The Bible Column - Is Your Confidence in Riches?

“Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings: they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Proverbs 23:5
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.” II Peter 3:14
“It’s gone, but did you ever have it?” read the headline in a newspaper. Then the article continued… “Trillions in stock market value-gone. Trillions in retirement savings-gone. A huge chunk of the money you paid for your house, the money you are saving for college, the money your boss needs to make payroll-gone, gone, gone.”
During The Great Depression in our land, in the early part of the 20th century, our forefathers learned a lesson that our present society, in a large part, has forgotten. The first Scripture above details the great possibility of riches escaping the owner. The actions of laziness, greed, and deception that have entered our society and been accepted as the norm, are the seedbeds for the “eagle process of riches” to become a reality.
The second Scripture above speaks of direction of the Lord to every believer in light of the many matters of the Lord’s judgment upon this sinful world. In addition to our need to live a holy life, diligence is to be given to having inward peace as well. I remember, as you likely do, of hearing of those who jumped out of windows of high-rise buildings as the result of the 1929 stock market crash.
Dear reading friend, where is your confidence placed today? Is your confidence in uncertain riches that can fly away or in the Living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy? I Timothy 6:17 Salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary is where each of us needs to begin in placing our confidence in the living God. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13