Walking with the Wise #81: Real Riches

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

but righteousness delivers from death.”
—Proverbs 11:4

Do you want to be rich? What would money do for you? Money does make life easier in some ways, but it can severely complicate it in others—it is a very deceptive thing because it makes one think that nothing else is needed because everything is taken care of—which of course masks our spiritual need that can only be found in Christ. This is why Jesus said,

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God"—Matthew 19:24.

The value of a human soul is worth more than all of the wealth of the earth. As Jesus said,

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”—Matthew 16:26.

We can become one of the wealthiest people in the world, but it means nothing if we damn our soul in the process. Wealth has value on earth, but it cannot buy eternity. Only Christ’s death on the cross paid the price for our sins, and only His resurrection enabled us to have new life in Him.

The Bible teaches that Jesus is going to return again soon, and when He comes He will not come as the suffering servant, but as the awesome Lord of glory who brings God’s recompense. On that day, money will be as worthless as trash in the street. Only those who have trusted in Christ and appropriated His righteousness as their own will be able to escape death.

What are you trusting in? Are you trying to gain the whole world? Are you trying to build your kingdom here on earth? Follow the words of Jesus:

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”—Matthew 6:19-20.

Build God’s kingdom and lay up treasure for yourself in heaven. Money has some value, but a righteous life is more valuable than Bill Gates' bank account—because it goes beyond this world.

May God enable each of us to live for Him in such a way that our treasure is in heaven and not on earth—for the glory of His name. Amen.