The Challenges of Prosperity

No one can dispute that we live in the most prosperous time in history. In fact, ours is the most prosperous nation in the world and we are the most materially blessed people of all time. No other group of people – living or dead – has ever enjoyed the advantages we possess. Lesson one: be thankful!

The problem, of course, is that these blessings of money, material possessions, leisure time, and personal liberties will become our spiritual downfall. Consider some of the challenges that are presented by our prosperity:

a. It is easy to become consumed by the ambition to obtain more and more. Solomon, perhaps the richest man in the history of the world, wrote: “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity” (Eccl. 5:10). With abundance comes an increased appetite for even more.

b. This desire for more worldly goods presents a whole new array of temptations. Paul warned that “those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil . . .” (1 Tim. 6:9,10). Our news is filled with reports of corruption at the highest levels of government and business. The underlying cause is the “love of money.” And, note that you don’t have to be rich to suffer these temptations – you only have to “want to get rich.” Many have suffered the “ruin and destruction” – both physical and spiritual – of such desire.

c. As the pursuit of riches and possessions continues, men invariably allow God to be crowded out of their lives. Many a Christian has neglected his spiritual duties while salving his conscience with the excuse: “I must earn a living.” God, on the other hand, has promised that if we put His kingdom first, “all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6.33). May we all have the faith to trust Him in this way.

– by Greg Gwin