Why Be Wealthy?

I fought back tears, but the tears won. He was lying on his back, tubes in his body, pain in his eyes. My Pastor.

Just one day before, I received a call from his daughter telling me he had been rushed into a major surgery and was now in ICU. I gathered my emotions and headed to the hospital. What I experienced was far more than the angst felt when someone you love is sick; I learned something profound about the true meaning of wealth.

His daughter and I stood in the hallway discussing Pastor's condition, his eventual rehabilitation, and a host of other matters. It was then I asked the question that was bothering me: Why is he in such a small room?

For context, my Pastor is a "man's man." You would never hear a complaint from him about anything. He is simply not cut from that cloth. He is a veteran and also an attorney. Over the 40 years I have known him, he has been a source of wisdom, guidance, support, and simply a rock, but on this day, weakened by the surgery, the weight loss, and his determination to remain positive amidst it all, he needed help.

His daughter explained to me that the insurance would only pay for the room he was in. She said a more comfortable room that would allow him to properly have visitors and allow for family members to stay overnight would cost $715 extra per night. What happened next is what I call a "God-wink."

Four days before learning of his sickness, I sat in my kitchen making notes about who to financially bless this November. God moved me to write down the following: "Send Pastor $10,000." I was surprised myself. I have never done that, and he has never asked me for a penny in 40 years. He has only given, never taken.

I wrote down the gift in my notes and simply moved on with my day. Now back to the hallway in the hospital.

After learning the price of the room, I asked his daughter how many nights the doctors said he needed to stay. She said, "Two weeks." I took out my phone and learned that $715 x 14 = 10,010. "Tell the nurse to move Pastor to a better room. I am paying for it," I said.

The next morning, November 1st, I stood in front of my bank teller to make the transaction. I broke down in tears, uncontrollable tears. I did not know what was happening to me or why I felt this way, and that is when I heard the same voice again that told me to write down the initial gift amount. The voice said: Wealth is not for you; it is to help somebody.

It is hard to explain, but I see money differently now. This experience has tweaked my entrepreneurial goals. I want to help more people than I am currently able to. I want to fill the gap between a good person and a better life.

I truly believe God is apathetic toward your new yacht, beautiful home, or seventh car. But if you commit yourself to helping someone who can't help themselves, heaven itself will join the executive team of your company to ensure you never have a financial need.

I have a new team. I am now on a new mission.

Written by: Dennis Ross

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