Devotionals

The Elusiveness of Riches

by Jennifer Woodley 
11/18/23
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“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.” Proverbs 23: 4-5 (ESV)

I know of a husband and wife who toil endlessly to 'get ahead' and have the best that money can buy. Their little boy goes to daycare so that they can go to work. It is a common situation throughout the western world. In fact it is that standard for most young families nowadays.

But there is a price to pay for this. Sickness is prevalent in that family and quality time together is minimal. No matter how hard they toil, there is little contentment and joy. Proverbs warns to cease toiling endlessly for a commodity that never truly satisfies. It is not worth ruining one's health or becoming disconnected from our family for the sake of striving for money that never lasts very long. We would be wiser to put tight boundaries in place when it comes to making money and wanting more.

What do we really need? Today we have and expect so much that wants are confused with needs. We don't need everything we want. It takes discernment and hard choices to live within our means, denying ourselves what is really a want.

Instead, we must trust not in our own ability to make money, but in the living God 'who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.' (1 Timothy 6:17) When we depend upon Him alone and we know that all our needs are met in God, we can cease striving for more at the expense of our family.

 Jennifer is a freelance writer who enjoys encouraging others on their journey with Christ.