How to You Determine When You Are Really Rich

I have to confess, if you would have asked me if I was rich twenty days ago, I would have given you a very fast "No way, are you kiddin'?" for an answer. The fact is, until two weeks ago I was one of the "I just need a little bit more" crowd that most of us fall into.

Some years ago, Andrew Carnegie was the richest man in the world (Until that company Microsoft came about). Mr. Carnegie was allegedly asked how much more it would take before he was satisfied. His answer: "Just a little bit more." Isn't this the way we all live? No matter where we are on the ladder of life, the next rung up is where we want to be. "Just a need a little bit more, and I'll be satisfied."

The fact is, as I learned a couple of weeks ago while sitting in a church service, is that most of us are rich. This was not the typical sermon that described how blessed we are with family, friends, and health. We were talking about money. There can be much debate over the way your particular religion feels about money, wealth, and the accumulation of it. This sermon was aligned with how most of us feel...we just need a little more.

The Pastor made a statement that I will never forget. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that my God wants me to be happy, to be successful, and to enjoy life everyday. The statement that was made enabled me to feel this way. As he stated, "God has blessed most of us with more than we need - I am rich - but will not depend on my riches for security, for God is the only one that controls tomorrow."

I thought about it and he was right. The Pastor joked about his cars having their own room in his house, and how his house was so big that he had an extra room, "just in case somebody showed up." I live the same way. As I reflected on his words that day I realized that I have way more than I need.

The point of the sermon was to convince the congregation that happiness and security do not come from money. For me it was a paradigm shift. I have been in a constant state of chasing that "next level", either through my writing, my investing or my day job. What put things into perspective for me his statement that, "If you own two vehicles, you are in the top 5% of the world's wealthiest people." I could not verify that statistic, but knew I was in it and when reflecting on how many in the world struggle for their food and water everyday, I started feeling pretty rich.

To be perfectly clear, my financial goals have not changed. The material things I desire haven't changed either. Maybe I could use a bigger house. Snowmobiles would be fun. What has changed is my perspective on where I am in comparison to the rest of the world, and how lucky I am to have what I do have, and the free will and ability to pursue the things I want out of life. Remember what Jesus said (Luke 12:15) "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Joel Osteen has written several books on this topic. He tells the story of his father and how they "always were poor", and how his father put all of their money into a church offering, so they could remain poor. Well, as Joel Osteen has stated many times, this couldn't be further from the truth. Your God wants you to be successful, wants you to be rich, and wants you to enjoy life! As Joel Osteen said in his Daily Readings from Your Best Life Now, if we go through life with a poverty mentality, you are not honoring your God. That "God wants to supply every need you have, and He will!" (Osteen, 2005).

So go out and be successful. There is no substitute for intelligent financial behavior; saving, investing and planning for the future. Just remember to stop and look around you, you may already be rich! Remember as you pursue your goals and financial/material desires, Proverbs 23:4-5. "Don't weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time? Riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird!" Go out and be successful, but also enjoy what you have today too!References

Osteen, J. (2004). Your best life now. Warner Faith. Time Warner, New York, NY.

Scriptures used were taken from the New King James Version Bible.