edna

image
One of the commonest words our people use today is ” I want to be rich and famous” ( There’s a song by that too). I don’t have an issue with the word nor with the song but I worry if our people truly understand what they are saying.
Often times, we don’t say what we mean and mean what we say. There is a very big difference between being rich and being wealthy.
image
To be rich has to do with numbers. The amount of money you have in your bank account. Your general financial statements. The money we have determines how rich we are. It determines what we are able to buy and what we can’t buy. Most times our happiness are tied to our riches.
Being rich, you most likely have a high income. You are most likely earning more than 6-figures to be considered rich. How much of that you save and how much of it you invest will dictate how wealthy you ultimately become. People who are rich tend to live in good neighbourhood, drive fancy cars, their kids go to quality private schools, they have insurance and they work pretty hard to maintain these lifestyles. But when the the source of their income seizes, everything they own including their joy seizes as well.
This is a very dangerous way to live
Being wealthy on the other hand is different. Being rich doesn’t mean you are wealthy. Owning stuffs doesn’t make you wealthy. To be wealthy means to have a sense of security in life , no matter what or how much you earn. You have the ability to make choices and decisions without fear of what you do or who you are, or fear of what’s going to happen tomorrow.
” Being wealthy is the choices and decisions we make every day and our  behaviour around the money we have. And these behaviours are not confined to how much we have invested, they radiate out to everything that money touches, starting from how much we pay for our home every year to how often we eat out or when we decide to spend on our children’s education or a charitable appeal.-“Sherisa Ngo”.www.cheatsheet.com/personal-finance/do-you-want-to-be-rich-or-do-you-want-to-be-wealthy.html/?a=viewall
image
Wealthy people are always content, their happiness and peace of mind is not tied to anything or anyone. They live simply and are great investors.
God supports and encourages us to be wealthy than to be rich. Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV)  But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
Often times we just focus on the “power to get wealth” part, we need to first realise that the verse is centered on Us, You especially.
Secondly, our success and ability to make wealth only comes from God. You may have the brain and intelligence to pull anything off but you will only succeed if he lives in you. Sadly, many people, believers inclusive tend to forget the Lord when they become wealthy and successful and that’s an error.
image
Our ability to make wealth is a gift from God which he gave freely to everyone but it’s only functional in the lives of those that deligently seek him and trust him. You can’t get wealth as a result of your own efforts. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord ” James 1:17″. Living a debt free life is wealth, living in good health is wealth, having a healthy family and children is wealth, living in peace is wealth. God wants us to be wealthy, blessed and be a channel of blessings to others as well.
Of what use is our wealth or riches if the lives around us are not affected positively? Of what use is our wealth when there are poor and sick people all around us, hunger and starvation eating up the poor around us? Of what value is our wealth if our neighbour is hungry and naked?
image
Having a pursuit that means something to you is not the same thing as having happiness, but it’s something like it that can’t quite be quantified in a study. So also being rich or wealthy can’t buy you happiness. You can only be happy, when the source of your wealth is from the Lord( If your source is Jesus then your happiness is secured).
Money is power and power intoxicates. The more money you have the more powerful you become and the more powerful you are the less likely you will be humble. You will always desire more money, but to what end?
Lend a helping hand to the poor and needy around you today. This is how I measure my wealth..
It’s wonderful knowing you can afford anything at anytime because you are rich or wealthy. Life becomes effortless and easy. Even the stupidest and most illiterate rich person can be showered with respect and praise simply because he commands respect with his possessions.
Knowing what I know now, I choose to be wealthy and not to rich.
What about you????

Whitney Edna Ibe is the Executive Consultant, Life & Mental Health Coach, and Writer/ Editor at Whitney Edna Ibe Consult (Blog), Flyhiee.com, The Social Talks, Penprofile.com, and Mental Wellness Society International. She is in charge of consultations, services, and implementation.

37 Thoughts on “To be Rich Or To Be Wealthy…….Which One Is It Going To Be?”

Feel Free To Share Your Lovely Thoughts In The Comment Box!