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Riches
“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” (Proverbs 23:4-5).
There are many warnings in Scripture against making the accumulation of wealth the object of the heart. The person who, trusting in his own wisdom, ignores divine instruction as to this, will find, when too late, that he has set his eyes upon that which is fleeting at best. Earthly treasure is often dissipated and frittered away far more easily than it is collected and accumulated. Like eagles they fly away, leaving the person whose mind was set upon them, disappointed and heart-sick.
Many people will strain every nerve and exhaust every scheme to become possessed of money which they can never enjoy. Even as believers we are slow to learn that riches in themselves do not satisfy the human heart. Therefore Paul said to Timothy, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
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