What Do Rich People Buy?

In Luke 12, Jesus was teaching on the proper attitude toward material possessions.  He makes this statement in verse 15:
15And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."
We read on...16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.17And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'18So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.19And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." '20But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'21So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

We are called to regard our treasures, our resources, in light of our relationship with God.  If we humble ourselves before the Lord and recognize His hand upon our lives, then we can regard our riches as material blessings that He ultimately owns, but that He has given to us to use and enjoy - we have a stewardship role and responsibility to carry out.  In our hearts, we can reject selfishness and regard our riches, however meager or bountiful they may be, as tools through which God can work.

In 1st Timothy 6, Paul outlines the proper attitude toward riches - our material possessions - as we recognize the One who blesses us with resources:
17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

There has certainly been some negative news out of the NFL these days - a story that I will be devoting some time to next week as we explore the plague of domestic abuse in our society.  But, how about some positive news about a player who has been recognized for his dedication and the use of his talent who asked a rather intriguing question.

We go back to an on-field interview with the Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt. CBSSports.com relates the story of an on-field interview after Watt signed a six-year, $100 million contract on Sept. 2.  His friends said he had to buy something, but Watt had no clue what to buy.

So Watt did what any normal person would, he took to Google.

He said, "I Googled 'What do rich people buy?'...Because I don't feel like a rich person, and I don't really try to act like a rich person, so I don't know what they buy. I didn't really like the stuff I saw, so I'm gonna stick with my humble lifestyle and just keep working out."

That quote says quite a bit, because it reflects not only the commitment to hard work that Watt has displayed, but also the humility that he has displayed along the way.  According to a USA Today piece,  Watt played tight end at Central Michigan until he left school and began to deliver pizzas.  He was taking classes at a community college in Waukesha, Wisconsin, when a wake-up call came from a local kid who recognized the former Pewaukee High star on one of his deliveries.

The 10-year-old boy at the door turned that pizza run into a career-changing epiphany when he asked Watt why he wasn't playing football.  Watt says, "That was a powerful day in my life, a humbling moment that reiterated my drive to be great and get to the top as a football player."

He re-shaped his body, contacted Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema and after sitting out the 2008 season, Watt earned All-Big 10 2009 and 2010 honors.  He was drafted by the Texans as the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft.

So, what would you do with a $100 million dollars?  I tell you, I hope that Watt makes the right choices, because a lot of people are looking toward him.  Especially after befriending three children who lost their parents in a vehicle accident.   He even paid tribute to them in a post-sack celebration.

After reading up on Watt's heroics, on and off the field, it's not a stretch to see how he would ask that question about the money.

For us, there are numerous spiritual implications.  I think that Watt has worked hard, and he has been rewarded well for it.  He didn't take shortcuts to success - he wanted to play in the NFL and he carefully took the steps to get there.  In an age where the importance of a good work ethic seems to be minimized, we can be inspired to be people who are willing to do diligent and excellent work for the glory of God.  The Bible teaches us, as I like to comment frequently, of doing our best for Him.

And, that includes the appropriation of our finances.  We recognize our monetary and material possessions are gifts from God - all these resources belong to Him, and our use of and attitude toward them should reflect His ownership and our stewardship.  When we are tempted to make decisions on the basis of self-gratification, we can remember that He is the giver of all good gifts, and desires for us to take what He has given and use it to bless others.  

We can strive to reflect an attitude of humility in the midst of it all.   If we recognize that each of us has a purpose ordained by God, then we can regard that He has an ordained use for the resources He has given to us.  We can pursue self-gratification, or we can humble ourselves before the Lord and seek to bring Him honor and spread the glory of His name.