Compare the teaching of the sons of Korah in Psalm 49 with the contradictions of a backslidden king of Israel that has put many in confusion:

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. Ecclesiastes 7:12

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. Ecclesiastes 12:19

But his father taught him differently (see Palm 62:10):

Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life. Psalm 62:10 NLT

Proverbs 28 contains several mammonas related verses, but note verse 22 in particular:

He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. Proverbs 28:22

Compare these scriptures with God’s disposition and instruction, regarding the context in which Solomon’s latter statements are judged as expressed in Isaiah 5:8-16, 18-23.

Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! In mine ears said the Lord of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah. Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: but the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness…Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: that say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Isaiah 5:8-16,18-23

Other scriptures counsel:

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. Psalm 62:10 KJV

Don’t become rich by extortion and robbery; if your riches increase, don’t be proud. Psalm 62:10 TLB

The New Testament apostles understood the danger and wrote:

A Christian who doesn’t amount to much in this world should be glad, for he is great in the Lord’s sight. But a rich man should be glad that his riches mean nothing to the Lord, for he will soon be gone, like a flower that has lost its beauty and fades away, withered—killed by the scorching summer sun. So it is with rich men. They will soon die and leave behind all their busy activities. James 1:9-11 TLB

And as if emphasising all the warnings of the Lord quoted in the last posting, Paul wrote with passion and clarity to Timothy:

Some may deny these things, but they are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and are the foundation for a godly life. Anyone who says anything different is both proud and stupid. He is quibbling over the meaning of Christ’s words and stirring up arguments ending in jealousy and anger, which only lead to name-calling, accusations, and evil suspicions. These arguers—their minds warped by sin—don’t know how to tell the truth; to them the Good News is just a means of making money. Keep away from them.

Do you want to be truly rich? You already are if you are happy and good. After all, we didn’t bring any money with us when we came into the world, and we can’t carry away a single penny when we die. So we should be well satisfied without money if we have enough food and clothing. But people who long to be rich soon begin to do all kinds of wrong things to get money, things that hurt them and make them evil-minded and finally send them to hell itself. For the love of money is the first step toward all kinds of sin. Some people have even turned away from God because of their love for it, and as a result have pierced themselves with many sorrows.

O Timothy, you are God’s man. Run from all these evil things, and work instead at what is right and good, learning to trust him and love others and to be patient and gentle. Fight on for God. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you and that you have confessed with such a ringing confession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:3-12 TLB

Please go back to the treatise on God’s Economy and Man’s Economy. Run to the place of safety, the Lord God Almighty Himself. Selah



Pastor Afolabi Oladele