Vanity in worldly riches
Revelations 3:14-18
Money, money, money! Most of us know the saying “Money rules the world” and indeed it does! Countries with huge financial worth rule over those with low financial worth.
In most parts of the world, the rich are certainly regarded over the poor. Integrity is shoved behind the door and the people who can afford the greatest luxury are revered. Corruption in the world is all based on worldly riches. People are being bribed to gain favours, jobs, contracts and importance in the society; the value of one’s words is weighed by how rich or opulent one is!
Indeed, the world is not kind to the one who wants to uphold Godly principles. Jesus Christ, who is the first and the last, said something about the church in Laodicea and it is worth noticing in Rev 3:15-17: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
How frightful and hurtful are His words concerning worldly riches! The best riches one could acquire as Christians are to foster stronger and transparent relations with our maker so He can make us right in this presence every time. Remember God has blessed us with all the heavenly blessings there is (Ephesians 1: 3) and David confirms in Psalm 37:25 thus "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."
So what is the fuss about making so much money in the world that we forget the maker and his principles, disregard each other and most importantly make “rubbish” of God’s words in attempt to be rich?
It is never wrong to work to make a living but we must know that the value of what we make depends on how we make it. Christ shows us the way when He counsels us in Rev 3:18 and says “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”