Does God what us to be Rich?

So I picked up an issue of Time Magazine because the cover image was a Rolls Royce with a cross as the hood ordainment. The title of the article is, "Does God want you to be Rich?" Automatically my mind went to verses like Matthew 6:19, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth ..." and Matthew 16:24, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." So at first my answer to the question was, "No!" But then I began to think about verses like Rev. 3:18 & John 10:10 where Jesus talks about buying gold, and linen and having life to the fullest. But do these verses really mean He wants us to have a Rolls Royce lifestyle?

I read the article and was intrigued by the verses quoted by the writer. I was also turned off by the prosperity theology that the article focused on. But it was a good insight into American Christianity and the values we as a country are living and teaching our children. Most Americans I know poke fun at men and women who dance on the television and preach a "Name it and Claim it" message. But then again I wonder how many of us actually live our lives in a similar way, maybe to a much smaller degree.

I know when things are going well for me I thank God for His blessing and praise Him. But when things are going poorly I am so easily enticed to ask God, "why?" and hesitate to praise His "good works." In a sense this is the same thing. It is self centered rather then God centered. It focuses on my own comfort or security or desire for a way of life rather then faithfully accepting the life God chooses for me and desiring that. I don't believe most Christians buy into the preaching of such men who preach "Wealth and Health." But I do fear that many Christians loose focus on the hope of the life to come and make this life out to be more then it should. It is a thin but firm line between being an instrument of Gods Kingdom on earth here and now and slipping into living this life to "my" fullest. The key is focus. Do I have God's will as my focus? Or do I have anything else? Anything else is breaking the first commandment and that is what it boils down to really.

So to answer the question, "Does God want you to be rich" I must first be asking, "What is God's WILL for you?" Know that and you will know the first.

What is God's will for us?
I'd be interested in your comments.