Andy Stanley did a sermon series recently about how to be rich. Now, he wasn’t talking about how to get rich, but the proper way to behave if you are rich. He pointed out that most of us don’t think we are rich, however people who earn more than $48,000 per year are in the top 1% of wage earners in the world.

He said a few years ago he began a new practice with his family and close friends. He said that before complaining, he makes the statement, “this is a rich person problem.” Wow! Doesn’t that just scream to us how important perspective really is! If we are complaining about slow internet service or poor cell phone reception, that is definitely a rich person problem! Most of us aren’t concerned about where our next meal will come from.

He suggests that we guard against putting our confidence in what we own. This is one danger of having wealth. If we begin to feel confidence in ourselves and our own abilities to provide, then we tend to shift away from trusting God. The fact is, our situation could change overnight. If our trust is in possessions, and we wake up one day and no longer have the possessions, we would feel lost. However, if we put our trust in God, we will not lose anything. He will always be there for us and provide for us. Andy Stanley had the congregation repeat to themselves, “I will not place my trust in riches, but in Him who richly provides.”

So, put your confidence in the right place and when you feel the urge to complain, be sure to preface it by acknowledging that it is a rich person problem. Doing this will help you to live . . . life to the fullest.