Sin is sin.

There’s no way around it. Some ridicule those who fear it. Some try to hide it. Some look forward to it. Some suffer horrible consequences because of it. Some do their best to avoid it. Some can’t get enough of it.

Some have ways of classifying sins. One sin, to some, may be worse than another sin. If you do it, it’s sin - but if I do it - well, it’s a mistake or something that could not be avoided. “God was testing me, and it was more than even the best Christian could resist. It got to me!”

Many consider the rich, wealthy or prosperous to be devious and dishonest, sinister and sinful, unable to be honest and helpful because they are jealous. They cannot believe that what the rich have came from clean living, hard work, honoring God and serving others. However, their position cannot be supported by Scripture.

There is nothing wrong with being wealthy or rich. Those “who trust in their riches will fail, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”

Many who have riches are also very righteous. They recognize that what they have comes from God, and in turn, honor Him from the abundance of His gifts and their hearts. What we do with what we have proves our love.

The Bible clearly states that any problems of the rich do not come from their riches, but from the way they relate to worldly wealth. Thank God for their wealth if they use it to honor and glorify Him. They can do for Him what many of us would enjoy doing if we could.

Prayer:  Father, whatever we have are gifts of Your love and grace. What I do with them proves my love for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 11:28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Solomon makes no apology when he writes: “The blessing of the Lord, it makes one rich.” That is the literal translation of the verse: “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth.” And when he wrote that powerful statement, he made it abundantly clear that our resources - no matter how abundant they may be - are “limited” by God. It is the Lord who is faithful and who has the final word on riches and who gets them and when they will get them.

No matter how hard we try, how many hours we work, what we do or the skills we possess, we - in and of ourselves - cannot produce wealth. All the wealth in the world cannot make one “rich.” If God does not add His blessing to whatever we have we are, in His sight, poor. On the other hand, one may have none of this world’s goods, yet be rich. How can this be? Rich but not rich? Poor and yet rich? It certainly seems to be contradictory.

But it isn’t.  Rich is in the eye of the beholder.

Throughout his Proverbs, Solomon warns us that if we get the “riches” of this world through methods that are dishonest or deceitful, unfair and unjust, many problems will come with them. These problems may range from psychological to physical, legal to financial, personal to interpersonal or relationship issues. Godly living, God-honoring work and God-centered practices bring  joy and satisfaction, peace and true prosperity with them to the one who lives for the Lord.

God’s riches come with His blessings. They are free of fear and the consequences that come with disobedience.

Prayer:  Father, may all that we do, bring blessings honor and glory to Your name. May we seek Your “riches.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today:  Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.

“Ill-gotten treasures” bring many feelings as well as pictures to our minds. Some pictures remind us of events where we were taken advantage of by one who made no apologies for stealing our “property.” Other feelings are the result of a dishonest sales person who hid the truth from us when we purchasing a valuable item. Usually, there are many numbers involved in large transactions and unless we know what to look for, it’s easy to become a “victim” of dishonesty.
However, when we look at some the “valuables” we have collected over time, there may be an item or two we obtained in less than honest methods. They were really “ill-gotten” even though they “belong” to us now.  
“Ill-gotten” is a strong phrase that means “treasures gotten as a result of wickedness.” We know that wickedness is not compatible with the character of God. It stands in complete contradiction to everything God values. It also cost Him the life of His Son. “Righteousness” on the other hand, clearly states who God is: a God who is consistent with His Word and His ways. Our God is honest and just!
Treasures are a gift from God. And there is nothing wrong with having treasures. But, when they become the “center of life,” or the “reason for living,” attaining them is self-destructive. They no longer bring satisfaction because they have no “lasting value” - and the “search” continues.
“Righteousness” delivers us from death: physical, spiritual and eternal. Those who live in “righteousness” have no fear of God because their “search” is to know Him.
Prayer:  Father, give us a desire to live for “things” that are eternal and have their source in You and Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Proverbs 10:2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.

If God is good, why do the godly have grief? If God is fair, why do the faithful fail? If God cares, why does He allow Christians to have cancer? If God is powerful, why are innocent people murdered?

And why are the ungodly prosperous? Why are the ungodly happy? Why are the ungodly recipients of any good thing? After all, they are ungodly!

The writer of Psalm 73 had a problem with bad people living godless lives and receiving earthly rewards. He was a bit angry when he saw their lavish lives. They appeared to have everything their hearts desired, lived lives of ease and were healthy. Their riches multiplied even though they scoffed God and threatened His children. What’s up?

So the writer of the Psalm became vain. He avoided evil and when he sinned he immediately confessed and asked God to forgive him. He read God’s Word, engaged in prayer and tried to live a godly life. But all he got from God was trouble: all day, every day! Finally he asked God, “Am I wasting my time? Why should I bother to be godly?”

Fortunately, he went to the right place for an answer. “Finally,” he concluded when he went to the sanctuary to worship, “I understood their end!” Wrongs in this life will be corrected in the next! Remember: Dives lived in pleasure and Lazarus in pain. But there came a day when things were reversed: Dives was tormented by flames and Lazarus went to live lavishly in his Father’s Home.

The ungodly leave their treasures at death but the godly only begin to enjoy theirs with their Father.

Prayer: Give us a strong faith, Father, to look beyond what is to what will be when we are at last with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 73:12 This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.