Now Listen, You Rich People!

his 3-D hit "Avatar," based on its worldwide 2010 box-office gross of $1.95 billion, as well as his share of DVD and pay-television sales.

The 56-year-old director easily beat actor Johnny Depp, who scored the No. 2 spot earning $100 million after collecting paychecks from several 2010 films including "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Tourist," etc.

And what about sports figures?

ILL.- 50 top-earning American athletes features 19 NBA players, 17 baseball players, eight NFL players, three NASCAR drivers and three golfers. Here are some on the list:
- Tiger Woods at 62 Million
- Phil Mikelson (golfer) at 61 Million
- LeBron James (basketball player) at 44.5 Million
- Peyton Manning (football player) at 38 Million
- Alex Rodriguez (baseball player) at 36 Million
- Kobe Bryant (basketball player) at 34.8 Million

We know a little about their income. What about their lifestyle?

They live high and live in big houses!

ILL.- Four-time boxing champ Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield reportedly made over $250 million in cash during his boxing career, but despite this he reportedly is flat broke. Holyfield lost all his money by making “smart” business decisions look really foolish. You thought buying a house was a smart move? It normally is, but not when you buy a house the size of Rhode Island.

Holyfield bought a $20 million house with over 54,000 square feet and 109 rooms. The house has 11 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, a movie theater, a bowling alley and an Olympic-size swimming pool. Imagine how much it must cost to cut the grass on all 235 acres! You could buy a Range Rover with the electric bill payment alone.

And Evander Holyfield is just one example of high living or luxurious and self-indulgent living! Many wicked rich people live in the lap of luxury and think nothing of the poor and needy around them. This is what James is talking about.

4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

We all need to be reminded that we also are rich and there are needy people around us! This is why we give to such places as missions and the Salvation Army, etc.

I Timothy 6:17-19 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

CONCLUSION----------------

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. This could well be, if they are wicked rich people. Weeping and wailing doesn’t sound very inviting, does it? What do you think it stands for?

Ephesians 5:5 “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

ILL.- In March 2009, Bernie Madoff pleaded guilty to