When I look at the search results for this site it’s pretty common that people find themselves here when searching for phrases like, “how to get rich“, “how to make more money“, or “how to become a millionaire“. Judging by their searches, and the sheer volume of the number of those searches I’m beginning to think that there are a lot of people out there who want to become wealthy. Not surprising really.
The question is, what are their reasons for wanting to become rich? Have they actually thought out the proposition of being rich, and what it means? Why will they need all of that money?
They all start with this as the proposition:
- I wanna be rich
So they start searching out high paying careers, ways for making money on the side, get rich quick schemes. In other words, finding ways to make as much money as they can as fast as they can. And that’s where I believe far too many stop. They don’t make any consideration of what the real reasons are of why they want to be rich. They just want to be rich. Period.
Why Do You Want To Be Rich?
So if you want to become rich, why is it that you want to become wealthy? Do you want to enjoy the finer things in life? Do you want to travel to far off lands? Do you want to be able to help others with your wealth?
Thinking about why you want to be wealthy is an important exercise, and if you don’t, you can easily get lost in a meaningless circular pursuit of wealth, where nothing, and no amount of money ever satisfies.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.
For me, as a Christian, I think it’s also important to remember that we need to be careful of pursuing wealth and other material things as part of our long term goals. When we do those things can quickly become counterfeit gods and idols in our lives, keeping us from focusing on the things that are truly important like a relationship with Christ. Can a rich man still enter the Kingdom of God? I believe so, but it can be hard when wealth competes with a reliance on God.
Are Riches In Themselves A Bad Goal?
For far too many I think that being rich in and of itself is the end goal. Being rich is the ultimate in status that will allow them to “be someone”. They believe that wealth validates them, will make them popular, and in the end make them happy. It is the universal score card. But then, when they finally do become wealthy they realize that it comes with a whole new set of problems and pressures – and doesn’t make them happy. Far too often the riches are just temporary anyway, as we’ve seen recently in the economic downturn.
Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
Money is just a thing, a tool to be used to further our goals. Being happy is a decision that happens regardless of whether you’re rich or not.
So what are your goals?
Setting Goals And Expectations For Wealth
For me, I don’t have any aspiration to be rich or to be living a gaudy lifestyle, but I do hope to be a good steward of the resources I’m given, and to provide well for my family. I want to be able to provide a good home for my family, an education for my kids, and I want to be able to travel and experience different places and cultures. I also want to be able to earn more to be able to give more to our church, as well as to other causes that we believe in. I also want to be able to work because I enjoy it, not because I have to – or because I’m worried about eating, getting health care coverage or losing my home.
So my goals for earning wealth would be:
- To provide for my family.
- To give more to our church and other causes.
- To provide freedom and peace of mind.
- To give us ability to enjoy travel and family time.
So, with my goals for wealth put out there, tell me why you might want to grow wealth, and what your goals for wealth are?
I think that you are right. While wealth can be a bad things money in and of itself is not a bad thing. It more comes down to what are your gods? For me, I want to make a good living but I have seen many people lose it all chasing that next great dream of obtaining wealth. For me the question is always when is enough, enough? When can I cut back on my work, make a good living and enjoy my family and serve my church.
As you say, when is enough enough? And what sacrifices are you willing to make in order to obtain that wealth? Hopefully your family, faith and God aren’t among the sacrifices although far too often they are..
For me, the desire to be rich/accumulate wealth is all about freedom. I want to have the freedom to work for myself so I’m not reliant on the whims of the V in the corner office who is only looking for ways to cut costs. I want the freedom to travel and see more of the world. But most importantly I want the freedom to spend more time with my kids while they are still little.
I hear ya, the travel and spending time with the kids are big ones for me too. :)
Here are several of my reason for desiring to be wealthy (I do not like to use the word rich, because wealth is more than money. It’s more about being resourceful to me):
1. A Desire to Meet Needs
2. Desire to See Blessing on the Church
3. Teach Believers to Prosper
4. Five Fold Ministers Taken Care of financially so they can concentrate on building the body & kingdom
5. To Accumulate resources to fulfill the call of God (Can’t feed the poor without money to buy the food).
6. Create Employment for the Body of Christ
7. Taking the Wealth of the Wicked and putting into the hands of the just who will use finances correctly for God
8. Influence People in High Places (Do not misunderstand me. For understanding study Joseph, Daniel and the three Hebrew kids, Nehemiah, and Esther for understanding).
9. Desire to Be a God’s Business and Financial Model to the World
10. Desire to Set a New Business and Financial Standard for the Church and the Kingdom.
This is how I want to change my world!
I have always said I am just the custodian of my wealth and that God has given me the opportunity to the life i have.
Along the path i had to have a reason for my goals. A wise man told me long ago to understand why you are pursuing wealth. Was it for the money ? The power ? The Fame ?
No… It had to be for a reason or reasons..
All the things that your spoke of. The peace of mind and security. The providing for your family. The helping others. Having the time to do things with family,friends and sometimes complete strangers.
Another thing. We will do more for our family and friends and the needy, than we will do for ourselves.
Serving God, our families and friends sometimes is the reasons that we succeed.. Moreso than just for ourselves or the money.
Just my thoughts…
In my opinion I think the main thing for us to be is good stewards of what God gives us. Most people focus on getting rich,should we be rich, should I be poor etc…Every person should work hard to take care of themselves and their families and be a blessing to others. God wants to bless us with nice things from working hard and he wants us to be a blessing too. The shouldn’t be I want to be rich it should be simple. It should be I love numbers I want to be an accountant, or I love arts I want to be a graphic designer etc…The money will follow. That is the big problem. Money is what will play a part in you pursuing time for education, and training but you must love what you do first. God has given each of us talents and we will glorify him more if we do what he has given us to do.
Having enough to feel like you can do anything you want because you enjoy it rather than because you have to would be a nice target. I like my job, but I would much rather work for myself and letting my passions drive my career. If I could accumulate enough where I wouldn’t have to worry about how my family was going to be taken care of, then I could quit my “day job” and work on things that are meaningful and I enjoy the most. Thanks for helping us look at what is important in life.
Same as yourself. I find myself wanting to rich everyday. I don’t work and never have. I want the security to be able to have my own home without the need to pay off someone else’s debts. If I ever struck it rich the best part for me would be being able to give money to my family & friends (ones who have been there for me my whole life when i was at my worst) and also being able to help causes in my county including homeless , food Banks , animal shelters etc. I want a better life and I want to set up my own business but unfortunately I can’t do that without a lot of money. Yeah I don’t work but if I was rich I would be not for the money just being able to do something I enjoy. Plus I’m not a people person so can’t be around them (why I don’t work)