“…but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So, the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits” (James 1:10-11).
A wise student of history and human nature once observed, “For every man destroyed by adversity there are a hundred ruined by prosperity.”
Though easily undetected, times of financial prosperity are spiritually challenging. Rarely does one who can afford to take an early retirement and live luxuriously off the many goods he has laid up for many years to come realize the grave spiritual danger he could easily be in.
Rather than glorying in the world’s praise, a rich man ought to glory in his humiliation and ever keep his trust in God and not in the deceitfulness of material riches. This is much more likely to happen when…
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You remember that all material wealth will pass away; none of it is permanent/eternal (Luke 12:15-21).
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You remember the elusiveness and untrustworthiness of material riches (1 Timothy 6:17; Matthew 6:19).
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You remember that the same God who abundantly prospered you over time is the same One who can rightfully take it from you in an instant (Job 1:21-22).
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You remember that life is about laying up treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:20).
When the trial of financial prosperity arises, resist the temptation to desert God.
