“Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death” (Prov 11:4). With Adam’s disobedience, the enemy of our soul was handed authority over all of the kingdoms of the world as clearly indicated in Scripture when Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness prior to beginning ministry. Satan showed Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world and said, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all by yours” (Luke 4:6,7). It is a temptation having resemblance to that with which we are constantly exposed, yet all to often fail to recognize. For having wealth may give us authority as well as splendor in the eyes of the world, but never from God’s perspective. And in seeking of wealth as opposed to righteousness, we inadvertently find ourselves worshiping Satan.
There are few warnings repeated throughout Proverbs as frequently as those giving strong admonition to avoid undue emphasis on gaining wealth. And the same is true of teachings by Jesus who warns “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). The proverbs of Solomon urge one to avoid trying to fill one’s house with valuable things should it require compromise of godly principles (Proverbs 1:10-14). “Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it” (1:19). Instead we are told, “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green life” (11:28). Take care to note that God is not saying one who trusts in his riches MIGHT fall, but that he surely will. Yet it’s a message not only ignored in most pulpits. Many are spiritual leaders under deception of the devil who accumulate great wealth and live in shameless self-indulgence.
There is a day ahead commonly referred to as that “Day” when judgment comes and we’re told it begins in the house of the Lord. Those knowing God’s will but choosing instead to do as seems right in their own eyes will suffer eternal torment with many blows compared to those who do not know God’s will but do things deserving of punishment and suffer but few blows (Luke 12:47,48). The other side of the coin is that some are indeed really blessed with significant riches by the providence of God. In such cases, we are given very specific directions in God’s Word as to one’s responsibility to help those who are less fortunate. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (12:48).
