Stop the Chase

Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

Let us stop for a moment and take inventory of what we have gained in life so far, materially speaking. How much of what we have gained, whether little or much, can we take with us when we die? As a born again believer, how much of what we have gained here on earth has heavenly value attached to it? If the economy were to collapse this very second, how much of what we have would we lose or be of much value? These questions should really make us think and reevaluate how we are living, and who we are living for. The reality of this life is that nothing that we can gain here is secure. Though we are to be diligent to work and provide for our families, we are not to make our jobs, or the wealth we gain from our jobs, our gods. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up 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." He went on to say in verse 24, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." The one thing we can be sure of is that when the gain of money and material wealth becomes the focus and goal of our lives, loyalty to God, and His will, becomes secondary and eventually nonexistent in our lives. The chase for what we do not have begins, and like the eagle who takes flight, the more we grasp at it, the further away it will go; and the further from God it will take us. Sadly, the end result will be our earthly ruin, and our poverty in respect to what really counts...our heavenly rewards. Far too many of us are trading what is eternal and permanent for what is earthly, carnal, and temporary. Let us seek that which brings true wealth; that is, the things of God that bring Him glory and bring heavenly reward. I will leave us with the words found in 1 Timothy 6:6-10, "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." If we have begun this pursuit, we need to stop the chase.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).