Walking with the Wise #144: The Downside to Wealth

“The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,

but a poor man hears no threat.”

—Proverbs 13:8

Money has some advantages in life, but money also comes with certain disadvantages. Consider our proverb for today. If you are wealthy, then there is always someone who wants what you have and will do anything to get it. They are driven by their love of money, as Paul warned us:

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs”—1 Timothy 6:10.

The love of money will lead us into all kinds of evil, as today’s proverb makes plain. A wealthy man faces the danger of someone kidnapping him and then holding him for ransom in order to get his wealth. It could be his own life, or the life of another, but whatever the case, those who want his money will try anything in order to get it. But on the opposite side is the poor man, who doesn't have to worry about having his treasure stolen or about having his life or the life of his family member threatened. He is safe and secure.

Today’s proverb is a reminder and a challenge for us to reconsider the value of money. It may solve some problems but it creates others. Our task is to learn to:

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’”—Hebrews 13:5.

Contentment is the answer, i.e., being at peace with what God has given us. Not that we don’t try and do better for ourselves and not that we don’t try to make more money. That’s not what the author is referring to. He wants us to do our best, to be diligent in our work, and make sure that we are free from the love of money. It is the “love” of money that we must be on guard against, not money itself. Money is simply a tool and should not be the pursuit and prevailing passion of our lives. Our identity is found in our Lord Jesus, not in what we can achieve or acquire. We find our identity in our Lord and He is the one who speaks to our lives, giving us direction so that we might passionately pursue Him.

What are you pursuing? Is money the main motivation of your work? Are you the master of your money or is your money your master? Be a good steward of all that God has given and live in the knowledge that God has blessed us in order to help others for His glory and our joy. Amen.