We live in a world built on the idea that the Almighty Dollar is all that matters. Well, listen to Solomon…
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
(Proverbs 11:28)
Trusting in riches is akin to trusting in a foundation of quicksand. There’s no “if” about it; you will eventually sink. Riches, by their nature, are fleeting. Riches are an expendable commodity. If you have a trillion dollars but don’t spend a penny, what good does it do you? Once you start spending it, the money starts running out; the sand in the hourglass starts trickling down, and eventually, you will be left with nothing.
Being righteous is irrespective of your income level. You can be righteous and the poorest person in your town. You can be righteous and the richest person in your town. Someone, somewhere, will always have more or less than you, but that doesn’t matter: You can be righteous, and if you are, you will flourish. Spend your riches and you will become less rich. Be righteous, and you will become more righteous (you will “flourish as a branch,” Solomon says)!
The trouble with money is it slowly leaves you. The only way to make more is to invest it, spending it in the hopes that it will turn a profit. The great thing about righteousness is it multiples exponentially and you never have to lose an ounce of it to gain more and more along the way.
Sounds like a pretty good deal, if you ask me.
~Matthew