THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES
“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22 NKJV)
It is God’s perfect will for His children to be rich, wealthy, successful and prosperous in life. God is the One who gives His children the power and wisdom to get wealth. God takes pleasure in the success, progress and prosperity of His children and not in their failure, frustration, stagnation, and poverty. It is nothing wrong, sinful or improper for the born-again believers to have material possessions, resources, or money in abundance. God desires that His children will have abundance for every good work. However, the Scripture warns us to beware of the deceitfulness of riches because it can dampen or smoulder our love, passion or zeal for God. The love of God in the hearts of the Laodicea believers was put out or extinguished by the deceitfulness of riches resulting in them becoming lukewarm – neither cold nor hot. The Lord sharply rebuked them in Revelation 3: 15-17
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ –and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (NKJV).
In the Parable of the Sower, the Lord Jesus teaches that the deceitfulness of riches can choke the Word of God in our hearts and thus make us unfruitful. The Lord Jesus explains, “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matt. 13:22 NKJV). Riches have a tendency to rule, dominate and control your thoughts and actions. When you allow the love of riches to influence, dominate, direct or drive your life; you have fallen into the trap or snare of riches. Therefore, it is wisdom for us to seek to know how riches deceive and how to guard our hearts against the deceitfulness of riches, or against being deceived by riches and abundance of material possessions. How do you guard you heart against the deceitfulness of riches to enslave you or displace God in your heart? It is by renewing your mind according to the truths of God’s Word, setting your mind or affection on things above and not on things on the earth, understanding God’s purpose of blessing you with riches and distributing and sharing your resources with others!
Liberation Thought: I am blessed to be a blessing!
Further Reading: Luke 12
Prayer: