

True Wealth and Financial Stability Tom emphasizes the importance of understanding true wealth, which is not just financial stability but also spiritual richness. He discusses the cultural obsession with money as a trading symbol and warns against letting it become a master. True wealth involves financial literacy, appropriate wealth management, and aligning with spiritual values, as material wealth is temporary and cannot be taken beyond death.

Biblical Perspectives on Wealth Tom references Psalm 49 and Ecclesiastes to highlight the transient nature of wealth and human life. He explains that despite human achievements and wealth, all are equal in death. The psalmist and preacher emphasize that earthly accomplishments are vanity, and true significance comes from spiritual wealth and alignment with God's will, which offers eternal life and purpose beyond material possessions.

Jesus' Teachings on Greed and Possessions Tom recounts Jesus' parable from Luke 12, where Jesus warns against greed and emphasizes that life does not consist of possessions. He tells the story of a rich man who hoards wealth but is called a fool by God for not being rich toward God. The lesson is to focus on spiritual richness rather than material accumulation, as true wealth is found in generosity and spiritual alignment.

Paul's Teachings on Spiritual Focus Tom discusses Paul's teachings from Colossians 3, urging believers to focus on spiritual matters rather than earthly concerns. Paul advises setting one's mind on eternal things and warns against greed, which he equates with idolatry. Tom emphasizes that true wealth is found in spiritual renewal and unity in Christ, transcending earthly divisions and material concerns.

Practical Application of Spiritual Wealth Tom encourages integrating spiritual focus into daily life, suggesting that work and material pursuits should support spiritual goals. He advises seeking God with an open heart and evaluating wealth in terms of spiritual richness. The ultimate goal is to achieve a life centered on God, where material wealth is a tool for spiritual purposes, leading to eternal life and peace.