Summary:
The rich buy things, but the Bible gives us an insight into what the rich ought to buy if they want to be successful beyond this life. Failure to purchase this one asset has been the downfall of more rich people than any failure. It has brought about millions of dollars in losses, and tanked whole companies.
No cashflow analysis will show you this... the one thing that matters most for a rich person to possess.
Scripture:
James 1:9-11 - Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Transcript:
And now, Admonition.
Riches in this life can buy you a lot of things. It can buy you position; it can buy you prominence. But friend, if you're rich and you're a member of the body of Christ, may I encourage you to allow your riches to buy you humility? James chapter one, James writes, let the lowly brother (physically)... the lowly brother glory in his exaltation... Those who are poor, those who are lowly in this life, God exalts them. ...But the rich in his humiliation. If you're going to be happy about something and you're rich, if you're going to be happy about something today, may I encourage you, be happy if you're humbled. Be happy if you're lowered; be blessed in humiliation. It's hard to be rich and serve God.