THE FOLLY OF ACCUMULATION

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain.

1 Timothy 6:9, 17a

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Be satisfied with what the Lord has given you and don’t dedicate yourself to chasing after the world’s riches which hold no eternal value. That was the message from yesterday’s message from the sixth chapter of Paul’s fist letter to his ministry partner, Timothy.

His assertion wasn’t without scriptural validation. Here’s what Jesus said about the matter during His first significant public teaching, The Sermon on the Mount:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20

The point made by Jesus and Paul was that the incessant quest to acquire wealth and status in life is akin to folly because everyone is going to die and you will leave this world as you came into it, with nothing.

As we look at today’s verses from 1 Timothy 6, we find there are some other issues that come with an obsession with materialism and riches. Look again at Paul’s words here:

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain. Vv. 9, 17a

When Jesus warned against storing up treasures on earth, it was more than about amassing assets that would one day fade away. For as we see in today’s passage, we find that the road one might travel to try and reach financial gain is one strewn with potential pitfalls. Specifically, God is forewarning people through His word concerning the danger of being trapped in temptation and impropriety, temptation and impropriety that could plunge them into ruin and destruction.

Think about this for a moment.

How many people have you read about or heard of in your lifetime who got so obsessed with becoming rich that they were willing to sell their soul to do so?

Many are sitting in prison today after getting caught and punished for their sins that were born out of greed and a fixation of gaining wealth, no matter the cost. In fact, many people who are already well off by the world’s standards seem to reach a place where they feel they can do whatever they want and if their transgressions are exposed, they can buy their way out of trouble. Such is their arrogance in the midst of riches.

Did I mention the scriptures call us to be satisfied and focused on storing up treasures in Heaven?

Friends, the Lord is speaking powerfully to us today on a matter that is as much concern today as it was more than 2,000 years ago. As Christians, Jesus called us to make disciples, not to make money, and to devote our life more to the accrual of money and possessions than the saving of souls is nothing short of self centered, selfish, folly-filled behavior that runs counter to our Lord’s expectations.

Oh yeah, and it couldn’t be less like Christ, who lived His life to give everything away so we might have the hope of salvation.  

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.