BUGATTI IN OUR BIBLE STUDY

Luke‬ 12:15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”( NLT).

Recently, in a bible study meeting, our teacher taught on proper christian conduct. She touched the subject of money and how believers should live a moderate life devoid of ostentation.

A brother asked a question saying, "If a christian has suffered so much in life and later experience a financial breakthrough, can he buy a Bugatti since he is now blessed"( paraphrase). Now, the bible study leader hadn't heard "bugatti" until that time.

Quickly, I checked the price of a bugatti on google. My findings showed a price range of N500million naira to N800 million naira. What!!! In my mind, I couldn't calculate the number of outreaches, tracts, Gospel literature, missionaries,church buildings and other projects of kingdom interest this amount will fund.

The christian who purchase a bugatti should not be seen as a sinner If his money is clean but we need to judge his decision using certain biblical parameters and he need to answer certain questions sincerely.

How much is he contributing to the spread of the Gospel among the unreached peoples? How many missionaries has he sent to the mission field? How many poor people has he lifted from poverty and empowered? Is he buying the vehicle to compensate for his years of suffering? What does he need a bugatti for? Are there no moderate vehicles of moderate prices that can still serve?

The issue is not whether a Christian can buy a bugatti or not if affordable. For me, the issue is about moderation and kingdom priority. How will you feel driving a bugatti around town? Paul says, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand" ( Phil 4:5).

Do we need good cars? Yes, we need them. I need vehicles that will navigate rural terrains during our mission outreaches. I need a vehicle that will be comfortable for my family on our trips. A strong and durable one at that but not a Bugatti, please.

Someone may ask, "How is owning a Bugatti different from owning a private jet. Are they not in thesame class"? They are different in many ways. For a business man who has to make many business trips, a private jet is a necessity. For a preacher who has to preach in many countries without subjecting himself to the hassles of commercial flight operations like delay, cancellation and other time-wasting processes, a private jet is necessary. It aids the work of ministry. For me, I'm yet to see what a Bugatti will do for me that a good four wheeler won't do. It is just luxury not a necessity.

I read the story of Bishop Oyedepo that buttresses this point. In company of a friend, they visited a store in Canada. His friend saw an item worth $10,000 and asked If he would buy it. He refused and told him that amount would plant many rural churches. He had the money to buy that item but kingdom expansion was his priority. That was what guided his spending.

Why should a Christian take pride in wearing a million dollar wrist-watch? Will it tell the time of rapture? Why many are not blessed by God is because their heart is not positioned towards kingdom expansion. God knows that blessing them will not profit his work here on earth.

If we go by the teaching of scriptures, our spending must reflect kingdom priorities not our selfish and materialistic cravings. God is not pleased when we abandon his work and spend on our materialistic and self-centred cravings to show we have arrived.

Sometimes, luxurious lifestyle is not necessarily a sign of wealth but unhealthy stewardship of money and unwise living. You'll be surprised to know that the top wealthiest guys in the world live moderately. They are not so big on buying the latests.

Money-wise, buying a luxury car is not an investment but a liability. That is why some of the wealthiest won't buy certain vehicle. The cost of maintaining some vehicles can transform many lives If spent on humanity. I know celebrities who earn very high love these things and are in a rat race to keep up with the Joneses but that is not suppose to be the lifestyle of a believer.

In Haggai 1:4, the Lord says, “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins"? If it were to be in our day, that scripture may read thus: "Why are you buying a bugatti while there are many missionaries to be sent on missions among the unreached?

This is the command of God to us: "Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord"( Haggai 1:8).

In this piece, I have shared my personal opinion from a scriptural perspective and I hinged it on moderation and kingdom priority. Your may have a different opinion but as a believer, when God blesses, will you buy a bugatti?