Earthly Wealth is an Illusion. Money has Wings. Do Not be Seduced by the False 'Security' of Earthly Wealth
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 23:5).
If there is one thing that everyone is concerned about, it is financial security. Not a fulfilling career, luxury cars, houses, relationships, or leisure, but financial security. It is simply so natural to the flesh to be concerned about earthly financial security, and set one's mind on such.
Christian commentator Ted Shoebat of shoebat.com wrote on his facebook page:
The conventional perception on wealth is an illusion. Just because you have a lot does not make you wealthy. True wealth is a life without debt, a simple life, and a life living within one's means.
Indeed, Mr Shoebat is correct. The conventional perception of wealth is that of possession and money amassed to some 'sufficient level', such that one can be financially 'secure'.
Well my friends, let me tell you this: there is nothing secure in this world, and that includes "your" money which you are so smug behind. The money you have is not even "yours". It is God's money given to you to steward. Only a proud heart thinks that the money he has is "his". Only a fool thinks that wealth is lasting and provides security. Yet, that is what so many in the west, including many in the modern western Church think. To Hell with such foolishness!
The King James translation of Proverbs 23:5 refers to wealth as "that which is not", implying not only that believing that wealth provides security is an illusion, but that wealth itself is an illusion. It is an illusion as it simply is that which can be gone at anytime, like a bird with wings which cannot be controlled.
Other translations indicate the same meaning:
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle (NIV).
In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle (NLT).
When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven (ESV).
When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens (NASB)
Wealth itself diminishes as that the nature of wealth. You may claim you have investments. That most definitely diminishes. Investments can decrease in value by nature, as they are speculative. Investment is simply only a foolish earthly fleshly attempt to increase wealth for wealth's sake. The spirit of financial investment goes against the spirit of Mathew 6:19-21:
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.
That is why the whole idea of superannuation in Australia is an anti-Christian concept, of the spirit of mammon. It ensnares the soul as it is the laying up of treasures on earth, as opposed to trusting in God to provide.
More subtle and respectable among Christians, is the belief that one key benefit of marriage is increased wealth, (assuming it does not end in divorce), such that it is one reason why Christians should find joy in marriage. The issue is not whether it is factually true. The issue is that such a mindset is one focused on earthly financial security. This belief is a despicable fleshly belief as it shows a lack of trust in God, in finding joy from increased so-called 'wealth'.
Such a claim will only stir up anxiety in single Christians who are not that strong in faith, and cause them to stumble, by tempting them to set their minds of marriage, rather than Christ and Christ alone. Such a claim needs to be rebuked!
As long as a person is anxious about money, he or she is under the spirit of mammon, and enslaved to it. Not only is he enslaved, but he is made foolish, and making himself susceptible to sin where mammon tempts him. For such a person loves money.
Love of money does not mean that one has emotional feelings about cold hard cash, though some silly irrational fools might have such feelings. Love of mammon is obedience to mammon. It is to serve mammon, submitting to its demands, being willing to sin or compromise with sin where money can be gained.
Just as to love Christ is to obey Christ, to love mammon is to obey mammon (John 14:15, 23). For example,
Do not think mammon cannot be a snare to your faith, causing you to lose the race. There are many cases where people who are strong in the faith became successful in their careers, becoming rich, and as a result, erred from the faith. They are just evidence of what the Bible has already warned:
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).
Hence, the exhortation in the following verse (v 12):
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Never ever ever ever let earthly wealth ensure your soul, and cause you to err from the faith. Do not listen to the lies of needing earthly wealth. Treat wealth as disposable, as you will either treat wealth or God as disposable. You cannot love both. Be warned.
If there is one thing that everyone is concerned about, it is financial security. Not a fulfilling career, luxury cars, houses, relationships, or leisure, but financial security. It is simply so natural to the flesh to be concerned about earthly financial security, and set one's mind on such.
Christian commentator Ted Shoebat of shoebat.com wrote on his facebook page:
The conventional perception on wealth is an illusion. Just because you have a lot does not make you wealthy. True wealth is a life without debt, a simple life, and a life living within one's means.
Indeed, Mr Shoebat is correct. The conventional perception of wealth is that of possession and money amassed to some 'sufficient level', such that one can be financially 'secure'.
Well my friends, let me tell you this: there is nothing secure in this world, and that includes "your" money which you are so smug behind. The money you have is not even "yours". It is God's money given to you to steward. Only a proud heart thinks that the money he has is "his". Only a fool thinks that wealth is lasting and provides security. Yet, that is what so many in the west, including many in the modern western Church think. To Hell with such foolishness!
The King James translation of Proverbs 23:5 refers to wealth as "that which is not", implying not only that believing that wealth provides security is an illusion, but that wealth itself is an illusion. It is an illusion as it simply is that which can be gone at anytime, like a bird with wings which cannot be controlled.
Other translations indicate the same meaning:
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle (NIV).
In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle (NLT).
When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven (ESV).
When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens (NASB)
Wealth itself diminishes as that the nature of wealth. You may claim you have investments. That most definitely diminishes. Investments can decrease in value by nature, as they are speculative. Investment is simply only a foolish earthly fleshly attempt to increase wealth for wealth's sake. The spirit of financial investment goes against the spirit of Mathew 6:19-21:
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.
That is why the whole idea of superannuation in Australia is an anti-Christian concept, of the spirit of mammon. It ensnares the soul as it is the laying up of treasures on earth, as opposed to trusting in God to provide.
More subtle and respectable among Christians, is the belief that one key benefit of marriage is increased wealth, (assuming it does not end in divorce), such that it is one reason why Christians should find joy in marriage. The issue is not whether it is factually true. The issue is that such a mindset is one focused on earthly financial security. This belief is a despicable fleshly belief as it shows a lack of trust in God, in finding joy from increased so-called 'wealth'.
Such a claim will only stir up anxiety in single Christians who are not that strong in faith, and cause them to stumble, by tempting them to set their minds of marriage, rather than Christ and Christ alone. Such a claim needs to be rebuked!
As long as a person is anxious about money, he or she is under the spirit of mammon, and enslaved to it. Not only is he enslaved, but he is made foolish, and making himself susceptible to sin where mammon tempts him. For such a person loves money.
Love of money does not mean that one has emotional feelings about cold hard cash, though some silly irrational fools might have such feelings. Love of mammon is obedience to mammon. It is to serve mammon, submitting to its demands, being willing to sin or compromise with sin where money can be gained.
Just as to love Christ is to obey Christ, to love mammon is to obey mammon (John 14:15, 23). For example,
Do not think mammon cannot be a snare to your faith, causing you to lose the race. There are many cases where people who are strong in the faith became successful in their careers, becoming rich, and as a result, erred from the faith. They are just evidence of what the Bible has already warned:
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).
Hence, the exhortation in the following verse (v 12):
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Never ever ever ever let earthly wealth ensure your soul, and cause you to err from the faith. Do not listen to the lies of needing earthly wealth. Treat wealth as disposable, as you will either treat wealth or God as disposable. You cannot love both. Be warned.
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