“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22 NKJV)
God takes pleasure in His children’s success, progress, and prosperity, not in their failure, frustration, defeat, stagnation, and poverty.
The Scripture affirms this truth.
Psalms 35:27 – NKJV
27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
Proverbs 10:22 – NKJV
22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
It is nothing wrong, sinful, or improper for born-again believers to have abundant material possessions, resources, or money. God desires His children to have an abundance for every good work.
King David testifies to this truth.
1 Chronicles 29:16 – NKJV
16 O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own.
Apostle Paul also testifies to this truth.
2 Corinthians 9:8 – NKJV
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
However, the Scripture warns us to beware of the deceitfulness of riches because they can dampen or smolder our love, passion, or zeal for God.
The love of God in the hearts of the Laodicea believers was put out or extinguished by the deceitfulness of riches, resulting in their becoming lukewarm—neither cold nor hot (Rev. 3:15-17).
In the Parable of the Sower, the Lord Jesus teaches that the deceitfulness of riches can choke the Word of God in our hearts and thus make us unfruitful.
The Lord Jesus explains, “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matt. 13:22 NKJV).
Therefore, it is wisdom for us to seek to know how riches deceive so we may guard our hearts against the deceitfulness of riches or against being deceived by riches and an abundance of material possessions.
Let us examine what the Scripture has to say about this!
First, the Scripture warns that riches can make us proud, boastful, or arrogant.
It is easy to regard or view your riches as simply the fruit or result of your expertise, wisdom, diligence, hard work, or personal effort and then scorn, despise, and regard the poor as lazy, unwise, and unserious.
Solomon writes, “The poor man uses entreaties, but the rich answers roughly.” (Prov. 18:23 NKJV). “The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding searches him out.” (Prov. 28:11 NKJV).
Therefore, Paul instructed Timothy to warn the wealthy believers against pride, arrogance, and confidence in riches (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
It is the deceitfulness of riches to measure or judge your spiritual maturity, gifting, anointing, holiness, or faithfulness by your riches, wealth, or material possessions.
It is the deceitfulness of riches for the believers to see themselves as the proud owners of God’s resources entrusted to their care, thereby failing to see themselves as God’s stewards.
A faithful steward has nothing to boast about or show off, for he is not the owner of the resources under his care or at his disposal. It is foolish and ignorant for any man to brag or boast about his riches or wealth (1 Cor. 4:7).
How do you guard your heart against the deceitfulness of riches to puff you up, make you arrogant, and become self-conceited?
By acknowledging and walking in the understanding that you are not the owner of things you possess but rather a mere steward of God’s resources.
This truth will keep you humble and in check!
A wise steward is primarily concerned about faithfully managing, investing, dispensing, or distributing his master’s resources according to his master’s instructions.
Only a foolish and unfaithful steward goes about boasting about and showing off his master’s riches and consuming or lavishing them upon his lusts.
When you go about bragging or boasting about your material possessions, you have been deceived by riches, and you are simply demonstrating your ignorance, foolishness, and unfaithfulness in stewardship (1 Cor. 4:1, 1 Pet. 4:10, 1 Tim. 6:17-19).
Second, riches have the propensity to enslave you and usurp the place of God in your heart.
It is natural and easy to seek after gold rather than God, after riches rather than righteousness, after wealth rather than the Word of God.
Riches tend to rule, dominate, and control your thoughts and actions. When you allow the love of riches to influence, dominate, direct, or drive your life, you have fallen into the trap or snare of wealth.
When your mind or affection is set on riches, you have fallen into the trap of riches. When your delight, trust, or confidence is placed in your material possessions, you have been deceived and ensnared by riches.
That is why Paul warns the believers who are rich in the things of this world not “to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Tim. 6:17 NKJV).
How do you guard your heart against the deceitfulness of riches to enslave you or displace God in your heart?
By setting your mind or affection on things above and not on the earth!
By understanding God’s purpose of blessing you with riches!
By choosing to be a faithful steward of God’s resources in your care!
The Psalmist admonishes, “Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” (Psa. 62:10 NKJV).
Paul also admonishes, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:1-2 NKJV).
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me guard my heart and mind daily against the deceitfulness of riches in Jesus’ name. Amen.