Who are the Rich?

We were at the Goodwill store. I love the quarter paperbacks and my wife is very lucky in finding brand new clothes for the grandchildren. As I was looking around, I noticed something very interesting. Several people were using their cell phones. When we left the store we noticed some customers putting a bedroom suite into a new van. It brought to mind something that Will Rogers said during the depression, "America is the only country where people drive to the poor house in their car." 

Where does this attitude of proverty come from? Perhaps we are comparing ourselves with others or maybe it is the stress of advertising but it might even be that we do not want to admit that even the lowliest of us is richer than the rich man in Scripture.

The rich of yesteryear did not have the cars, computers, digital TV and VCRs, DVDs and the state of medical science that we share. Even those on Welfare possess a grander standard of living than King Solomon. With all his riches, he could not go to the library and access the Internet, or to a hospital and have a CAT scan.

(Mat 19:21 - 23 KJV) Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Then,

(Mat 19:25 - 27 KJV) When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

(James 1:9 - 11 KJV) Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

(Luke 16:22 - 23 KJV) And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Now it doesn't have to end that way...

(Mat 27:57 KJV) When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

(1 Tim 6:17 - 19 KJV) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.