{"id":24,"date":"2005-02-11T16:42:00","date_gmt":"2005-02-12T06:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newcoolthang.com\/?p=24"},"modified":"2020-01-09T07:12:45","modified_gmt":"2020-01-09T14:12:45","slug":"riches-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.newcoolthang.com\/index.php\/2005\/02\/riches-part-ii\/24\/","title":{"rendered":"Riches Part II — God might make you rich… but beware"},"content":{"rendered":"

The comments for my previous post<\/a> on the tenuous relationship between worldly riches and righteousness really got me thinking. A rich (but apparently righteous) anonymous saint made some very insightful comments that brought new ideas to my mind. I’m now starting to wonder if the Lord really does “bless” us with riches sometimes in this life. Not so we can live it up, but to see if we’ll actually keep our covenants and let go of it. <\/p>\n

Now think about it, if we are ever going to be exalted we are first going to have to be like Christ. The scriptures are replete with this message.<\/p>\n

Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
(3 Ne. 12: 48, Matt. 5: 48)<\/p>\n

And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.<\/b>.
(3 Ne. 27: 27)<\/p>\n

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him<\/b>; for we shall see him as he is.
(1 Jn. 3: 2)<\/p>\n

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is<\/b>; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
(Moro. 7: 48) <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So if we are where we are on this earth based on pre-mortal merit (and one of these days I may go into more detail on that subject), and if we will continue in this merit\/progression program after this life, is it a stretch to assume that somewhere along the eternal line we are going to have to prove we really will live the law of consecration? If that logic holds then the next question is how will we prove we are willing to do so? I suspect we are going to have to at some point in our existence put our money where our mouth is.<\/p>\n

Now consecrating our excess money to the Church and the poor is not something we can very well do when we have no money, so perhaps God does help some Saints get rich. Is it a blessing or a curse? Perhaps it should be considered mostly a test. Some people will pass such a test and others won’t. Consider the case of the rich young man who went away sorrowing as compared to the twelve who had “forsaken all, and followed” Christ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If we can use just what we need and give the rest away in the manner the apostles and many other Saints have throughout time (Enoch, Abraham, Lehi, etc.) have done riches will be a great blessing. If, like the rich young man, we unwilling to give it all to the poor, but rather consume the riches will be a horrible curse.<\/p>\n

So there you have it… God will probably bless us with riches if we are ready for them. How will we know if we are ready for this test? Jacob teaches<\/a> we will know because we will happily give it away.<\/p>\n

What good is it getting rich then? Perhaps getting rich and giving it away is the way to actually get rich. “But the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Cor. 13:13) He that hath eternal life is rich. (D&C 6:7)<\/p>\n

So let me have it — Is this true doctrine or false? How are we Mormons doing regarding riches? (Do you ever wonder how many saints are rich but don’t look it?) <\/span>