“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 toward heaven.” (Proverbs 23:4-5 NKJV)
He calls, Stop! This passage emphatically orders to cease working beyond what's essential for life - focused on amassing material possessions. We are to transcend from our own earthly line of thinking to God's heavenly thoughts. Rather, if we work harder than we ought to, we are to do it not for gaining lots of material things that we can see, but for things that can't be seen. Chasing after material things under the sun is a "chasing after the wind"(Ecclesiastes 1:24 NIV). One may get hold of it for a while, but in an instant it is gone. It flies away as it takes its wings. If not, one who chases it, will go and leave it behind. Either way, the effort is "Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”"(Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV)
In Christ Jesus, having His Lordship in our life by faith, and in His grace, we are always made aware - “Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.” (2 Corinthians 4:18 CEV)
Dangers lurk behind temporal riches. Hence, it is always wise to take to heart this warning from Apostle Paul: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 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 6:9-10 ESV)
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
(When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.)
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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