I have been meditating on the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:
“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Just before telling this parable, Jesus said:
“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
One of the most life-changing talks I attended was at the Urbana conference in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2025. The speakers were a couple who run a construction company that has been richly blessed. One of the most striking decisions they made was to pay themselves only a salary comparable to that of a college teacher, choosing to live humbly even though they could certainly afford a lavish lifestyle.
Their decision was not always understood by others, including those closest to them. The husband shared that he had even been labeled neglectful toward his family. In a way, I can understand why people might think that. If you know someone who runs a highly successful business, shouldn’t that success be reflected in their lifestyle? Shouldn’t they upgrade their home to a mansion or perhaps even buy a private jet?
Yet their purpose in running the business was to support missionaries. They had dedicated a substantial portion of their profits to mission work. If I remember correctly, the company had contributed hundreds of millions of dollars toward advancing God’s kingdom.
Hearing their story made me reflect on how I might want to approach money if God were to bless me with abundant wealth in the future. I hope to follow in their footsteps by living on a modest, middle-income salary, regardless of how much I might earn, and giving the abundance to advance God’s kingdom. Perhaps, one day, that might mean helping to build Christian schools and orphanages.
At the same time, I know that it is one thing to think about these things and another to live them out when faced with the temptations that wealth might bring. I pray that God will continue to guard my heart, keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, and remind me that my life does not consist in the abundance of what I possess. May He keep me from becoming too attached to this life.
Note: I’ve been trying to remember the couple’s names, but I just can’t seem to recall them. I couldn’t find their seminar listed on the Urbana website either. Hopefully, I’ll come across their story again someday!