The Perils of Prosperity

With the stock market soaring here at the end of 2017 it's likely that more Americans are experiencing "prosperity" than ever before.  Everyone wants to see their portfolio grow, but with greater wealth comes added responsibility- and some concerns.

Moses predicted that once Israel was in the Promised Land that they would turn away from Jehovah.

      “For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant." Dt 31:20.

For Israel prosperity actually became a curse.  It caused them to become self sufficient and turn their back on the true God, the One who had prospered them in the first place.  In their pride they turned to other gods and served them.

Moses had previously warned but they failed to heed his advice.

          “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." Dt 8:11–14.

      “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth."  Dt 8:17.

Two things can happen when our we find our net wealth growing: 1. In our false sense of security, we forget God and 2. We take personal credit for the blessing God has given.

As we "lose our first love", we transfer our trust away from God and onto our riches.  What a foolish notion that we can trust in our riches more than God himself. I imagine a scale with five million dollars on the one side, and God Himself on the other. The five million can be lost so easily, the Lord is so much more secure.

          “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Mt 6:19–21.

My son, Mark, recently told me Tim Keller observed that the book of Proverbs repeatedly states two truths about wealth:  1. Wealth is a blessing from God and 2. We should never trust in wealth instead of God.  

Because of the tremendous temptation wealth brings, the writer of Proverbs actually says,

        "Give me neither poverty nor riches;

         Feed me with the food that is my portion,

         That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?”

         Or that I not be in want and steal,

         And profane the name of my God." Pr 30:8–9.

According to this wisdom, it would be far better to live at a moderate standard of living.  Wealth may cause us to forget God; poverty causes other problems.

Paul gives similar advice to his young disciple, Timothy.  He instructs him how to best minister to the wealthy in his church.

                 "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.  For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Ti 6:6–10.

Our goal should be contentment, not wealth.  We can be very content when our basic needs are  met.  The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.  It doesn't say money is the root of evil, but the love of money.

         " Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed." 1 Ti 6:17–19.

Paul gives some advice for the rich: 1. Not to be conceited or take pride in their wealth. 2. Don't fix your hope on riches, but fix your hope on God. 3. Remember that God supplies all things to be enjoyed. 4. Be rich in good works. 5. Be generous 6. Invest in eternity.

We must always remember that all wealth belongs to God.  It all comes from Him.  Our job is to be a good steward of whatever He entrusts to us.  We must never be deceived into trusting our savings account or 401K instead of trusting our Heavenly Father to take care of us. We must be aggressive in looking for ways to give that will be worthwhile investments in eternity.  

As a wise man once said, "You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead."