In “The Fiddler on the Roof”, Tevye sings:
“If I were a rich man,
Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum.
All day long I’d biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn’t have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Idle-diddle-daidle-daidle man.”
I can understand this motivation of wanting to be rich. Having money can definitely makes life easier in some respects. However, if not used properly, it can harm us.
Jacob paints this picture of wealth:
Jacob paints this picture of wealth:
“Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.
“But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
“And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted” (Jacob 2:17-19).
Now, he isn’t saying you have to believe in Christ to be rich, nor is he saying you will be rich if you believe in Christ. What he is saying is, before you try to be rich, make sure your heart is in the right place so that you use your wealth for things that will not destroy you (see verse 16: “let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls”).
There was a great speech entitled “Why Giving Matters?” given at BYU in 2009 by Arthur Brooks, who was president of the American Enterprise Institute at the time. Mr. Brooks quotes John D. Rockefeller as saying, “I believe the power to make money is a gift from God . . . to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind.”
Brooks goes on to explain that as an economist he set out to prove Rockefeller’s statement as false. However, through his different studies and analyses of the data he finds just the opposite. Giving actually makes you better off. He concludes by saying, “The bottom line is this: Givers are healthier, happier, and richer in this country—and probably around the world. It gives us stronger communities; indeed, it gives us a more prosperous nation.”
The whole talk is really worth the read (see http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1826).
Jacob’s counsel fits nicely with this requirement to successfully establish Zion: “Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God” (D&C 82:19).
If you are a rich man or woman, or you want to be, put God first, then your neighbor. That’s when the real blessings will flow to you.
P.S. Just for fun, if you want to hear Elder Dallin H. Oaks sing “If I Were a Rich Man”, go to the 10:55 mark of the following clip:
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