Friends, we live in a world where getting a good education and getting a good job is the priority. We want to make it in life! And yet for some, the priority is getting a job where we can provide for our family, pay our bills, and maybe set something aside for retirement.
But regardless of our position it’s always good to be cautious, because sometimes we can focus so much on the things of this life that we fail to focus on the things of the heart, such as, my relationship to God. Jesus warns us in Lk.12:15: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
How would you describe your life? Does your life consist in getting things or securing things? Now, having wealth, nice clothes or a fine home are not bad things, but the question is – does your life consist in those things? The apostle Paul warns us in 1Tim.6:9, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts.”
Yes, a sinful desire for wealth is a snare that many fall into, even God’s own people! We work, toil, and sweat.
We work save our money and invest our savings, which again is not bad, but when we’re trusting in them for our security or happiness in life then we’re in trouble. For earthly wealth is elusive and deceptive. Your wealth can sprout wings and take off leaving you empty handed and unsatisfied. Proverbs 23:4-5 says, “Do not overwork to be rich… for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”
Therefore, we need to be wise and see things from a proper, Biblical view. Jesus says in Luke 12:21 that we need to be “rich toward God,” that is, we need to find our riches (true, spiritual riches) in a living relationship with the true and living God. And how do we do that? Well, by faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of our lives.
For life in Jesus is the key to a blessed and contented life. That way if we have little or much, if we are wealthy or poor, we can say that we are “rich toward God” in Jesus, for those are riches that will never run out in this life. For when our treasure found in Him, we never have to fear that it will sprout wings and fly away!
Ask the Lord to give you a proper view of your wealth and your work. What are your priorities? Do you work only for things that will fade away in time, or do you labour, trusting that God will meet all your needs?
Pray that God would give you that heavenward focus when it comes your wealth and to your work.
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Ancel Merwin serves as pastor at Immanuel United Reformed Church of Listowel.
