RPG Adults
THE RICH WITHOUT GOD
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11
James 1:11
Luke 12:16-21
“…he that layeth up
treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.”
THE RICH WITHOUT GOD
Once, a university student claimed that his school does not talk in dollars and cents but in thousands and millions. This reflects the heartbeat of the educational system today. It aims to shape the students to go and get more wealth than the billionaires of this present age. This is an illusion to fix the eyes of men on the glitters of gold and silver. What about you, dear reader? How do you see the riches of this world?
The rich shall fail: James likens the rich man to the withered grass (James 1:11). When the sun rises, it will not take long for the grass to wilt because of the burning heat, and soon it will fail. Similarly, the rich man may have all the resources in this world, but when sickness and death come, his money cannot restore his life. He cannot extend his life even for one second. He will fail, sooner or later.
The rich shall fall: James further illustrates the flower that dies because of the fervent heat. The flower’s beauty will be gone as it drops to the ground. This is equated with the rich man who prospers in the flower of his age, but he too will fall and perish. He will not last long!
The rich shall fade: These unavoidable examples prove the vanity of riches. In many cases, a man’s riches become the cause of his decay and destruction. He will not regard the spiritual things but is entangled with the love of money, which is the root of all evil (1 Tim 6:10). His life is invested in gaining more wealth. To him, religion and things about God hinder his greed for more riches. He has no regard for spiritual things as what matters to him is the material abundance of this life on earth.
The problem, however, is that he will not live longer than this earth which will perish. The life of all men, whether rich or poor, is transitory. Some may rise, but soon they will fall. Their riches may increase, but they will be gone not long after. Material treasures are perishables. Read what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:13-16.
THOUGHT: Do I desire riches on this earth or the riches in heaven?
PRAYER: O Father, keep me away from a covetous desire to be enriched by the material things of this world.