It is the desire of God that you should get rich. He wants you to get rich because he can express himself better through you if you have plenty of things to use in giving him expression. He can live more in you if you have unlimited command of the means of life.
You must want real life， not mere pleasure or sensual gratification. Life is the performance of function， and the individual really lives only when he performs every function—physical， mental， and spiritual—of which he is capable， without excess in any.
You do not want to get rich in order to live swinishly， for the gratification of animal desires. That is not life. But the performance of every physical function is a part of life， and no one lives completely who denies the impulses of the body a normal and healthful expression.
You do not want to get rich solely to enjoy mental pleasures， to get knowledge， to gratify ambition， to outshine others， to be famous. All these are a legitimate part of life， but the person who lives for the pleasures of the intellect alone will only have a partial life， and he will never be satisfied with his lot.
You do not want to get rich solely for the good of others， to lose yourself for the salvation of mankind， to experience the joys of philanthropy and sacrifice. The joys of the soul are only a part of life， and they are no better or nobler than any other part.
You want to get rich in order that you may eat， drink， and be merry when it is time to do these things； in order that you may surround yourself with beautiful things， see distant lands， feed your mind， and develop your intellect； in order that you may love others and do kind things， and be able to play a good part in helping the world to find truth.
But remember that extreme altruism is no better and no nobler than extreme selfishness； both are mistakes. Get rid of the idea that God wants you to sacrifice yourself for others and that you can secure his favor by doing so. God requires nothing of the kind. What God wants is that you should make the most of yourself， for yourself， and for others. And you can help others more by making the most of yourself than in any other way.