Have you ever paid attention to the “rich and the famous” on television. The cameras catch them while they are shopping at fancy stores spending thousands of dollars in one shopping trip on fancy things…clothes, jewelry, cars, toys. It seems like money makes them happy and is the answer to everything. Maybe you have a friend or an acquaintance that boasts about how they are living their life just like the “rich and famous.” Well many of these people that are “idolized” on television or we know in real life probably don’t know what the BIBLE says about the preoccupation with material things and loving money. There are quite a few bible verses—way too many to mention on this topic, so I will only mention a few.
Mark 4:19: But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Many people think that we will be happy or fulfilled or content if only we had more of whatever it is we are chasing. This is a lie from the father of all lies, Satan. He wants us to be chasing after something he knows will never satisfy us so we will be kept from pursuing that which is the only thing that can satisfy—God Himself.
Luke 12:15: Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Ever watched those late night infomercials that try to convince you that they can teach you to become rich-quick—even some tele-evangelists have jumped on this bandwagon—give to us and your wealth will be multiplied. As this verse in Luke says—Watch out—don’t fall into the deceitfulness of others and what others have. In the book of 1st Timothy we can read:
1 Timothy 6:9-10: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
If materialism was ever to satisfy anyone, it would have been Solomon, the richest king the world has ever known. He had absolutely everything and had more of it than anyone, and yet he found it was all worthless and futile. It did not produce happiness or the satisfaction our souls long for. He declared,
Ecclesiastes 5:10: “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income”
In the end, Solomon came to the conclusion that we are to “fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man” Ecclesiastes 12:13
And one more verse worth noting:
Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
So the next time you start to think that you do not have enough or you wish you could have more money like so and so—feel blessed that you maybe haven’t fallen into the “love of money” trap like they have.
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