Scripture:
Proverbs 23:5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
Observation:
Wisdom speaks again here concerning wealth and the pursuit of it. This time the writer focuses on how quickly riches fade, or in this case, how quickly they “fly away”.
Application:
It’s hard to take advice from a wealthy man who says money shouldn’t be the focus of life. My thoughts are always, let me get rich and then I will tell everyone how unimportant money is. However if we stop for a second, the best people to listen to on the subject are those that have much. Kings, rulers, the top 1%. For it is them that know if all of the “stuff” truly satisfies. You don’t have to look far in our world to see a true vacancy of joy at the top. We had another suicide from another front man of another popular band this week. You can’t help but think, if stuff truly satisfied, would rich people be so hopeless?
The Father doesn’t want us wasting our lives chasing and acquiring riches. Here are three reasons…
⁃ He knows they don’t satisfy. He knows that there will still be a vacancy and a void. He doesn’t want us wasting our lives going down the wrong road.
⁃ He knows they are temporary. The eternal God knows a thing or two about time, about what is forever and about what passes away. He doesn’t want us spending our energy on things that pass away.
⁃ He has a better alternative. Jesus taught about eternal treasure, where moth and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. Eternal treasure is stored up as we walk in obedience to His commands and choose His kingdom over the pursuit of another one.
Prayer:
Father forgive me for allowing my gaze to be fixed on lesser things and lesser goals. Forgive my foolishness. I need you and whatever you say I need. Everything else is a distraction.