Ravi Zacharias on the trappings of wealth
“In a culture where the possibility of wealth and the acquisition of things is so defining of success, we end up pursuing things that, even if we are successful, can never deliver what we envisioned they would. The reason riches become such a snare is because we end up evaluating life in mercenary terms and being seen by others in such terms, and life is just not so.”
–Ravi Zacharias, Recapture the Wonder (2003)
May 26th, 2004 at 1:05 am
So unbelievably, soul-fillingly true. Thanks, Rolf.
October 7th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
For someone so bothered about the bad results of Big Bucks, Ravi Z doesn’t mind raking them in. One charity watching web site shows he and his missus draw nearly $300 grand a year in pay from their “ministry” and another source showed they also get a $75 grand ‘housing allownce@
He also gets royalties payments from the meny books he cranks out each year, unlike people who work for him and have to turn in their royalty chex to the ‘ministry@
Follow the money, folks
March 14th, 2007 at 2:05 am
I’d like to comment on BobJake’s comment. He seems to be implying that Ravi does what he does for money and, in view of that, that Ravi’s message is void. I’d like to share a few points:
One, Ravi doesn’t deny that he gets paid for what he does. His ministry is his work; and the Bible clearly teaches that the worker deserves his wages. Just because he’s in full-time Christian ministry doesn’t mean he has to be poor – or average for that matter. God provides for him through the people he ministers to, and they happen to think he deserves that much.
Two, just because he gets paid a lot for doing a wonderful job doesn’t mean that money is his treasure. There’s a big difference between ‘doing it for the money’ and ‘getting money for doing it’. It’s not right to assume both things are true of every person who gets good pay.
Three, Ravi has openly proclaimed through his messages that even he considers the pursuit of money a temptation. However, he tries to make godly choices when it comes to choosing his speaking and writing engagements. He doesn’t accept engagements on the basis of generous remuneration. He just tries to go where God wants him to go. To do this, he even consults friends who will help keep him on track. If God wanted him to speak where he wouldn’t be paid well, he would gladly do so.
Ravi knows very well he can get rich doing what he does. He has also stated his grief that some people are actually doing this IN ORDER TO get the money. (“There’s big bucks in the God business!”) But he makes it very clear he’s not doing this to get rich. He can get rich; but he’s not TRYING to get rich. No, his primary purpose is to glorify his God by proclaiming truth.
His financial rewards are clearly God’s blessings upon him. And I hope God will continue to bless his ministry as he continues to be a good steward of God’s gifts.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
GO SELL ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIVE TO THE POOR THEN COME FOLLOW ME…..DONT STORE UP TREASURES HERE FOR YOURSELF ON EARTH….I AM SENDING YOU OUT LIKE SHEEP AMONG A PACK OF WOLVES….IT’S SO DIFFICULT FOR A RICH MAN TO MAKE IT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN…..
why doesnt he go to India and speak to his own people about GETTING RICH….?
He is a great teacher but like the rest they go were the money flow…..
December 25th, 2013 at 11:11 pm
‘Jesus” comment misses Christ’s particular and personal interaction with the rich man…our Lord knowing this specific individual’s heart and barriers between him and God. Wealth can be a terrible thing, if it becomes the idol of your life and stands between you and God. I don’t see it with Ravi, but honestly, I detected a bit of extra influence when his daughter Naomi went job hunting and had a choice between a great position with Coke(mgt intern?) and the White House. She chose the White House. My senses just kind of tingled when she spoke of these opportunities at a Liberty University occasion.
June 6th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
You’re all idiots.