The issue of wealth often comes up in the Bible. Psalm 112 gives an attractive picture of the person who follows the Lord. Such a person takes delight in the Lord’s commands and even in the darkness, the light shines for them. They are also described as wealthy and, at the same time, generous and compassionate. Everything that we have is a gift from God, so whatever we have should be a cause for rejoicing, whether it is great or little. The challenge comes when wealth increases, because possessions are always greedy for our attention. They want to become the main focus of our life, and that’s when the rot sets in. Only God deserves that place, and that’s exactly what our verse today is warning us about. We should ensure that wealth never takes centre stage in our lives.

The book of Proverbs is wonderfully helpful on the subject of wealth. It often warns against the dangers of idleness and applauds hard work. It recognises that it often leads to wealth. Proverbs 10:4 puts the situation bluntly: “Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.” At the same time, the writer often speaks about the importance of generosity. It isn’t God’s desire that we build up huge resources for ourselves and neglect the poor. Proverbs also acknowledges that the accumulation of wealth can be exhausting, so we should make sure we don’t overdo it. In Proverbs 23:4-5, he writes: “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.” What wise words those are! Money comes and goes, so we would be foolish to focus all our attention on it.

The point is clear. Whether you have much or little, thank God for what you have and ensure you make him the permanent centre of your life, and not money or anything else which has a limited shelf life.

What is at the centre of your life?

Lord God, thank you for the resources that you have given to me. Help me to use them to bring blessing to you and those around me. Amen