Riches is what the world lives for, as the flesh lives the riches of the world, for its loves the world (1 John 2:16). Riches can be defined as that which is enjoyed in abundance. They are things which can be enjoyed. Riches is not a virtue in the eyes of God, and so being rich or poor is not a sin. That riches is not a sin, or having riches is not a sin, is by no means that riches do not pose a danger to the soul.
The Bible constantly warns of the snare that the pursuit of earthly riches gives:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:19-25).
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:15).
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (1 Timothy 6:9-11).
Riches are absolutely anything that can be enjoyed, whether it be money, family, relationships or job. It is not just luxury items, worldly power or prestigious positions. No! The reason why people tend to think riches are only such things is because they themselves think they are they entitled to what they have. They think that they are already being "modest" by not having as much as others. This is the height of pride. Such thinking is the manifestation of one being under the spirit of mammon. To think that one is entitled to what one has, and enjoy it for oneself, whether it be family, children or fellowship is exactly what it means to be under the spirit of mammon.
True riches are riches found only in Christ, not family, ministry, or even church fellowship. It is found only in Christ:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily (Colossians 1:27-29).
False riches are not merely material things that the stereotypical liberal seeks after, as many in the modern Church seem to think. They are absolutely anything that is earthly which can be sought to indulge the flesh in. You may think you cannot be under the spirit of mammon because you love your family and do not seek to be rich. Such false riches can be family, relationships and church fellowship. As long as you are seeking anything for yourself, or to hold back to such things for yourself even to the slightest, you are under the spirit of mammon for you are not giving all to God.
The Bible constantly warns of the snare that the pursuit of earthly riches gives:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:19-25).
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:15).
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (1 Timothy 6:9-11).
Riches are absolutely anything that can be enjoyed, whether it be money, family, relationships or job. It is not just luxury items, worldly power or prestigious positions. No! The reason why people tend to think riches are only such things is because they themselves think they are they entitled to what they have. They think that they are already being "modest" by not having as much as others. This is the height of pride. Such thinking is the manifestation of one being under the spirit of mammon. To think that one is entitled to what one has, and enjoy it for oneself, whether it be family, children or fellowship is exactly what it means to be under the spirit of mammon.
True riches are riches found only in Christ, not family, ministry, or even church fellowship. It is found only in Christ:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily (Colossians 1:27-29).
False riches are not merely material things that the stereotypical liberal seeks after, as many in the modern Church seem to think. They are absolutely anything that is earthly which can be sought to indulge the flesh in. You may think you cannot be under the spirit of mammon because you love your family and do not seek to be rich. Such false riches can be family, relationships and church fellowship. As long as you are seeking anything for yourself, or to hold back to such things for yourself even to the slightest, you are under the spirit of mammon for you are not giving all to God.
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