Do You Need to Be Wealthy to Flourish?

Scripture — 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NRSV)

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Devotion

Do you have a strong desire to be rich? In 2006, a Gallup survey found that most Americans did not have this desire. Plus, only a third believed they would be happier if they were rich.

Jump ahead 16 years. In 2022, The Harris Poll did a survey called “Americans and Billionaires Survey.” This survey found that 6 in 10 American adults want to become not just a millionaire, but a billionaire. In a follow-up survey in 2024, about 70% of Americans aged 13-44 (Gen Z and Millennials) agreed with the statement, “I want to become a billionaire one day.” (This was true no matter the political views of those surveyed, by the way.)

Why would so many people want to be a billionaire? There are many answers to this question, of course. But one would be that we tend to believe that people with more money live better lives. If you have wealth, we assume, then your chances of flourishing are much higher than if you lack wealth.

It is certainly true that human flourishing depends on a baseline of “financial and material stability.” People living in poverty will find it difficult, if not impossible, to flourish. But does this mean that our level of flourishing will go up with our income? If we have more money, will our lives be filled with more meaning, purpose, fruitfulness, and joy?

Not necessary. Earlier this year, The Global Flourishing Study, a partnership between Harvard University and Baylor University, published “Initial Results” from its study of over 200,000 participants in 22 diverse countries. The purpose of the study was to “expand our knowledge of the distribution and determinants of flourishing around the world.” Some of what this study found informs our thinking about wealth and flourishing, perhaps in surprising ways:

[F]lourishing is multidimensional, and different countries are flourishing in different ways. While many developed nations report comparatively higher levels of financial security and life evaluation, these same nations are not flourishing in other ways, often reporting lower meaning, pro-sociality and relationship quality. Japan [one of the world’s wealthier nations] reports strikingly low scores on many well-being indicators . . . Other, often middle-income, nations, such as Indonesia, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines report higher on these other more humanistic aspects of flourishing (p. 646).

What’s true of nations is also true of individuals. Once a person has sufficient resources to live a healthy and productive life, then more wealth does not guarantee more flourishing. It all depends on what people do with their wealth. Even more, it depends on what they do with their time, their talents, and their relationships.

In his first letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul offers guidance to help “those who in the present age are rich” flourish. Yes, they can enjoy what God “richly provides.” But they should be committed “to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.” As I have mentioned before, doing good in this way isn’t only a matter of generous charitable giving, though that is essential. It’s also investing our resources and our lives in efforts that contribute to the common good, like running an honorable business that serves all stakeholders. I think, for example, of my friend Steve, who built an exceptional company that makes kitchen cabinets. The success of this company allows Steve to be a generous giver. But additionally, each day this company excels in the good work of making fine products, providing fulfilling employment for hundreds of workers, serving customers with integrity, and stewarding God’s creation wisely.

Even if we are not “rich” by some sort of worldly standard, we are not prevented from flourishing in life. We can still strive to do good in life, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share. We can do this in our workplaces, homes, neighborhoods, schools, churches, cities, and in the wider world. As we do, we will flourish, taking “hold of the life that really is life.”

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Godliness With Contentment Is Great Gain (1 Timothy 6:3-10, 17-19).