Does God want us to be wealthy?

[Lorenzo]

Question:

I have been approached by some friends of mine who are part of a non-denominational Christian church who claim that God desires us all to be wealthy and that if we do not achieve wealth, it is due to a lack of faith. Does God want us to be wealthy?

[Lorenzo]

Answer:


Jesus tells a rich young man who wants to know what he must do to gain eternal life: "Go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me" (Matt. 19:20). Then Jesus says of the rich: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matt. 19:24).

Your friends are only kidding themselves. The Gospels are full of examples of God’s favor being focused on the poor, not the rich. Jesus enters the world in a stable and lives in a working-class family. St. Joseph was a laborer, not a worker with fine wood. Through the years there have been many who have preached the gospel of the full stomach. But it is not the gospel of Jesus. Most of the saints who were born into wealth renounced it sooner or later.


Answered by: Fr. Vincent Serpa O.P.

Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/does-god-want-us-to-be-wealthy

[chicogon]

Unless you learn to empty yourselves... and carry you cross... you can not enter the Kingdom of Heaven

[chicogon]

... daily!

[islander]

yes, not necessarily materially.

[Lollapalooza]

Of course! i'm rich when it comes to friends... they've deposited priceless moments in my mind for more than 20 years already.. ^___^

[Lorenzo]

Unless you learn to empty yourselves... and carry you cross... you can not enter the Kingdom of Heaven

... daily!

Amen, Fr. Roel.

[Lorenzo]

Unless you learn to empty yourselves... and carry you cross... you can not enter the Kingdom of Heaven

This is important. The concept of carrying our "crosses". My confessor told me this the other time when I observed the sacrament of reconciliation. I was feeling quite guilty and he reassured me that all men have these crosses, a sinful nature. He told me that it is not our body that defines ourselves, but what we do with our body. Just because one is tempted does not necessarily mean we should follow through with said temptation. Carrying one's cross allows one to resist that temptation to sin, or what say you. The Good Lord will send forth good graces to strengthen us during these moments in our lives.

Yes, you're right, Fr. Roel. We all have our own crosses and we are all called to carry them....