My friend asked me today,
"Don't you sometimes wish you had all the money in the world to buy anything you want?"
I have asked myself this question before. I often do think of having all the money in the world so I could buy whatever nice clothes, pretty make up or newest gadget there is out there. you've got to admit, everyone wants nice and beautiful things. But after I think of all the things that could happen when I have all that. The consequences of it. It just didn't felt right and I came up with few reasons why.
1.
I start to think of all the people who don't even live on a dollar a day. They don't even have access to basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. They can't even afford things that most of us take for granted. This year, I supported and participated in World Vision's 40 Hour Famine and I gave up furniture for 40 hours. I thought it could be easy but it wasn't at all. Not using my chair, my desk and my bed for 40 hours was just a huge challenge. We should stop to think that there are people out there with nothing, nothing at all and we are here wearing clothes, having a bed to sleep on tonight, probably sitting on a chair, have a roof over our heads, reading this blog post using a computer or a mobile phone, having internet, having education, having toilets, having clean water to drink, having at least 3 meals a day etc. We are here, still asking for more. Don't you think we should be at least be grateful for everything we have now?
2.
Even if I had all the money in the world to buy everything, I wouldn't want to use it all for myself. I believe if I had so much money, if God blessed me with so much money, it is definitely meant to be used for God's purposes. God did not teach us to be selfish but He taught us to be kind and generous. Serving others with what we currently have and not what we don't have. God has more plans for you to bless others than only to be blessed. Not for you to enjoy all the money and riches but to be a blessing and help to others who need them.
3.
For me to think I want more money than I already have makes me feel really guilty and greedy. It is merely temptation from the devil. Making you want more than what God has planned for you to have. Making you want things that God does not want you to have. He gave us so much and we should be grateful. There are more things on earth that are worth it like people and relationships than money. These will somehow lead to envy and hatred. You would wish to be rich and get envious of rich people which then brings out the worst.
4.
I always tell myself not to get so attached, so immune and so used to earthly things. When we leave earth, there is no point in these materialistic things, no point to it at all. These things would soon not matter at all. You won't be able to bring it with you when you leave earth. Why get caught up in all the materials on earth and neglect the real deal here on earth?
Focus on God alone and His plans for you. He knows what is best for you and He will provide.
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Proverbs 28:25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
1 Timothy 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Luke 12:15 And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world.
Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Matthew 6:24 "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 hate the other. You cannot serve God and money."
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Mark 7:20-23 And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For form within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.