Let me ask you this, “What does the Bible say about RICHES?” I believe, as we shall see, that the “world’s view of success” is vastly different from what the “believer’s view of success” is when it comes to RICHES.

What did Jesus think of RICHES? In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves TREASURES ON EARTH, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The unbeliever is focused solely on “treasures on earth.” This is what they covet (desire), so they are willing to spend their time and energy seeking “material possessions.” They do so to make them FEEL SECURE, yet the Lord rightly points out that our “earthly possessions” eventually grow old (wear out) and may be coveted by others who will steal them. The lesson is simple: Our “earthly riches” are temporary at best and we may lose them to acts of nature or to thieves. In Proverbs 23:4-5 Solomon said this, “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.” Solomon knew that the “wisdom of this world” teaches a man to “work to be rich,” yet he also knew that riches can vanish quickly. The Lord Jesus encourages believers to “lay up treasures in heaven” where they are indeed SECURE, for they will never fade away or be stolen. We will consider next HOW we “lay up treasures in heaven.”

The Apostle Paul had this to say about EARTHLY RICHES: “But those who desire to be RICH fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).  Paul had just spoken of how “godliness with contentment is GREAT GAIN” (verse 6). Godliness means “to be devout with a Godward attitude, doing what is well-pleasing to Him.” The believer should be “focused on God and what pleases Him.” To be “focused on ‘earthly riches’ and pleasing ourselves” is the very opposite of godliness and as we just saw it causes men to “fall into temptation…and many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” So, not only can “earthly riches” fade away or be stolen, but they can cause men to “self-destruct” by falling victim to sinful lusts. Paul mentions “destruction and perdition” for not only is there “temporary ruin,” but the unbeliever will eventually leave this world and find himself in “eternal ruin in hell!” Such is the portion of those who are so occupied with “earthly riches” that they never consider their never-dying souls and their eternal destiny.

Paul went on to instruct the believers who do have earthly riches: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they may be RICH IN GOOD WORKS, READY TO GIVE, WILLING TO SHARE, STORING UP FOR THEMSELVES A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THE TIME TO COMES, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (verses 17-19). We see here that God does, at times, bless believers with earthly riches, but He expects us to “use them for His glory by GIVING and SHARING what He has blessed us with. In doing so, we will indeed by “laying up treasures in heaven” where they WILL NOT FADE OR BE STOLEN.

In conclusion, it is true that “men don’t need God to succeed and be rich,” but they won’t be rich toward God and their soul may end up in eternal destruction. Please read Luke 12:13:21.  (DO)  (620.1)