The Deceitfulness of Riches

Jacob talks of the rich and learned that are proud in 2 Nephi 9:42.  I can't stop but wonder who Jacob's readership is.  It can only be Latter Day Saints and investigators.  That's all who read the Book of Mormon.  So, I conclude that this means that he is talking to Mormons.  I wonder what a Mormon who is rich or learned is thinking when he or she reads this passage:

And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.

So, I am reading this passage.  I ask myself the question, have I passed through the gate?  Has Christ opened up to me?  I have two options - yes he has or no he hasn't.  If I answer yes, what evidence do I have that the Holy One of Israel has opened the gate?  Have I been baptized by fire?  Do I have the Holy Ghost as my constant companion?  Have I received Justification?  If I can't provide myself these evidences than the answer is no.  That doesn't mean that I am bad.  It just means that I haven't passed through this gate.

I might then ask myself if I could be considered puffed up by the Lord?  I am rich or I am learned or I am both?  Do I identify with my riches or my learnedness?  Do I believe who I am (my identity) is based on my riches or being learned?  If so, I am running under the natural man.  Egoic states possess my consciousness.  I want my riches and learnedness more than I want my God.

How I would I know if this is true?  Well, I definitely haven't cast off my riches. I still have them. Perhaps I can keep my riches, but be a good steward over them.  What would that look like?  Could it mean to give away my surplus riches?  Do I make a mock of my brothers and sisters by showing off my wealth by what I wear and drive?  Do I show off my riches in the house I choose to live in? Why might this be considered mocking my brethren?  Surely this can't be so!  My poor brothers and sisters should just be humble and admire my things.  They should learn not to covet and envy.  This is sin. You are exactly right, but what else does this blatant inequality do among believers?  Temporal equality is a tenet of gospel of Christ.  It brings a sense of unity, of common purpose for a Stake of Zion.  What example does having rich and poor in a Stakes of Zion give to everyone especially our youth? Perhaps, that we give lip service only - to the cause of Christ and Zion.

How would I know if I am puffed up and proud? I am grateful to God, (like a wicked Zoromite?), that he has blessed me more than others and I thank him (that I am better off than others).  I wear, drive and live in - expensive things.  If I am not proud then what am I?  Highly blessed by God above other people, has to be my answer.  Oh, the deceitfulness of riches!  I have to decide whether I am humble rich or proud rich.  Am I humble rich wearing, driving and living above everyone else?  Yes, that must be it!  The person writing this essay is an idiot.  All is well in Zion! Let's read this scripture:

And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance. 2 Nephi 28:21-22)

 We rich Mormons might be deceived by our riches.  Read this:

And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts. 

For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not? (Mormon 8:36-37, 39)

What can I do, if I am rich, to show my faith and love for my God?  How do I get through the eye of the needle and get to heaven?  How do I show my devotion to God and the cause of Zion?  I don't want to lift up my head with the wicked in hell?  See D&C 104:18:

Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.

This tells me to impart my portion. The more rich I am, the more generous I am to be.  Maybe, over time, I might even decide to live like the rest of human kind in a modest home, driving a modest car and wearing comely apparel.  But, for now, I think I will just give a lot to the poor.  When I gain that  hope in Christ I will even more compelled to do the following:

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. (Jacob 2:17)

Now there's a principle to be followed!  But, it take time to extricate one's self from our wicked traditions.

But, I am a Mormon.  I have a hope in Christ! Look what a person with a hope in Christ does:

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 2:19)

My riches (and my ability to produce riches) are a gift like any other gift - to be used to give God glory - not for self-aggrandizement.  When I live this principle, considering myself a fool before God, then God will open the gate and permit me to pass through.

But, if not....

But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints. (2 Nephi 9:43)

That happiness of the saints will be hidden from me forever.