Good Investments

Treasures of the wickedness profit nothing,

But righteousness delivers from death.

The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish,

But He casts away the desire of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:2-3

In the film The Money Pit a young couple buys their dream house, knowing that it has “a little work” to do.  Over the course of the film they find that there was much more wrong with the house than they could ever have anticipated and they are going to be bankrupted by what they thought was their best investment.  So it is with the gains made through wickedness.  They may seem to be advantageous.  A person may even go to their grave having never seen their fortunes turn.  Though we may amass great wealth apart from God that wealth will never satisfy.  A person can quite easily pour their life into the accrual of earthly goods and have lost everything in the process.  The only wise choice available to us is to place our investments of time, energy, and finance into things that are eternal: our relationship with God and in our relationships with others.

The Folly of Greed

Honor the LORD with your possessions,

And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

So your barns will be filled with plenty,

And your vats will overflow with new wine. 

Proverbs 3:9-10

Western culture had delighted in the telling and the retelling of the story of Ebenezer Scrooge.  He has become the standard archetype for a miserly person.  So deeply did this story grab the popular imagination that it has been presented and represented in nearly every available medium.  The message of a person who holds his possessions as his God is grotesque and sorry in its ultimate end.  However, this personification of greed can be a detriment as well.  We can easily salve our conscience when we think that we are, at least, not so bad off as Mr. Scrooge.  Yet, the thrust of a life of Godly wisdom sees things more clearly yet.  Possessions and wealth are simply a window into the soul and spiritual life of a person.  Again, the proverbs are not promises, but godly observations.  If a person is in a right relationship to wealth and possessions than the Lord is likely to entrust them with more possessions.  This same principle is brought out in 2 Corinthians 9.  It is a matter of the character of God.  He loves His children far to much to let greed destroy us, but He is able (though by no means obligated) to bless those who use their wealth wisely; that is, to His ultimate glory and honor.