< Back

The Danger of Wealth

One of the principal dangers we all face is placing too much value on making money and accumulating material possessions. It is such a great danger because this desire has a way of crowding out the best and finest things of life.

For one thing, it can crowd out our family. I have seen more than one person neglect their family while trying to provide more and more things for them.

Dr. Kenneth Chafin tells how he disappointed his five-year-old daughter by telling her that he could not stay home because he had to go speak to a group at the church on “What a Good Father Ought to Be.” He brought her with him to the event and during the dinner prior to his speech she would whisper in his ear as ideas would come to her. Here is the list of her ideas, as he wrote them down:

1. Catch a fish. 

2. Build a fire. 

3. Fly a kite.

4. Catch a butterfly.

5. Plant a flower.

6. Get a kitty cat out of the mud.

In his talk, Dr. Chafin made the point that the things she wanted did not require money—but they did require him. The most important thing we can give our children is ourselves. They want and need that above all else. 

Second, it can crowd out the virtues of life. The Christian has great respect for ambition, drive, intelligence, and success but keeps them in proper perspective. He or she knows that they are of less importance than humility, sympathy, contentment, and loyalty. The generation that forgets this will pay the consequences. In the pursuit of wealth a person can become calloused, greedy, pushy, covetous, ruthless, and dishonest. The finest things die off and the worst replace them. 

Finally, it can crowd out God. Many a person has become so busy with work that he no longer has time for prayer, worship, and God. Remember this, material things are like a thyroid gland—necessary for the proper functioning of your body, but dangerous if they become overactive. Keep your possessions in a place of secondary importance.

Broad categories to help your search
Even more refined tags to find what you need
Paul W. Powell - www.PaulPowellLibrary.com

Today's Devotional

Major on the Basics

Knute Rockne was one of the greatest football coaches ever. In his 13 years at Notre Dame, his teams won 105 games, lost 12, and tied 5. He never had a secret practice. In fact, he sometimes put up a sign for visitors that said, “Secret practice. Come and bring your notebooks.”

On one occasion when an Army scout missed a train connection and didn’t get to the Notre Dame game he was to cover, Rockne obligingly sent him the plays he planned to use against the West Point men. He explained his actions by saying, “It isn’t the play that wins; it’s the execution.”

All great coaches agree: champions are made by majoring on the fundamentals – blocking and tackling. They execute well. Teams seldom win by trick plays or gimmicks.  

The same is true of life. Tricks and gimmicks will seldom get you to the top in any endeavor and can never keep you there. Major on the basics in all of life – work hard, honor God, be honest, kind and helpful to others, and go to church regularly.

Missed yesterday's devotional?

Get it

Want to search all devotionals?

Go

Want to receive the weekday devotional in your inbox?

Register