“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.”
–Proverbs 13:22
“For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
–Ecclesiastes 2:26
Though the Bible warns REPEATEDLY of the dangers of a life misspent; of a life which focuses on wealth and the things of this world, wicked men do not believe the Bible.
Therefore, a great many men focus on acquiring the things of this world–beyond what they might possibly use for themselves–and then those men pass away to be judged and to NEVER need the wealth they spent their lives acquiring.
IN FACT, those who focus on acquiring wealth and the things of the world proclaim themselves to be wicked by their very actions.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
–1JOHN 2:15-16
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.”
–Proverbs 23:4
Now, the reader should make NO mistake: God’s Word does NOT pronounce money itself as an evil.
Only the LOVE OF MONEY.
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
–1TIMOTHY 6:10
And the love of money and the things of the world which money can buy is the foundation of covetousness.
to wish for earnestly
to feel inordinate desire for what belongs to another
And the Biblical warnings against covetousness are many and frequent.
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience”
Colossians 3:5-6
When one’s outlook is all about money and wealth, one is a child of disobedience. Being a child of disobedience ensures the wrath of God will fall upon the wayward child and is a CURSE.
So, focusing on accumulating wealth is not only a curse, it is a grave affliction–as anyone who is acquainted with someone who possesses much wealth KNOWS.
As Jesus Christ Himself advised
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
–Matthew 6:19-21
When one concentrates on piling up wealth, one is NOT concentrating on the things of heaven–AND one invites the wrath of God. Affliction is a sign of that wrath and affliction dogs the steps of the wealthy in any number of ways–particularly those whose heart is on accumulating more wealth.
What follows are some of the afflictions suffered by those who concentrate on wealth.
The list is NOT all-inclusive, but it does give the reader a sense that money is not all that it’s cracked up to be.
1- IS it me or is it my money?
“Wealth maketh many friends”
–Proverbs 19:4
When one has serious cash, one does not truly know: are family and “friends” at your beck and call because they care about you–or your money?
Unless one has TOTALLY given into the deceptiveness which great wealth brings, one is always wondering, “Is it me or my money?”
2 – AM I attractive or is my money?
Something that any with big bucks have to wonder: Is the opposite sex (or same sex) attracted to me–or are they attracted to what I have?
HOWEVER, as one stunningly pulchritudinous lady put it, “IF you marry for money, you’ll pay for it the rest of your life. You have to do things you don’t want to do with someone you don’t really want to be with. You have to be nice to them and smile at them. What a bore and what a chore!”
And, unless one has TOTALLY given into the deceptiveness which great wealth brings, wondering about the motives of those who supposedly love you is an affliction.
3- A man focused on money finds it hard to focus on anything else.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. [money]”
–Matthew 6:24
One cannot serve God and money.
But this is ALSO true of former hobbies, former past times, former LOVES?
IF one concentrates on wealth, one finds it hard to concentrate on those who are attracted to wealth–OR the things one used to find pleasant BEFORE becoming consumed by wealth.
Another common affliction.
4- AFTER a while, one realizes: whoever keeps your money, controls your money.
One may have MILLIONS of dollars credited to one’s account.
BUT, if one cannot (for whatever reason) gain access to that wealth, then one might as well be broke.
Perhaps this is why so many with money keep so much of it in (what is basically) non- or low-performing LIQUID ASSETS?
5- Once one has acquired a taste for wealth, one is cursed with that satisfying that taste–EVEN IF one really no longer desires the wealth.
How many old men–or increasingly, old women–have hoarded gazillions of dollars and YET STILL grope for more, more more?
The financial pages of the media are full of the stories of such people.
6- Increasingly, the person who has spent their lives accumulating wealth come to realize: you can’t take it with you.
“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
–1TIMOTHY 6:7
7- And because you can’t take it with you, someone else will spend (and enjoy) what you have spent your life heaping together.
Perhaps the single biggest affliction of those who spend their waking moments scheming to get MORE.
“This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.”
–Job 27:13,16-17
All of the above are afflictions which plague the wealthy–particularly those who are wealthy and who want to maintain their wealth.
There are other afflictions, but these make a good place to start a discussion.
What the afflictions of wealth can demonstrate–even to those who are afflicted–is that wealth is not everything it’s cracked up to be.
So many dream of life if they suddenly became very rich. BUT, their dreams suppose that their lives would remain the same EXCEPT for having more money (to pay bills, to bestow on children, to buy stuff).
Their life, IF they suddenly became wealthy, would NOT be the same.
“The very rich are different from you and me.”
—F. Scott Fitzgerald
DOES the reader daydream about winning the lottery OR some other way to become suddenly very wealthy?
DOES the reader imagine that the only thing that would change about his life would be having access to more money?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: August 14-16, 2020.]
MORE
- Wealth: Seven Bible Verses on Chasing and Accumulating Riches
- END TIMES DECEPTIONS: It Is All About the Money
- Suicides of the Rich and Celebrated
- The Very Rich
- Success, The World and The Very Rich
- Rules for the Rich: Money and Wealth and Unhappiness
- Rich, Celebrated and Possessed: The Deception of Possession
- Ruling Blood of America: Bloodlines of the Rich and Celebrated
- Stashing Cash: The Futility of Hiding Money
- Money Can’t Buy You Love–Or Happiness
- EXTREME WEALTH: What does the Bible Say?
- Pottersville, USA: Money is Their God and Their God has Failed Them
- Serving God and Money: A U.S. Tradition
- SELLING SIN BY ANOTHER NAME: The American Dream
- To the World With Love: Signed, the American Christian
- Rules for the Rich: Money and Wealth and Unhappiness
- Separating from the World: END TIMES SURVIVAL
MORE
- Man Struggles Against God
- God is in Control
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
RELATED ARTICLES
- Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
- Do You Know if You are Going to Heaven? Be Sure!
- END TIMES PREPARATION: 15 Ways to Prepare for the End Times
- Deceitful Workers are Victims of Deception Themselves
- End Times Survival, End Times Preparation
- 35 Most Important ETPR Articles
- DISOBEDIENCE and REBELLION: The Wisdom of Man OR the Word of God?
- Apostate Church: Breaking Every Chain
- Persecution, Tribulation, Troubles, Trials: What the Bible says to Christians
by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: yodiyim, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-20. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/websites.
[NOTE: The following articles are from a service. We neither endorse nor at times have much control over them–although we do, of course, enjoy articles originating from this website on this service. Some articles illustrate points made in ETPR articles; some are merely for the reader’s edification or education.
ALL such links appearing in End Times Prophecy Headlines, such as those below, should originate at ETPR.
RE: our link disclaimer: there are links, from time-to-time which appear on this site which we neither approve nor endorse. The frequency of these types of links will no doubt grow worse. All effort is made to remove such links when we become aware of them.]
Related articles
End Times Prophecy Report 