Watch Out for the Money Trap
It seems like everything these days comes with some kind of warning. I guess it keeps the liability attorneys well-fed and corporations well-protected and consumers well-notified.
On the wrapper of a Fruit Roll-Up snack: “Remove before eating.” (Thanks for the heads up.)
On a remote control for a TV: “Not dishwasher safe.” (So glad for this, since that would have been my first thought.)
On a pack of Breath Savers: “Not for weight control.” (Hmmm, maybe their taste makes you feel like you’re losing weight??)
On o container of underarm deodorant: “Caution: Do not spray in eyes.” (Oh my, such a critical warning.)
So much for the warning label industry that keeps us well-informed and…safe.
Now for some important warnings from the Lord that touch on one of the more sensitive areas of our life: our financial life and the money trap. The fact that God repeats this warning so many times in so many different ways must mean He knows we need a healthy dose of repetitious reminders about the dangers of the internal desires of our hearts.
Ecclesiastes 5:10: “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.”
1 Timothy 6:9: “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”
1 Timothy 6:17: “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”
Hebrews 13:5: “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU."
Proverbs 11:28: “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.”
Proverbs 23:4: “Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.”
Proverbs 28:22: “A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth and does not know that want will come upon him.”
By the way, what is the money trap? It’s hard to miss from those divine warnings…it’s our financial desires. We know there are no warnings about our desire or use of money on a dollar bill or credit card or stock certificate or ATM machine. But warnings from the Lord of all wealth are designed to honestly and lovingly alert us to the great risks or dangers that could bring us harm. And God is always working for our good.
Be warned: Keep an eye on your financial desires.
Pastor Jeff