In Hot Pursuit for wealth?

Timothy 6:9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.

I was listening to a little boy reading for me a book. The story caught my attention. It was about a rich man, who lived opposite a poor mans house. The rich man had valuable jewels, and wealth, and many businesses. He was up making calls and doing accounting. He couldn't not rest. He did not have peace.

He kept on peeping through the window, staring at the poor man. Always seated outside his house, doing nothing. So much peace. So much laughter. Only worried about the next plate of food.

The poor man on the other hand, would go to his window, and stand there, counting the neighbour's cars, and looking at his clothes, and house, and wondering when he would grow rich like him.

One day the rich guy gave him all the jewels. That night he couldn't sleep. He kept worrying that they would be stolen. He could not imagine a second day and night like that. In the morning, he returned all the jewels. He preffered his peaceful life.

Proverbs 13:11 Money that is gained in the wrong way disappears. But money that is gathered little by little grows.

Growing wealth is ok if its gradual and through hardwork. But all wealth accumulated through sinful ways will disappear.

Does the bible want us to be poor? No!

Proverbs 10:4 Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.

So what should the wealthy people do to be safe?

1. Help the poor

Deut 15:7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.

2. Pay prompt just wage

James 5:4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

3. Pay your tithe. 10% of all income

Malachi 3:8-10 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

4. Detach yourself from wealth

Matthew 6:21 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We are to use all our gifts, thoughts, time, talents and resources, not to hoard wealth, but to multiply what God has given (as in the parable of talents), then use it as Jesus commands, so that when we meet Jesus, He may say:-

Mathew 25:23 ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’