Wealth
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11, ESV
Awhile back I was speaking to a loved one who buys lottery tickets all the time. I have always told them that purchasing those tickets is a waste of their money. Their response would always be that it doesn’t say you can’t gamble in the Bible.
Scriptures give us clear direction on how we should attain wealth. It is not through hasty behavior but by gathering little by little with honest gain. In the book of Exodus, we learn that the Israelites did not increase in number overnight, but they multiplied day by day in their oppression. The Bible says the more they were oppressed the more they increased. Their multiplication was so abundant that Pharaoh and his people dreaded them. Pharaoh even established decrees to have all the males of Hebrew origin killed.
But Pharaoh’s decree did not stop God from blessing His people. Although they were under bondage of the Egyptians, God never stopped watching over them and prospering their population. The Israelites did not receive their wealth of material abundance until they were leaving Egypt, but God had still made them into a mighty nation. Scriptures teaches us that we are to not lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but we are to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-21).
In Matthew 19:16-30, Jesus pointed out that the rich young man who came before Him loved his money more than anything else. The issue wasn’t that the young man was rich but that he treasured his riches and did not treasure what he could have had in Christ. Jesus told the man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, “…and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (verse 21). The young man left Jesus sad, because he was very rich, and was unwilling to make Jesus his true treasure.
God is so gracious and has no problem prospering us in all that we do. His concern is that our heart is filled with the love of God and not the love of money. He says that He has given us the power to get wealth through His plan, not through the quick schemes of the world (Deuteronomy 8:18). As we keep our minds on the Word of God and follow His decrees, He will open up the windows of heaven and pour down blessings until there is no more need.
Father, there is always the temptation from the enemy to chase after the wealth of the world. But we do not want that to be the desire of our heart. We pray for change and transformation in our soul so that all we want is you and what you have ordained for us. Let us not get distracted in wasting your resources on frivolous things that do not bring you glory. To you be glory and praise. Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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