"Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom." "Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." (Proverbs 23:4-5).
In his meditation, a sage once categorized seven ages of man in this world, thus: "First, a child sees the earth. Second, he wants it. Third, he hustles to get it. Fourth, he decides to be satisfied with about half of it. Fifth, he decides he’d be satisfied with less than half. Sixth, he’s now content to possess a three-by-six-foot burial plot. Seventh, he gets it!" This is true of all of us, because it portrays the whole essence of man's endless labour on earth. Personally, I think it's more profitable to labour for a purpose than just laboring to be rich. According to King Solomon, the richest man that ever lived, that money by itself will never make you happy or secure, so he writes: "Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle towards heaven" (Proverbs 23:4-5). Experiences have shown that the time you took in order to get rich, you will still be taking the same time to get richer, because one is never satisfied; and to get more, you endanger what you have already. Oh what a restless life! Always insatiable and wanting to have more.
Brethren, rather than wearing yourself out pursuing wealth, pursue the wisdom of God and what glorifies Him. A story was told, "When one of the world’s wealthiest men died recently, a reporter asked a family member, ‘How much did he leave?’ The relative replied, ‘All of it!’" You see, no matter how much money you've made, saved, or invested in this world, at last, that money will either leave you or you will leave that money. Even though, we can't totally live without money, but much more so, we can't live without peace with God either. We came into this world naked, and we shall not take possessions with us when we leave. Riches are uncertain, but godliness is forever. "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." (1Tim. 6:6,7).
Praise the Lord. Amen!
