What do consider wealthy?

Agreed. My grandparents, too, lived below their means, so as senior citizens, they are wealthy. Yet, they're still impoverished compared to some others. In fact, they consider themselves poor because they're not as rich as their neighbors in their retirement community. But as my father likes to say, "Kelly's going to have to work." I'd say they have more than enough.

I can't really vote, given the options. If I made $50K a year, I'd be headed toward wealth, as long as I maintained my current standard of living and socked the excess away. Yet in itself, I don't know that I would consider that annual income "wealthy."

I know it's not a nice pat answer, but I'd say that having enough that you don't really have to think about it is wealthy. Kinda like some of our clients who can "forget" to cash a $5K dividend check. Can I have it?!?

 

Usually anyone one with more money than yourself you consider wealthy. The wealthiest person is one out of debt with God and man.

 

Agreed Maverick.

The question I ask is "wealthy by what standard?"

A person making minimum wage, with a TV (no cable, no working remote, no VCR/DVD player, 20" screen), phone, car that runs (dented, 100,000 miles, 8-10 years old), an apartment (with a bed, couch, lamp, refrigerator and stove), and food in the refrigerator and pantry is consider to be wealthy compared to 85% of the rest of the world.

If we have a job, clothing that is in season, see a movie or play once a year, give gifts bought from a store at birthdays or holidays, we are very wealthy indeed. If we make more than 40,ooo a year we are by world standards, in the top 5% of wealth.

Recently, I invited a friend, a student from Indonesia, for a Coke at Wendys. Nice guy; you'd love this guy and his heart for the Lord. We sat with our Biggie drinks, and shared an order of Biggie fries. Afterwards, I asked about his home, his village, his ministry. He then told me that the 4.25 I had spent for our refreshments would have purchased food for a family of 6 in his village for a week. That 15 dollars a month will get you the nicest house in town with a maid. I felt wealthy beyond measure and saw how I had taken it all for granted.

Sure simplifies things for me, to see how wealthy we really are, and don't even know it, because what we have just isn't enough. Wasn't it the late J.P.Morgan who was asked, after amassing the greatest fortune in the world of his time, "How much is enough?" and answered "Just a little more." Makes you think, eh?

David

 

The poorest person in the US is wealthy by the standards of those in some other countries.

Many countries don't have a welfare system. The poor in the US live very well compared to the por in those countries. Where else can u have big screen TVs, cable and home entertainment centers and not work? Have witnessed that when doing apartment maintenance.

What is wealth? Material possessions, money? My riches are in Christ Jesus. Wealth can not buy the prace that passes all undrestanding, I have experienced this...priceless. Joy in the time of sorrow, this I have also known. Comfort in the middle of the storm. The richest preson in the world outside of Christ can not know the prace, joy, comfort, and strenght that can only come when we know the Lord.

In South Africa is a lady with 5 children, no employment, and no welfare. She has her needs met day by day, and rejoices in Christ with no complaints. Praise the Lord.

[ August 27, 2002, 08:37 AM: Message edited by: Ernie Brazee ]

 

There is some truth in this, insomuch as the American poor who live in social housing, have enough food, get free education for their children, etc etc are quite wealthy compare to, say, the average person in Sierra Leone. Extremely wealthy in fact. But America does still have some homeless people with alnost no possesions, some of whom invariably freeze to death every year in the colder parts of the country. I'd say they're our poorest and aren't extremely wealthy even compared to people in Sierra Leone, except in one vital area: oppurtunity. Surely, in a nation like ours*
at least most of the few men and women who end up like that are there as a result of their own failures and poor choices, they had the chance, even if born quite poor, to not sink that low at all (I know "mental illness" and other things does play a role at least sometimes).
Children trapped in extremely poor third world nations don't have the same chances American kids do (regarding personal economics, I know the Good Lord loves them just as much and their salvation is just as possible, if not more so, since they obviously will see their need for Him more clearly than many people here). Most poor Americans live far better than the normal person in a global perspective, and those who don't obviously made bad choices for themselves.

Anyway, Maverick's definition of the wealthiest is totally right.
*I'm soley American, born and mostly raised, despite my "from", and I plan to return to America soon, my family moved here, anyway...

 

"Just a little more" seems to be the mantra in this country.

My husband makes a salary that would be considered wealthy by most (six figures) and his job brings us in contact with others who, through functions and parties, are materially wealthy but who have very little in common with us because of their spiritual poverty. Even those few who I would consider spiritual seem to have clouded vision because of worldly distractions. There seems to be a great gulf between our world view and theirs. Personally I relish the memories of our early years of marriage when he rode a bike to work and our dinner table was a card table.
I agree, Ernie...wealth cannot buy peace.

Blessings,
suzanne

 

When Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus, he emphasized just how rich the rich man was by pointing out he fared sumptiously every day.

Anybody who can fill their belly every day and has to worry more about eating too much instead of having enough to eat is wealthy by the standards of the world as a whole.

Jesus also said, to whom much is given, much shall be required.

 

How about having food nd rainment therewith be content wealthy?

Morgan may have been messed up, but then you R G LeTourneau who started out giving God 10% and then ended up living off 10%. Wealthy people can be godly and wise.