5 Myths of a Millionaire

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Do you want to be a Millionaire? Do you remember that show? For some reason I don’t remember much about it. I often put “instant millionaires” in a category of losers. My rationale was that, “They'll probably wast all of their supposed riches on junk and end up in the poor house.” 

Phil Pustejovsky of Freedom Mentor.com gives the following misconceptions about millionaires. They all...

Inherited their money

Are Workaholics

Are Greedy

Are Dishonest

Are Self-Made

Phil is a millionaire who went from living in his pickup truck to mansions over several years of hard work and the right contacts. He was befriended by an older gentleman who was wealthy through real estate and who taught Phil the benefit of investing in the same. Phil’s story is very interesting and worth listening to. But how does Phil's story work into what Jesus said in the above text?

In another account, Jesus said that it would be easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter heaven. And in one of his parables Jesus told about the rich man who went to hell. Not pretty pictures for rich guys. Money is the root of all evil as the old saying goes. Right? No, it is the “Love” of money that is that evil root. So, can a person be rich and still please God or have salvation?

The disciples had this same question, remember? In Matthew 19:25 the disciples, after seeing the rich young ruler’s reaction to Jesus' tough love instructions, asked in amazement, “Who then can be saved?” To which Jesus’ reply was quick and to the real point, “Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Rich people are like anyone else. Though at times they might depend on money more than God they are no different than the rest of us. We depend on other means more often than we’d care to admit. Credit cards, your rich uncle or overtime, might come to mind. The key to any financial situation is that you keep your focus on your Father who is the owner of all. You learn to deny yourself when urges to buy stuff hit and you use the resources that God gives you with him in mind during each purchase or pay day. Don’t be afraid to set your goals high. Always let God direct your investment path and he will help that path to profit as he sees fit. You can count on it.