Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 22

Fleeting Riches

Proverb 23:4-5 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

There is something deceitful about the material wealth of this world. In all our endeavours, this proverb warns us against labouring to be rich.

Verse 5 says “riches certainly make themselves wings” (this is a term of emphatic “certainty”). Riches that come to us can also be taken away from us.

The command in these two verses is the word “cease”. Cease from our own deception that labouring for riches is what life is all about.

As we look at the world today, we see how material wealth and riches are highly esteemed. The rich are portrayed as people having a good life and respected by the world. And because of this, many desire to become rich.

Beware of the Sin of Covetousness

Jesus says in Luke 12:15 “…Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Life is precious and men are not meant to exist to gain an abundance of material possessions.

Many are motivated to amass more and more riches. They are never satisfied. They are like vacuum cleaners that suck in dirt and dust and hoard them all up in a bag to be eventually disposed of.

Man is meant to fulfil the supreme purpose of serving God and giving Him all the honour and glory.

Riches is an Insecure Possession

Insecurity is the by-product of building our lives around persons, positions, or possessions. With it comes fear. Fear because we are aware that we could lose our possessions. Anxiety follows. Worry and pressure from financial cares become greater. Then, disillusionment.

Riches and possessions have built-in demands for protection and maintenance. Thus, the things we own can soon own us.

Give your heart to God and give it not to inordinate desires for more riches.

Choose to Serve God rather than Riches

 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.

“Mammon” is the Syrian god of riches. This term is usually used in a derogatory sense to describe property, wealth and earthly goods. It is used to personify the worship of “gold” and not God.  

There was a man in his entire life who had wanted to be rich.  He saved every penny he made, and invested wisely. With money came power, and he aimed to be one of the most powerful men around. Over time he came to desire money with all his heart. His investments became more and more risky as he tried for fast profit. All his life he had seemed to have a Midas touch, but then it turned to brass. A series of ill-advised investments ate up his wealth. In panic, he tried to recover his losses, but in his haste, he lost the rest of what he had. He had given himself totally to making money, and after a long life he had absolutely nothing to show for it.

It is better to give ourselves to something which cannot be taken away from us. Money is here and then gone, but faith in God endures forever. The treasure He gives us is eternal. Joy, peace, strength, love, and a thousand other precious gifts can be ours if we will pursue God with all our heart, mind and soul. He is the only thing worthy of such devotion. Everything else is a deception. It may seem worthwhile, but in reality it is without value. Give your heart to God. [Wisdom From the Proverbs – Daily Thoughts and Meditations, 11 October, Dan & Nancy Dick]

Dear brethren, as we study these two verses, let us beware of the sin of covetousness. Let us realize riches are insecure possessions. Let us choose to serve God rather than mammon. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee