Click Here to Get Rich (Or Go Broke).
If you’re looking to get rich, the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki, is one of the top-selling books on the market. It has sold over 32 million copies in 40 languages across the globe (this is like a book version of viral). Instead of thinking in the terms “I can’t afford it,” the book encourages people to start thinking “How can I afford it?” (Schools).
The book holds out the hope of getting wealthy… really wealthy.
And yet, in 2012, this best-selling author filed bankruptcy through his company, ironically called Rich Global, LLC (Kim).
How is that possible?
Intellectually, we give assent to the fact that riches are fleeting and unstable. But our hearts still yearn for that pleasure… we want the thrill of watching the bank account grow. Or maybe we just long to achieve the security and stability that riches seem to offer. And as hard as we try, we can’t get out of this trap by ourselves. Just this evening, I watched my friend playing with her six puppies… each of which will bring her nearly a thousand dollars. And I was envious. Really envious.
How can we get away from that? Is there any hope for us to be free from this love-relationship with riches? And as a future social worker, how can I encourage my clients to develop a healthy relationship with finances… if I can’t even do it myself?
Paul David Tripp, in his book Sex and Money, addresses this.
“It is only riches that can deliver you from riches… It is only the heart-satisfying riches of the grace of Jesus that can protect you from the deception and dissatisfying ‘riches’ of this fallen world” (Tripp 202).
We cannot just ‘cast out’ the love of money. It has to be replaced with something. Psalm 16:11 says “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (ESV). In God’s presence is fullness of joy.
Furthermore, “It’s only when you rest in the reality that you have been given life that you quit looking to sex and money to give you life” (Tripp 205). The New Testament speaks repeatedly of the inheritance we’ve been given in Jesus — something far beyond physical riches.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” (1 Peter 1:3–4 ESV).
It also speaks of God’s provision for this life.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 ESV).
So this love of money — this money insanity — can only really be overcome by an overwhelming satisfaction in Jesus, a realization of what he’s already given us, and a transformation into his image.
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV).
For further reading:
Sources:
Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2001.
Kim, Susanna. “’Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ Files for Bankruptcy for His Company.” ABCNews, 12 Oct. 2012. abcnews.go.com/Business/rich-dad-poor-dad-author-files-bankruptcy/story?id=17463158
Tripp, Paul David. Sex & Money: Pleasures That Leave You Empty and Grace That Satisfies. Crossway, 2013.
Schools, Dave. “This book about how to get rich sold more than 32 million copies — here are 5 essential lessons you need to know.” CNBC, 20 March, 2019. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/20/5-lessons-on-how-to-get-rich-from-the-best-selling-personal-finance-book-that-sold-more-than-32-million-copies.html
