Every year Forbes releases a list of the world’s richest people. However, this year is different. In addition to the ‘rich list’, Forbes has pointed out that even the richest people on Earth are not immune to the coronavirus. 

This year has seen a drop in the number of billionaires, and of those who remain, 51% are poorer than they were last year. Twenty-one of those on the rich list have died.

God too has a rich list, but His is a little different because He speaks about the trap of desiring riches:

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Timothy 6:9)

Now this may seem like a contradiction because every Monday at The Universal Church pastors are fighting in prayer for you to be rich! So, is it wrong? Does God want you to be a beggar?

No! Don’t get it twisted! God wants you to have the best, but His greatest concern is that you don’t try to replace Him with your riches. We are talking about putting your riches above God –this is the trap, the snare and the temptation that God is talking about.

Remember when Jesus said, we cannot serve two masters? God wants you to have balance, to be rich but still keep Him as your number one.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

Perhaps you say, “Okay then, I’m good, this verse doesn’t apply to me, because I’m broke!” 

That’s not the case. Your riches are anything that you regard more than God, be it your children, your grandchildren, your spouse, your job, or anything else. Putting someone or something above Jesus is like taking a sword and piercing yourself – or shooting yourself in the foot. The outcome will never be in your favor.

Forbes’ rich list focuses on the material, whilst God’s rich list wants you to focus on Him. Be rich towards God (spiritually) and He will look after you materially.

This pandemic has fallen on both rich and poor – their money has not been able to heal or save them. But when you are rich towards God, He in turn will protect, provide, and save you.

So, how do you know if you are putting something before God? Well, whatever separates you from God, is not of God. Period.

May the God of the Bible bless you

Bishop Joshua Fonseca