Bankrupt Effort

Read Proverbs 23

Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.

Proverbs 23:4-5

The writer advises us not to weary ourselves trying to get rich because those riches have a way of disappearing. Like birds that fly to the bird feeder and just as quickly are gone, so money has a way of disappearing with a whisper of wings.

Who has not deposited the paycheck in the bank, only to wonder—a day later—where it all went? Even a windfall of wealth has the wings of a bird. Or we get that pay raise, but immediately raise our standard of living so that we still never have enough money. It seems to fly away.

The focus of life should never be riches, for that is a desire that will never be satisfied. Who ever says, “I have enough money; I don’t need any more”? But if we can learn contentment with what we have, we will not be wearying ourselves going after riches only to watch them fly away.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Money is a mirage.

Dear Lord, help me not to focus on the wrong priorities but to learn contentment in you.