YOU ARE RICHER THAN YOU THINK

REDEFINING TRUE WEALTH

It’s RRSP season in Canada—when financial advisors remind us to plan for the future, invest wisely, and secure our retirement. The message is clear: "Prepare today so you won’t lack tomorrow." 

While there’s wisdom in financial planning, a more significant investment often gets overlooked—the significance of a life lived for eternal purposes. Scotia Bank’s slogan, “You are richer than you think,” applies to more than just bank accounts. It’s a profound spiritual truth that challenges us to rethink what true riches are. 

In the world’s eyes, wealth is defined by what’s in our savings, investments, and assets. We’re told, "Someone always has more," so we push for a more significant portfolio, a better retirement plan, and greater financial security. 

But Jesus presented a radically different view in Luke 12:15-21 (CEB): 

Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions, even when someone is very wealthy.” Then he told them a parable: “A certain rich man’s land produced a bountiful crop. He said to himself, What will I do? I have no place to store my harvest! Then he thought, Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. That’s where I’ll store all my grain and goods. I’ll say to myself, You have stored up plenty of goods, enough for several years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself. But God said to him, ‘Fool, tonight you will die. Now who will get the things you have prepared for yourself?’ This is the way it will be for those who hoard things for themselves and aren’t rich toward God. 

RRSPs can provide for retirement, but only a life invested in God’s Kingdom provides for eternity. 

In other words, security isn’t found in what we own but in who we are in Christ. Even the best financial plan cannot secure what matters most—peace, purpose, and eternal hope. RRSPs can provide for retirement, but only a life invested in God’s Kingdom provides for eternity. 

Jesus taught that wealth isn’t about accumulation but where and how we invest. In Matthew 6:19-21, He said: 

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Sylvia Bloom was born to Eastern European immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, around 1919. She grew up during the Great Depression, attended public schools, and worked days while studying at Hunter College at night to earn her degree. In 1947, she began working as a legal secretary at the newly established law firm Cleary Gottlieb, where she remained until retirement. 

Throughout her career, Bloom observed the investment choices of the firm's lawyers and made similar investments with her modest secretary's salary. Eventually amassing a fortune of over $9 million, all the while, she lived a modest life in a rent-controlled apartment and kept her wealth a secret. Upon passing in 2016, her executor discovered she had bequeathed most of her estate to fund scholarships for underprivileged students. This included a $6.24 million donation to the Henry Street Settlement on the Lower East Side and Hunter College. 

Her legacy serves as a reminder that material possessions do not measure true wealth but the positive impact we have on the lives of others. 

So, what does true wealth look like?

• A Relationship with God – Ephesians 1:3 announces we have “every spiritual blessing in Christ.” If we know Him, we already possess the greatest treasure.

• Meaningful Relationships – The love of family, friendships, and community is far more valuable than any financial asset.

• A Life of Generosity– 2 Corinthians 9:11 reminds us that God enriches us so we can be generous on every occasion. The most fulfilling lives are those spent giving rather than hoarding. 

What if the wealthiest people weren’t those with the most in the bank but those who invested the most in God’s purposes, loving others and living with eternal impact? 

RRSP season reminds us to think long-term. But what about eternity? What if the wealthiest people weren’t those with the most in the bank but those who invested the most in God’s purposes, loving others and living with eternal impact? 

Imagine standing before God at the end of your life. He won’t ask how much you saved but how much you served. He won’t measure your worth by your net income but by faithfulness to the teachings contained in the Bible—His Word. 

So the next time you hear, “You are richer than you think,” take it beyond finances. Let it remind you of the spiritual riches already in your hands —riches that can never fade, be stolen, or be exhausted. 

Because in Christ, you are far richer than you ever imagined.