When I look at the search results for this site it’s pretty common that people find themselves here when searching for phrases like, “how to get rich“, “how to make more money“, or “how to become a millionaire“. Judging by their searches, and the sheer volume of the number of those searches I’m beginning to think that there are a lot of people out there who want to become wealthy. Not surprising really.

The question is, what are their reasons for wanting to become rich? Have they actually thought out the proposition of being rich, and what it means? Why will they need all of that money?

They all start with this as the proposition:

I wanna be rich

So they start searching out high paying careers, ways for making money on the side, get rich quick schemes. In other words, finding ways to make as much money as they can as fast as they can. And that’s where I believe far too many stop. They don’t make any consideration of what the real reasons are of why they want to be rich. They just want to be rich. Period.

Why Do You Want To Be Rich?

So if you want to become rich, why is it that you want to become wealthy? Do you want to enjoy the finer things in life? Do you want to travel to far off lands? Do you want to be able to help others with your wealth?

Thinking about why you want to be wealthy is an important exercise, and if you don’t, you can easily get lost in a meaningless circular pursuit of wealth, where nothing, and no amount of money ever satisfies.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.

For me, as a Christian, I think it’s also important to remember that we need to be careful of pursuing wealth and other material things as part of our long term goals. When we do those things can quickly become counterfeit gods and idols in our lives, keeping us from focusing on the things that are truly important like a relationship with Christ. Can a rich man still enter the Kingdom of God? I believe so, but it can be hard when wealth competes with a reliance on God.

Are Riches In Themselves A Bad Goal?

For far too many I think that being rich in and of itself is the end goal. Being rich is the ultimate in status that will allow them to “be someone”. They believe that wealth validates them, will make them popular, and in the end make them happy. It is the universal score card. But then, when they finally do become wealthy they realize that it comes with a whole new set of problems and pressures – and doesn’t make them happy. Far too often the riches are just temporary anyway, as we’ve seen recently in the economic downturn.

Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Money is just a thing, a tool to be used to further our goals. Being happy is a decision that happens regardless of whether you’re rich or not.

So what are your goals?

Setting Goals And Expectations For Wealth

For me, I don’t have any aspiration to be rich or to be living a gaudy lifestyle, but I do hope to be a good steward of the resources I’m given, and to provide well for my family. I want to be able to provide a good home for my family, an education for my kids, and I want to be able to travel and experience different places and cultures. I also want to be able to earn more to be able to give more to our church, as well as to other causes that we believe in. I also want to be able to work because I enjoy it, not because I have to – or because I’m worried about eating, getting health care coverage or losing my home.

So my goals for earning wealth would be:

To provide for my family.

To give more to our church and other causes.

To provide freedom and peace of mind.

To give us ability to enjoy travel and family time.

So, with my goals for wealth put out there, tell me why you might want to grow wealth, and what your goals for wealth are?