Poor Rich People
(Matthew
13:22 KJV) He also that
received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of
this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he
becometh unfruitful.
In
order for one to live a happy successful life they must first learn how to
avoid ‘seed chokers’. Receiving the seed is not the problem…the problem is
having something more dominant in one’s life that can choke the seed.
According
to our text the ‘seed chokers’ are the “cares of this world” (anxiety) and the “deceitfulness
of riches”, (that which promises to give peace and pleasure but does not). That
being the case I want to focus on one of the ‘seed chokers’… the “deceitfulness
of riches.”
First
of all it is important to note that riches are not the issue. The issue is the
false expectations that often come with riches.
Among
the many benefits, wealth should not only help make one’s life a little easier,
but it also gives one the ability to help others who are in need. The
deceitfulness of riches happens when one believes that somehow it sets them
apart from others. Regardless of one’s wealth, their personal growth still
comes from walking a disciplined life and learning from life’s tests in the
same way as everyone else.
If
there was something wrong with wealth then God would not have given us the
power to get wealth. “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is
he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant
which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:18
KJV).
Wealth
itself is not deceitful…the deceit comes when one believes that it is a
cure-all for everything in life. False pride and power that often come as a
result of having wealth are the real ‘seed chokers’.
I
have actually known several wealthy people who would make excellent poor people
because they always talked about not having enough. They seemed to spend rich
but talk poor.
Over
the last few weeks I have written several articles about an experience I recently
had while visiting a large 17th century home in England
From
the outside this home is massive, breathtaking and beautiful and had the appearance
of the very wealthy, but on the inside it looked as if it was decorated by the
poor. The moldings, furnishings, paintings and lighting are sub par to say the
least, and does not match the massiveness of the outside. This family also seemed
to be a collector of unimportant things, rather than being collectors of priceless
paintings, furnishings and so on like the other wealthy folks of that time
period.
Through this experience the Lord
seemed to reiterate to me that it is not what is on the outside that determines
one’s value, but what is on the inside. Perhaps this is part of what our text
meant by using the term, “deceitfulness of riches.” Could it be that true
riches are not determined by what one has but who one is?
Father,
Our desire is not just to have
the appearance of sufficiency on the outside, we want to be laden with the
fruit of Your Spirit on the inside and as well as on the outside…love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith.
Amen
posted by John Dean at
9:24 PM
