I can certainly understand your question about the danger of wealth because the Bible tells us in Mark 10:23-27, “And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that TRUST IN RICHES to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.” Here are a couple of important points to consider about these words:

The Lord points out that it is those who TRUST IN RICHES that find it very difficult to value the things of the Lord and enter the kingdom of God (to be saved).  We read in Matthew 6:24 that, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  How often people with great riches think their mammon (money) is serving them, only to realize they are actually serving their money.  They base their lives around making more money, greedy to the point that they ignore the needs of others, and so obsessed with their physical wealth they give no attention to their spiritual poverty.  Money can be a cruel and temperamental master.  “For the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10).  It is not money itself that is a root of all evil, but our LOVE of money that will lead us away from the Lord and cause us to care only about our own pleasures.

The Lord also points out that WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.  The Lord is able to give us the proper attitude towards wealth and humble faith.  It is prophesied of the Lord Jesus in Isaiah 53:9, “And he made his grave with the wicked, and WITH THE RICH IN HIS DEATH; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”  So, the Lord was crucified between two wicked men (Matthew 27:38), but a rich man gave the Lord his tomb to be buried in.  Matthew 27:57 tells us, “When the even was come, there came A RICH MAN of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple.”  Here is a fine example of a rich man who was a disciple of the Lord, and when the Lord was crucified, He used this willing man of wealth to provide Himself a tomb to be buried in. 

I think of the wisdom of Solomon when he said, “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” (Proverbs 30:8-9).  This wise man understood the spiritual dangers of poverty and wealth and prayed for neither.  It is so easy to be angry with God if we are poor and so easy to forget about the Lord if we have great wealth.

Proverbs 28:20 states, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.”  Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”  Oh, may we all learn to be faithful to the Lord and allow Him to supply all our needs.  May we learn to put our trust ONLY in Him.  We read in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

If we have wealth, may we be constantly aware of ministering what the Lord has given us so that He might be glorified in what we have.  1 Timothy 6:17-19, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”  (CC)  (665.6)