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READ | Proverbs 3:9-10
If you knew that something you desired could destroy your life, would
you keep chasing after it? The Bible warns about a certain kind of
pursuit that can cause one to:
- Fall into sin.
- Be mastered by foolish
wishes.
- Engage in activities that
erode character.
- Plunge into moral ruin.
- Wander from faith.
In spite of these dire warnings, many people are ruled by a longing
to get rich.
There is nothing wrong with being affluent so long as we follow God’s
rules for wise living. Specifically, we are to honor Him with our money (Prov. 3:9), which includes acknowledging that He is the rightful owner
and giving it cheerfully (Ps. 50:10; 2 Cor. 9:7). The desire for riches becomes a sin when accumulation is
among our highest priorities. In that case, the god we serve is
treasure.
Believers are to live by grace in every aspect of their lives,
including finances. That means we surrender wages, portfolio, and
charitable giving into God’s hands. Furthermore, we accept what He gives
as enough, even when the bank account seems low by the world’s
standards. He has promised to supply our needs, so we’re to regard
financial gains and losses as part of His will and plan.
I am not preaching a so-called “prosperity gospel,” wherein godly
people are rewarded with riches. Poverty and tough times are as common
to believers as to unbelievers. However, the Bible promises that if we
live by God’s grace, He will provide amply for whatever we need (2 Cor. 9:8).