Bible Reading: Leviticus 8; Psalm 9; Proverbs 23; 1 Thessalonians 2
Proverbs 23:4-5 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
How many have worked their whole lives to be rich? Some have achieved this goal but most have not. Here we have a directed statement in God's Word instructing us not to labor to be rich. We also read that we must cease from our own wisdom. It is the wisdom of man that causes one to labor to be rich. The problem with riches is that they are so uncertain. When you are looking at worldly wealth, you are setting your eye on that which is not!
Riches many times involve equity. This is subject to change with political maneuvering and with every swing and fluctuation of the market! A big downturn in the stock market proves how supposed riches are 'that which is not'! One day your portfolio shows you to have a great wealth and the next week, it is one half the size! It is like all your wealth made wings like an eagle and flew away! Inflation does the same thing. You have a large sum of money and you find that it won't buy as much as it would have ten years earlier.
For this reason, God's word tells us that to direct our energies at gaining worldly wealth is not wise and we should cease from that pursuit. Does this mean we should not work? No, we should work to make a living. We should not labor to be rich! It is all about the motivation of our work. Money can become an idol in our lives very easily. Jesus wants us free to love and serve him.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
When you labor to be rich you will find that you are serving Mammon and not serving Jesus! Instead we need to heed Jesus' Words about where our energies should be directed.
John 6:27-29 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Don't spend your life on things that will not last! Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness and trust him to provide the things you need.
In Christ,
Rody
