The Desire to be Rich
Over the years of my life, I have met many people who had the desire to be rich. That desire caused them to focus on money, whether they had any or not. It caused some to put all of their energy into work and into advancing in their profession, so they could make more money. The long hours and stress of their jobs kept them from the Lord and their families. Maybe Paul was thinking of some of these same things when he wrote to his son in the ministry, Timothy. (I Timothy 6:9) One thing is certain. There are dangers associated with the desire to be rich.
When we desire to be rich, we fall into temptation. If there is a way to make more money, we are tempted to go that way, even if it is not ethical or legal. People lie on their taxes, and cheat people on the products or services they sell. Money becomes a god to be served, and that false god leads us into temptation. It also leads into traps or snares. We can borrow more money than we can afford to pay back and get caught in the debt trap. This snare is there because we are acting like we have more money than we really have. Also, it could be that we come up with a get rich quick scheme that leads us into bankruptcy or great debt. In general, the desire to be rich leads to many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. We can be guilty of neglecting spiritual things and our families, so that we never come to salvation, and we lose our family due to divorce or other tactics of Satan to destroy us and those around us. As Paul said, it is much better to be content with food and shelter, so that we can concentrate on godliness, not money.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Timothy 2-4.
When we desire to be rich, we fall into temptation. If there is a way to make more money, we are tempted to go that way, even if it is not ethical or legal. People lie on their taxes, and cheat people on the products or services they sell. Money becomes a god to be served, and that false god leads us into temptation. It also leads into traps or snares. We can borrow more money than we can afford to pay back and get caught in the debt trap. This snare is there because we are acting like we have more money than we really have. Also, it could be that we come up with a get rich quick scheme that leads us into bankruptcy or great debt. In general, the desire to be rich leads to many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. We can be guilty of neglecting spiritual things and our families, so that we never come to salvation, and we lose our family due to divorce or other tactics of Satan to destroy us and those around us. As Paul said, it is much better to be content with food and shelter, so that we can concentrate on godliness, not money.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Timothy 2-4.