Apparently, Elon Musk is officially the first ever trillionaire. Largely due to his company SpaceX going public, and people buying stock in his company.

Many came out claiming that no one should be a trillionaire, so they demand that he should be taxed even more than anyone else.

Several things before I continue. Sure, Elon may be worth a trillion dollars, but that’s on paper. He doesn’t have a trillion dollars sitting in a bank. It’s tied up in property and his companies, all of which not only provide services and products people want, but he employs thousands of people who are likely millionaires themselves. He creates, he doesn’t steal or destroy.

Regardless, what Elon, or anyone else for that matter, makes is no one else’s business. It’s his money, his companies, so he can do with it whatever he pleases. I can’t help but think that those angry at Elon for being so rich comes from a place of envy. Why else should he care about his net worth if it doesn’t adversely affect them (which it doesn’t)?

Scripture talks about the dangers of envy, all the way back to Genesis when the serpent tempted Eve that she could be like God, when Cain murdered Abel, because God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s. God found it such a grievous sin, he included it as the 10th Commandment: “You shall not covet.”

Proverbs 14:30 is a bit more graphic on the dangers of envy: “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” (ESV)

In fact, the entire chapter could describe our society today. A few examples:

1. A wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down (v1).

2. Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways (v2).

3. The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning (v6).

I highly recommend reading and studying the rest of the chapter. So many pearls of wisdom that apply to us today.