People Who Want To Get Rich Fall...

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." --Paul, 1 Timothy 6:9.

A few days ago, I stopped into one of my favorite local resale shops, searching for a purse for a weekend event. I found two purses (under $10 for both of them!), and was about to pay and leave the store when I decided to browse the book section. I came across a little gem by (the late) Derek Prince, If You Want God's Best. Used copies are available at amazon.com

This is a little book, one that will fit into a man's coat pocket, or a woman's purse. Less than 110 pages, a fast reader could finish it in less than two hours. If you give this book the time and attention it deserves, you will spend considerably more than just a few hours with it.

Many of us have grown up in churches where we were taught it is not good to "pursue riches". I grew up in such a church. Some of the reasons given made sense, others did not. After all, don't we have to earn money to care for ourselves and anyone who is dependent upon us? Don't we want to give to church or charity, or leave something for those who will remain after we are gone? Don't we want nice vacations, a safe, reliable vehicle, or a night out now and then? For all of these things, we need money. Every time I pick up a magazine or listen to a money management program, Suze Orman is telling someone they must have six to nine months worth of living expenses tucked away in an emergency fund! Why would a reasonable person tell us not to pursue riches?

Here is the answer from Derek Prince. He says it so well: "I thank God that there is an alternative to pursuing riches. We can seek the kingdom of God and let God add to us what we need, in abundance, because God is not stingy,but generous. Once He sees that our motives are right, He can release His generosity toward us...There is a great difference between pursuing the temporal, and pursuing the eternal and letting God add the temporal to you. You must have your priorities right." --If You Want God's Best, by Derek Prince (page 91).