Even Rich People Feel Anxious About Money

I came across a very interesting article in The Straits Times on 30 August 2026 titled, “Even rich people feel anxious about money.”

The article gave several interesting examples.

Imagine someone earning $100,000 a year. Instead of being thankful, he loses sleep wondering whether he can make $200,000 the following year.

Another person has $2 million, but his mind is already occupied with how to get to $3 million.

The goalpost keeps shifting.

And when he reaches $3 million, perhaps $5 million becomes the next target.

Then $10 million.

Then $20 million.

When is enough, enough?

The article even cited Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose net worth has reportedly reached around US$187 billion, making him one of the richest people in the world. Yet despite this enormous wealth and success, he has spoken about his fears and worries that his business could fail.

This raises an important question:

If having more wealth does not necessarily remove anxiety, then perhaps our problem is not how much we have, but how we view what we have.

We often assume that if we have enough money, we will finally become financially secure and happy.

“If only I have $1 million…”

“If only I have $3 million…”

“If only I can retire with $5 million…”

“If only my investments can double…”

Then, when we reach that number, we discover something uncomfortable.

The number has changed.

The $1 million that once seemed like an enormous amount is no longer enough.

The $3 million becomes the new minimum.

The goalpost keeps moving.

Why?

Because money was never designed to give us ultimate security.

Jesus warned us:

Notice what Jesus did not say.

He did not say possessions are necessarily bad.

He said life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.

We can possess wealth without allowing wealth to possess us.

Here is where Biblical financial stewardship becomes very different from the world's approach to money.

The world says:

“This is my money.”

The Bible says:

“It belongs to God.”

Psalm 24:1 says:

Everything ultimately belongs to Him.

Our money.

Our businesses.

Our investments.

Our properties.

Our talents.

Our opportunities.

Even our ability to create wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us:

That changes everything.

If I believe I am the owner, I become frightened of losing what I own.

If I believe I am the steward, my responsibility is simply to manage faithfully what the Owner has entrusted to me.

That is a completely different mindset.

Suppose I have $2 million.

I want $3 million.

Why?

Perhaps there is nothing wrong with wanting to grow resources. The Bible does teach us to be productive and faithful with what God entrusts to us.

But there is a fundamental question we need to ask:

Who decided that I must have $3 million?

God?

Or me?

We sometimes behave as though wealth accumulation is entirely within our control.

“I will double my money.”

“I will grow my business.”

“I will achieve this return.”

“I will reach this net worth.”

But Scripture reminds us that ultimately, God is sovereign.

Proverbs 16:9 says:

We plan.

We work.

We invest.

We build.

We make wise decisions.

But we must never forget who ultimately controls the outcome.

James gives us a very practical warning:

There is nothing wrong with setting financial goals.

The danger begins when our goals become our master.

This is a difficult question.

What if God has entrusted me with $2 million, but I desperately want $5 million?

What if God has given me a successful business, but I am constantly anxious because I want it to become ten times bigger?

What if God has given me enough, but I am unable to enjoy His provision because I am constantly chasing more?

Perhaps we need to ask a different question.

Instead of:

“How much more can I accumulate?”

we should ask:

“How faithfully am I stewarding what God has already entrusted to me?”

That is a much more important question.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 teaches us that the master entrusted different amounts to his servants and later evaluated what they did with what they had received.

The issue was not that everyone received the same amount.

The issue was faithfulness.

God does not compare my stewardship with yours.

He asks me what I did with what He entrusted to me.

This is why wealth can be a blessing, but wealth can also become a burden.

Money itself is not necessarily evil.

But our relationship with money can become dangerous.

Paul writes:

Notice again: the Bible does not say money is the root of all evil.

It says the love of money.

A person can have $100,000 and be controlled by money.

Another can have $100 million and also be controlled by money.

The issue is not simply the size of the bank account.

The issue is the condition of the heart.

A wealthy person can be poor in peace.

A wealthy person can be rich in possessions but poor in contentment.

A wealthy person can have millions in the bank but still live every day afraid that tomorrow he will have less.

That is not financial freedom.

The world teaches us:

“Accumulate enough money so that you never have to worry again.”

The Bible teaches something deeper:

“Trust God, be content, and faithfully steward whatever He entrusts to you.”

Paul gives us a remarkable principle:

Contentment is not having everything we want.

Contentment is being at peace with God regardless of what He has entrusted to us.

And perhaps this is one of the greatest financial lessons we can learn.

If God gives more, steward more.

If God gives less, steward less.

If God allows our investments to grow, thank Him and steward the increase.

If circumstances cause us to lose, trust Him and continue to be faithful.

Our identity and security cannot be tied to our net worth.

There is nothing inherently wrong with becoming wealthier.

If God gives someone the ability to build a successful business, create jobs, invest wisely and generate substantial wealth, that can be used for good.

But the question is:

What is the wealth for?

Is it simply to buy a bigger house?

A more expensive car?

Another luxury watch?

A larger investment portfolio?

Or can some of it be used for God's Kingdom, for the needy, for family, for employees, for society and for purposes that outlive us?

Paul gives wealthy believers very clear instructions:

There it is.

Do not put your hope in wealth.

Why?

Because wealth is uncertain.

Markets change.

Businesses fail.

Economies slow down.

Investments fall.

Health can change.

Circumstances change.

But God does not.

Yes, wealth can be a blessing.

But wealth is not automatically a blessing simply because we have more of it.

If wealth brings us closer to God, enables us to bless others, supports His Kingdom and gives us greater opportunities to serve, it can certainly be a wonderful provision from Him.

But if wealth makes us greedy, anxious, proud, fearful and obsessed with accumulating more, then the very thing we call a “blessing” may actually be controlling us.

Perhaps the greater blessing is not having more.

Perhaps the greater blessing is being content with what God has entrusted to us and being faithful with it.

Maybe tonight, instead of asking:

“How much more money do I need?”

ask:

“What does God want me to do with what I already have?”

Instead of asking:

“How can I double my wealth?”

ask:

“How can I multiply the impact of the resources God has entrusted to me?”

Instead of asking:

“How much do I need before I can finally relax?”

ask:

“Do I trust God enough to be content today?”

And instead of saying:

“This is mine,”

perhaps we should learn to say:

“Lord, this is Yours. Show me how You want me to steward it.”

That is the heart of Beyond Financial Stewardship.

Because ultimately, Biblical financial stewardship is not about becoming wealthy.

It is about becoming faithful stewards of the wealth and resources that belong to God.

And when we truly understand that we are stewards rather than owners, perhaps we can finally stop carrying a burden that was never ours to carry.

The Owner is God.

The resources are His.

The responsibility is ours.

And the outcome belongs to Him.

Faithful stewardship is not about how much wealth we own, but how faithfully we manage what God has entrusted to us.

Blessings,

David Poh

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