What is wealth? Ask around and you’ll receive all sorts of answers. Some definitions of wealth are textbook, others controversial, and many are quiet and personal. Wealth, as it turns out, is a very difficult thing to measure.
Personal Definitions of Wealth
I’ve found wealth to fall into four main pursuits. Some may relate solely with one, while others desire aspects of each.
Person A: Material Wealth
Scroll social media, and wealth often means having a big house, an expensive car, and extravagant trips. It might mean dining at top restaurants whenever you please, splurging on a $1,000 bottle of champagne, or having a closet filled with designer brands.
Person B: Independence Wealth
Others desire the freedom to walk away from a job without financial worry — often referred to as “FU money.” Is your boss unbearable? FU money grants the freedom to confidently say, “I don’t need you.”
Person C: Time Wealth
Some view wealth as the freedom to choose how they spend their time. It may align with owning their own business, a concept we’ve discussed here at Break Out Money Guys. To these individuals, true wealth is doing what you want, whenever you choose.
Person D: Relational Wealth
The most noble explanation — one I personally resonate with — is relational wealth. This means having family who love you, friends who enjoy your company, and the freedom to spend meaningful time with those who matter most.
Different Types of Wealth: What Do You Value?
If wealth is measured based on what people value, and people value different things, how can we answer what wealth actually is?
- Person A values material wealth because they associate significance and status with physical possessions and their monetary worth.
- Person B values independence and control, desiring financial independence to avoid being subjected to authority or values they don’t share.
- Person C highly values their time, acknowledging time freedom as life’s most precious resource. Who truly wants to spend their days on menial tasks when more fulfilling activities exist?
- Person D places the highest value in relationships. For them, relational wealth is paramount — marriage, family, friendships, and community take precedence over material possessions.
Despite their contrast, each perspective is tied together by one critical element: value.
The True Meaning of Wealth at Break Out Money Guys
Wealth isn’t measured by the amount of money in your bank account, but by the life you choose to live each day. What your life demonstrates — directly or indirectly — is a powerful and overlooked indicator of your true wealth.
That’s why our conversations at BOMG often venture into areas like discipline, mindset, relationships, and worldview. David and I ground our wisdom in a biblical perspective on wealth. Our worldview isn’t just rooted in our faith — it’s the very foundation everything else is built on.
You might disagree, and that’s okay. If we didn’t genuinely believe our thoughts were of value, we wouldn’t be sharing them. Our perspective may appear unconventional or even countercultural — but so is what the Bible teaches.
Reflecting on Your Personal Definition of Wealth
Whether or not you share our beliefs, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on what matters most to you. In today’s fast-paced environment, soul-searching is rare. We crave quick insights and fast-food wisdom. But if you’ve read this far, take a moment to pause and ask yourself:
- What do I want my life to be about?
- What am I truly building toward, and is it worthy of my effort?
- If everything I’m chasing becomes reality tomorrow, will I be fulfilled?
You may discover that the goals you’re pursuing aren’t as satisfying or meaningful as you expected. True wealth, after all, is simply possessing what we cherish most.