By Chuck Bentley

A recent article in Yahoo Finance revealed that a high profile music star put on the lavish lifestyle of a rap tycoon, but he says the bling-bling in the videos is all returned to the store.

The rapper, who has filed for bankruptcy, has testified in court that his ostentatious displays of wealth are all a show.

Curtis James Jackson III said that his flashy cars and jewelry were all borrowed and that his own possessions included a Casio rather than Rolex watch. He is best known for the album and movie “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.”

While this is a sad and sordid story of one wanting to display a pretentious life of ease, comfort, and worry-free riches, it happens to millions of others who also live well beyond the lifestyle they can actually afford.

Today’s easy credit and low interest rates offer Americans the ability to leverage their spending in a way to give an appearance of wealth that is not reality. We have become a land of McMansions, designer clothes, high tech gadgets, and flashy cars, and much of it is based on borrowed money.

Proverbs 12:9 says, “Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.”

Free yourself from the concerns of other people’s opinions and you will do far better managing your financial choices than trying to keep up appearances. This requires genuine humility, an eternal focus, and a heart to serve—not simply impress—others.

Not only will you have a far more secure financial foundation, you will also have what the Bible calls true riches. And contrary to the movie title, Get Rich or Die Tryin, you will live with true riches now and for eternity.

Originally posted 8/4/2015.