Things Money Can’t Buy

Today’s Verse:

Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. ~Proverbs 15:16-17

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John D. Rockefeller was at one time among the richest men in the world. He was asked “how much is enough money for you?” His candid and immediate answer was “just a little bit more.”

Solomon was among the richest men in the world when he was alive. He penned Prov. 16:16-17 after years of observation about rich people he associated with and himself. He came to the conclusion that there are things money cannot buy.

Money can’t buy you happiness. “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” It is a terrible thing to be in a marriage where there are things but no love. Many people have bought the devil’s lie that a high paying career, a lucrative business, a multiplicity of possessions, many cars and lots of money will secure them happiness. What good are all these things if you are trapped in a relationship or home where there is animosity and hatred? Solomon is saying it is better to have a simple and frugal life where there is love and companionship than to have a life of affluence and a relationship where there is bitterness and hate. Money cannot buy happiness.

Money can’t buy you harmony. There are many people living in anxiety, depression, fear and worry. They are overcome to the point they have sleepless nights, they have no desire for even the simple things in life, and they hate living. They try to find peace and harmony by indulging in alcohol consumption, substance abuse, addictive behavior, frequent partying, premarital and extramarital affairs, and even prescription drug abuse. All of them discover none of these cheap substitutes gives them peace. Their minds and souls get to the point where they think the only solution is to take their life. Sadly, money cannot buy harmony.

Money can’t buy your health. I think of the woman who had the issue of blood who spent all she had on doctors for a cure and she only got worse. I think of people who start with Western medicine, then go out of the country for alternative treatments, then resort to holistic medicine and in the end they realize money does not buy your health. We must take care of ourselves and there is nothing wrong in itself to spend money to be and stay healthy. However, money can’t buy healing for pneumonia, massive strokes, advance cancer, heart failure, and accidental injuries.

Money can’t buy you heaven.

Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Great treasure and trouble therewith is someone foolishly thinking that feeding the homeless, making substantial donations and humanitarian efforts will cover their sins and earn them heaven. Heaven cannot be purchased. Eternal life is the gift of God. Jesus paid the necessary price through his shed blood and sacrifice on the cross to pay our sin debt. Faith alone in Christ’s death for us and his resurrection guarantees you heaven.

Money can’t buy you holiness. Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. It is better to have little and be right with God than to live in luxury and in wanton sin. The modern church is filled with well paid professionals who are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing – including the Lord. This puts us in big trouble with the Lord. Lukewarmness is the sin that makes God sick to his stomach. It is better to have little, be simple and be fervent for the Lord.

There are things money can’t buy. Money is a tool that needs to be used for God’s glory. Don’t live your life for the bottom line. Live your life so that Go is pleased and you have laid up treasures in heaven that moth and rust cannot corrupt.

Have a circumspect God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Daniel 1-3

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