Money is not the solution to man’s problems

Jeky Vaisnix showed up at work bragging about how he had his wife on her hands and knees last night. When pressed as to how that happened he said, she was on her hands and knees daring me to come out from under the bed.

I want to write about the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22). Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

I cannot think of anything on earth that has a greater negative impact on peoples mental and physical health and social relationships than the love or greed for money.

I have met drug dealers in prison who wanted to take a short cut to acquiring riches who caused themselves and their family a lot of pain and heartache. Not only drug dealers, but embezzlers, robbers, fraudulent insurance claims, and people who killed fighting about money. Money has been the cause of many divorces and other broken relationships. Worry over money and stocks has caused and still causes a lot of health issues in people.

The “deceitfulness of riches” occurs when we make ourselves believe that money is the solution to all our problems and the source of happiness. Some of the most miserable and worry wart people I have met were wealthy and obsessed with making more.

In Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 we read, “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it.”

Steve Jobs, a billionaire and Omar Gadhafi, thought to be the richest man on earth, both left this world this month. They left all their wealth behind. Money cannot prevent sickness or death or assure ones happiness. Death is the great equalizer between the rich and the poor. Neither one takes anything with them.

In Luke 12:16-21 (New International Version) Jesus gave this parable about a man who became very rich, laid away a kit of money for retirement then said to himself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

All that matters after death is how much treasure have we laid up for ourselves in heaven. “Riches do not profit in the day of (death)…He who trusts in his riches will fall, (Proverbs 11:4,28). Do not be deceived, money will not solve your problems.

May you have a blessed week unless you have other plans.

Maranatha. (Maranatha means, “Our Lord Cometh.”)

The Rev. Elton Yutzy is the associate pastor of the Maranatha Community Fellowship Church in Plain City. He can be reached by e-mail at revelton@gmail.com.