What about Wealth?
By: Hubert Crowell
100 metric tons of Gold worth $2.447 Billion, 240 metric tons of refined silver worth $104
Million, was donated by David. Those in charge donated another 170 metric tons of Gold worth
$4.162 Billion, 375 metric tons of refined silver worth $163 million, 620 metric tons of bronze
worth $2 Million, 3,450 tons of iron worth $828,000 and the workers donated precious stones.
$6.878 Billion plus was donated for the building of the Temple that was built by Solomon.
Of an estimated 119,000 tons of gold mined from historical times through 1995, about 15% is
believed to have been lost, used in industrial uses, or otherwise unrecoverable or unaccounted for.
Of the remaining 102,000 tons, an estimated 35,000 tons are official stocks held by central banks,
and about 67,000 tons are privately held as coin, bullion, and jewelry.
Now image a city that is 1,400 miles on each side or 1,960,000 square miles with a wall 200 feet
thick. The wall is made of jasper and the city constructed of pure gold! The foundation of the city
is made of twelve layers of precious stones. The twelve gates are made from one giant pearl for each
gate. And the main street is also made of pure gold, like transparent glass.
Now that's wealth!
Solomon was the wealthiest person in the world, but was he? He was certainly rich but was he
wealthy? Could he ride at 80 miles per hour to any place in his kingdom? Could he fly across the
oceans in a few hours? Could he talk to his field commanders while they were in the field of battle?
Take just about any modern convenience that we enjoy in our every day life, did Solomon have any
of these? We can watch events that are occurring all over the world from the comfort of our living
room. We can get on the Internet and find the answer to just about any question and get many
opinions on any subject.
If Solomon visited your home and saw how you live, I would think that he would say that we were
the wealthiest people on earth. Being the wisest person on earth, I wonder what he would have to say
about our life style? "One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet
has great wealth." (Proverbs 13:7 NIV)
Take a look at the ten richest people in the world, and it is clear that in our present day and age it is
possible for anyone to become wealthy.
Carlos Slim Helu at age 67 with $67 Billion is a Mexican entrepreneur and businessman involved in a varied group of companies that include telecommunications, retail, banking and insurance, technology, and auto parts manufacturing businesses. He is the wealthiest Mexican man. In June of 2007 it was reported that the wealth of Carlos Slim Helu increased to an estimated $67.8 billion, making him the richest man in the world. This puts Carlos Slim ahead of Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
William Gates III at age 51 as of 2006 was the richest with $56 Billion. Of course we all know how he made his fortune with Microsoft. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on health, poverty, and education sectors in developing countries.
Warren Buffett at age 76 with $52 Billion is the third richest. He has arranged for the bulk of his fortune to go to five charitable foundations and wants the money spent within about 13 years after he dies. It may be interesting to note that William Gates serves on the board of directors for Berkshire Hathaway with Warren Buffett as chairman of the board Chief Executive Officer.
Ingvar Kamprad at age 80 worth an estimated $33 Billion founded IKEA with a long tradition of community outreach and philanthropy, with each store encouraged to support local causes, plus international sponsorship of UNICEF and others. Citizen of Sweden.
Lakshmi Mittal at age 56 worth $32 Billion His wealth and power came from achieving his dream of consolidating the global steel industry. Mittal is famously generous and charitable, and has given millions of dollars without fanfare to tsunami relief and other causes.
Sheldon Adelson at age 73 and worth $26 Billion has lost fortunes in venture capital and real estate before it striking rich with trade shows. He started Comdex Computer Dealers Expo in 1979. Casino and resort mogul, Adelson promises to change the face of Jewish philanthropy. The new entity will be a major boon to American and Israeli causes, with a pledge to dole out more than $200 million dollars to Jewish causes annually - the largest-ever pledge by a Jewish foundation.
Bernard Arnault at age 58 worth $26 Billion. He built the world's largest fashion and luxury-goods group didn't do so by being soft and frilly. He controls Christian Dior and LVMH, which markets some 50 well-known brands, including Marc Jacobs fashions, Louis Vuitton bags and a cluster of famous champagnes.
Amancio Ortega at age 71 worth $24 Billion. He is majority shareholder of the Inditex group (Industrias de Diseño Textil Sociedad Anónima) which includes the brands Zara, Massimo Dutti, and Pull & Bear. The mysterious Ortega keeps such a low profile that few Spaniards have ever heard of him, and there are practically no photographs of him.
Li Ka-shing at age 78 worth $23 Billion. His businesses encompass such diverse areas as property development and investment, real estate agency and estate management, hotels, telecommunications and e-commerce, finance and investments, retail, ports and related services, energy, infrastructure projects and materials, media, and biotechnology. He is recognized for his philanthropic efforts and his contributions to society
David Thomson at age 49 worth $22 Billion. Took control of family fortune after his father,
Kenneth Thomson, died last June. Well known art collectors, the family bought $5 million worth
of native North American art at auction last year, including a $1.8 million face mask, the highest
amount ever spent on a single piece of native North American art.
"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income." (Ecclesiastes 5:10, NIV)
We see that some of the wealthiest people in the world are giving large sums of it away, as they get
older maybe they realize that they cannot take it with them!
Carlos Slim Helu Age: 67 Fortune: self made Source: telecom Net Worth: $67.0 billion
William Gates III Age: 51 Fortune: self made Source: Microsoft Net Worth: $56.0 billion
Warren Buffett Age: 76 Fortune: self made Source: Berkshire Hathaway Net Worth: $52.0 billion
Ingvar Kamprad Age: 80 Fortune: self made Source: Ikea Net Worth: $33.0 billion
Lakshmi Mittal Age: 56 Fortune: inherited and growing Source: steel Net Worth: $32.0 billion
Sheldon Adelson Age: 73 Fortune: self made Source: casinos, hotels Net Worth: $26.5 billion
Bernard Arnault Age: 58 Fortune: inherited and growing Source: LVMH Net Worth: $26.0 billion
Amancio Ortega Age: 71 Fortune: self made Source: Zara Net Worth: $24.0 billion
Li Ka-shing Age: 78 Fortune: self made Source: diversified Net Worth: $23.0 billion
David Thomson Age: 49 Fortune: inherited Source: inheritance Net Worth: $22.0 billion
David said, Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the
splendor, for everything is heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted
as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. (1 Chronicles
29:11-12 NIV)
We cannot image the wealth that God has in store for us, here in this life and for eternity.
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