Jeremiah 17:11   ‘As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.’

DAILY READING –  Hebrews 10:19-39; Exodus 11:1-12:51; Proverbs 4

The famous billionaire John D. Rockefeller, suddenly found himself on the verge of death! And he was only 53 years. Despite being the richest man in his time, and astronomically successful, he was faced with a problem he couldn’t solve. He suffered various digestive disorders which money could not alleviate. He lost his hair, lost weight and his shoulders sagged. With his curved back, he looked like an old man who could hardly maintain his balance. His life was being destroyed, and he nearly experienced a total collapse. Close to death, he eventually came to the realization that his wealth was meant primarily to serve God and bless humanity. Consequently, he decided to obey the biblical injunction on giving, and began to give away his wealth. Then he discovered that surprisingly the more he gave away, the better his health got. He gave away over 500 million dollars and lived to be healthy. He lived on to the ripe age of 98 years, before he died.

Ecclesiastes 7:12  says ‘For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.’

Rockefeller, being the richest man in his time, had money as a defense, but the money could not buy him life. It took the wisdom of God to preserve his life. Though he was a Christian, it was only when he fully realised that giving was living, and began to  give accordingly that his life was preserved. Whatever money we have in this life, the main purpose of it is to serve God’s purpose first and foremost. It is only the God kind of wealth that guarantees life. Indeed the blessings of God makes rich and adds no sorrow with it.

Those who use their money selfishly, ignoring God’s purpose on earth do so to their own detriment. Many who gather wealth, without giving God full focus end up suffering all manner of complicated sicknesses, which  their money cannot deliver them from. They eventually spend their accumulated wealth  travelling to different countries for medical treatment. That is to say laying up wealth only for yourself and not caring about God’s purpose on earth is not to the best of your inetrest.

In Luke 12, after the rich man had gathered all his wealth, built new structures and then decided to relax and enjoy his money, God came to him and said ‘Thou fool, your soul is required tonight, now who is going to enjoy all this wealth you have  gathered’

Why did God call him a fool? Because psalm 53:1 says ‘The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.’ Anyone who will not acknowledge God in his affairs, and try to strive only by his own strength, is regarded by God to be a fool.

God is not against our success, He just wants us to  seek Him first, so that He can guide us aright and preserve our lives. The road to success is full of pitfalls, and downfalls. It is not a journey a man can make by his strength alone. We need the grace of God because by strength shall no man prevail. Anyone  struggling and forcing his way through this road, while ignoring God. may fall and crash in the process. We are not to seek wealth, we are to seek God first and then He will guide us to the wealthy place  He has ordained for us.

PRAYER:  Lord please help me to build my life upon the solid foundation of Your Word and prayer. Let my focus be always on You  help me to pay the required price to lay the needed spiritual foundation for my endeavors by seeking your kingdom first in Jesus name.

Quote

The treasures of God are never on the shallow end, but are always buried in the depth of God’s Word. It takes a personal discovery to get there. – WORDBITE 222.