Reza Aslan Nails The Jesus Freaks to the Wall...

[Mudhammam]

Serving god means giving that money away.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys"

The only wealth god ever expresses a desire for us to have is the wealth of his kingdom, which is not of this world. The overall message is that god will provide for the faithful, in this life (not that he will make them rich, not that they have to go get money to pay their bills, but that he will provide for them as he provides for birds), and that the only riches to be had- are in the next.

There are examples of wealthy christians in the bible, sure, and they seem to be the perfect excuse to go off on a tirade about wealth at every turn.

To some extent that is the case. I certainly agree that it seems difficult to reconcile wealth and being a Christian but possessing money and enjoying one's self doesn't seem inherently paradoxical to Jesus' message (or his actions; he wined and dined and possessed money).