Proverbs 23:4-5
Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist.
When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
for suddenly it sprouts wings,
flying like an eagle toward heaven.
A visiting scholar from China commented about the goals people set for themselves. He took a dollar bill from his wallet and said, “People in China are all stressed and overworked in order to accumulate bills like this, as if these represent their security in life. They put their faith in money, but what they have not realized is that even these bills do not trust in themselves. Look at what they say in the back, “In God we trust.”
What do you toil for in life? Where do you put most of your time and energy? Matthew 6:21 says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If you look at most of the people around the world, it is not difficult to realize that most of them expend their entire life working for wealth, as if this would save them from something or guarantee a better future. But life is full of surprises. Expectations aren’t met and unforeseen circumstances occur. The fact that you have some money in your bank account today is not a guarantee that you will have it in the future, and even if you still have it, this is not guarantee that everything is going to be all right. Many people ignore this fact until there is a moment in life when they cannot solve a problem even with all the money in the world. “He who troubles himself to become rich sets before himself a false and deceitful aim,” as one woman would say. “This is a false refuge.” Martin Luther also said, “Take not pains to become rich.” Matthew 6: 33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Once you understand this principle, you will lack nothing in life even when you lack something. You will know that you have a sovereign God who has everything in his hands. You will not depend on what you can see or touch, but in his promises. Wealth will come and wealth will go, as many things in life do. But God will remain faithful to you. Do not toil for wealth, but toil for the growth of God’s kingdom, and you will have everything you need.
Christ + Nothing = Everything