Get rich quick schemes are so popular in today’s society.
Multi-level companies, the lottery, identity theft, scams and even welfare, all
rob people from the motivation to work. These people end up in more poverty
than they would if they worked for a living and received a steady paycheck (Proverbs
27:24; 28:22). The cares of the world, the lust of the heart, and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the Word of God from the life of those who pursue
worldly gains (Mark 4:19). Get rich quick, surrender your life to God's will.
It is very hard for a wealthy person to depend on God.
Their wealth is a stumbling block, because many of them rely on their human
efforts to gain an advantage in this world (Proverbs 28:11; Matthew 19:24). Those
who possess worldly riches already received their reward (Luke
6:24). Some rich people even gain their wealth by the sweat of
another man’s labors and some even defraud these hard workers of their due.
However, these shysters will reap the destitution they impose on others (Jeremiah
17:11; 22:13-19; Proverbs 21:6).
Riches have a way of flying away on wings (Proverbs
23:5). Often the rich find themselves devoid of anything of
value, and the poor obtain more lasting riches by far (Proverbs
13:7). When we die, we take nothing with us; and those who trust
in material riches gain no eternal value to cherish forever (Psalm
49:16-17). The happiest people on earth are those who have neither
riches nor poverty, but receive their needs from the Lord (Proverbs
16:8; 30:8). When we live in the fear of the Lord, we are wealthier
than all of the kings of the earth (Proverbs 15:6).
Only the Lord can multiply our wealth, so that it will
endure throughout eternity (Deuteronomy 28:1-68). When we buy our gold from
the Lord, it is already tested by fire and makes us perpetually rich (Revelation
3:18). In fact, when we give to the poor, we are actually giving
to God and storing up treasure for our self in heaven (Proverbs
19:17; Luke 18:22-26). God wants to supply all of our needs. First, we
simply seek God and His will for our life, and then He will give us what He
wants us to have (Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:33).
The blessing of the Lord makes us rich indeed, and we have
none of the stress and sorrow that accompanies worldly wealth (Proverbs
10:22). When we give to others, God uses that same measure to give
back to us (Luke 6:38). Therefore, when we sow
sparingly, we reap sparingly (2 Corinthians 9:6). God never forgets what
we do in love for one another (Hebrews 6:10). God loves a hand that gives with
an open palm instead of those with a hard heart and a tightly closed fist (Deuteronomy
15:7-8; 28:47-48).
Prayer:
Father God, remind us not to trust in riches, because they
may be here today, but gone tomorrow (Proverbs 11:28; Zephaniah 1:18). Riches
even have a way of causing a person to forget You, and to curse You when they
end up in ruin (Proverbs 30:9). We know that in the end of the
age, silver and gold will be worthless, people will go hungry and their soul
will be bankrupt (Ezekiel 7:19; Jeremiah 48:36; Ecclesiastes 5:14). Give us
the humility of the poor rather than the self-centeredness, which often comes
with riches (Proverbs 18:23). Your Word reminds us that it is
better to live in a loving home than a rich one (Proverbs 15:16-17).Thought for the Day:
Beware of covetousness: for a man’s life does not consist of the possessions He attains. – Luke 16:14; Ecclesiastes 5:1
