“He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches and he who gives to the rich will surely come to poverty…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” (Proverbs 22:16; 1 Tim. 6:9-10).
The validity of Paul’s inspired statements is illustrated by Solomon’s proverb. How insidious and evil is the love of money? How selfish and impervious to others will covetousness make you? Solomon provides two graphic answers:
The covetous will oppress others, especially the poor and vulnerable. Those needing the most compassion, kindness, and mercy are given the least. This is how cold a covetous person’s heart is. The poor are viewed and used as pawns to increase the wicked’s personal net worth. Like the pretensions of the false prophets in Ezekiel’s day (Ex. 22:25) and the Pharisees of Jesus’ day (Mat. 23:14), the covetous devour the poor and needy to line their pockets.
The covetous are elitists. They have an immense sense of entitlement, with no sense of reciprocity, especially toward someone “beneath” them. If a poor person helps them in some way, there is no thought of repaying them in gratitude and/or kindness. They believe themselves deserving of such treatment (if not better and more!). They expect to be honored and aided by their inferiors. Anyone who starts down this road with them will eventually and certainly be bankrupted by these covetous lovers of money.
Jesus’ somber warning remains: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
