The Illusion of Security

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
–Proverbs 23:4–5

This week, I’m sharing three biblical principles about money to help us conquer the mountain of materialism. First of all, we should appreciate money without worshiping it. Second, we should save money without hoarding it.

Finally, we should use money without trusting it. Proverbs 10:15 says, “The rich man’s wealth is his fortress.” Money can protect us against some things. That’s why God commands us to save for the future. But look at the balancing word in Proverbs 18:11: “A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination.” The ultimate security that money promises is an illusion. Money can’t protect us against everything.

In Luke 12, Jesus told a parable to illustrate this truth. Jesus described a rich man who had so much excess that he didn’t know what to do with it. Then he came up with a plan: He would build bigger barns to store all his goods so he could put his feet up and live in luxury. But while he was dreaming of security and luxury, God said to him, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?” (v. 20).

Money can’t protect you from your mate having an affair, your children rebelling against you, or your body developing cancer–and it certainly can’t protect you from death. At any time, you could be taken from your possessions, or your possessions could be taken from you.

From 2010 to early 2020, the Permian Basin in West Texas experienced the greatest oil boom in history. But that changed on April 21, 2020. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude went negative for the first time in history. You had to pay people to take the oil off your hands. David Arrington, a Texas oilman, placed a humorous sign outside his office in downtown Midland: “Will trade oil for toilet paper.”

Everything you have can disappear overnight. That’s why Proverbs 23:4–5 says, “Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.” Use money, but don’t put your ultimate trust in it.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Moving from Materialism to Contentment,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

Christian Wallace, host, Boomtown, podcast, chapter 12, “Boomtown Follow-up: The One-Two Punch,” Texas Monthly, https://www.texasmonthly.com/podcast/boomtown-oil-bust-coronavirus-one-two-punch/.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.