The Apatē of the `osher and the `ashar (Escaping the Trap of Greediness) - 3
The tool of money
One
deception about the `osher (riches) of the `ashar (rich) is that they
think money is the ultimate. However, freedom goes beyond money. If you have
read my previous article, you will understand my point.
I
encourage you to read the previous article related to this article for a better understanding of riches, wealth, and greediness. In this article, I
will dive deeper into the trap, power, darkness, destruction, and deceitfulness
of ploutous (riches).
Furthermore,
I will unveil seven uncommon keys to crush the walls of greediness. As stated
in the previous articles, I am not against riches. Money can do great things. However,
money has limitations.
I
am writing this article because Christ Jesus stated that riches can deceive (meditate
on Matthew 13:22 and Mark 4:19). Many people think all their problems will end
when they get money. That’s a half-truth because numerous rich people don’t have
peace, joy, and strength despite their money. In fact, most of
these rich people want to become ordinary so they can live peacefully. These rich
people want to become like every normal person on the street to have fun.
However, they cannot because of the fear and perception people have about them. As stated, money is a great tool. For example, you can use a mobile phone to read, watch important videos, and transact business.
Others
use their mobile phones to steal, watch evil videos, and create problems. That
is how money works. Money is a tool. It is how you use it that determines its
power. Money in the hands of an evil and ignorant person is a disaster.
However,
giving money to a righteous and knowledgeable person becomes a blessing. Some people
only think about money, while some fight for money, destroy to get money, and
kill to get money.
They
don’t know that money is not the ultimate. There is something more valuable than
money. I encourage you to download and read my books on wisdom
for a more profound revelation. The books are free on my blog.
The richest man that ever lived
I said in mine heart, Go to
now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this
also is vanity.
I said of laughter, It is
mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
I sought in mine heart to
give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold
on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which
they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
I made me great works; I
builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
I made me gardens and
orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
I made me pools of water, to
water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
I got me servants and
maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of
great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
I gathered me also silver and
gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men
singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as
musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
So I was great, and increased
more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with
me.
And whatsoever mine eyes
desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my
heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Then I looked on all the
works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do:
and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was
no profit under the sun.
Ecclesiastes
2:1-2 KJV
Solomon, the son of David,
built mansions and expensive swimming pools and planted diverse kinds of
fruits. He also had thousands of servants in his mansion and allowed his servants to marry and have children there.
Talk of diamonds, gold, and
precious treasures; Solomon had thousands of these pearls in his palace. Solomon
had singers and comedians who entertained him. Whatever a man needed to become
happy, Solomon acquired them.
If a man could have servants
marry and give birth in his house, then you could imagine how large and wealthy
his mansion was. Solomon could feed his servants and their families daily. He
paid his laborers and supplied their needs and wants.
In fact, Solomon married more than nine hundred (900) women. He could take care of these women and their children, travel wherever he wanted, and build temples
with gold and precious assets!
If
you analyze Solomon's wealth, you will realize that he had everything.
He had wives, children, grandchildren, servants, comedians, singers, mansions,
food, water, horses, camels, and the latest expensive items.
However,
Solomon concluded that they are vain. Solomon saw that the things of the world
were empty, useless, and worthless. Remember, Solomon was also a King. He had
power, wealth, fame, and authority to do whatever he wanted.
However,
he concluded that the things of the world are vain. You might be asking why
Solomon stated that the wealth and assets of this world are vain. Keep reading.
Solomon had great wisdom. He was not ignorant because God gave him great wisdom
and understanding.
However, Solomon's reign did not end well. In his old age, he allowed evil women to destroy his relationship with God. Nothing is so sweet as having a good family, peace,
and financial freedom. Solomon had earthly treasures.
However,
he did not build his spiritual treasures. Solomon could build his spiritual
wealth. However, evil women misled him. Solomon allowed his wealth to control
him instead of letting the Holy Spirit lead him.
This
eventually led to his fall. If your heart is focused only on earthly things,
you will deviate from the path of the Holy Spirit. That is how the
deceitfulness of riches works. At the initial stage, you might think everything
will be fine when you get money.
However,
you will be tempted to acquire more assets when the money comes. For instance,
you will desire a car when you don’t own one. However, as soon as you get a
car, you will desire to get different brands of vehicles.
Then,
a time will come when you desire a jet plane or yacht. After getting these
things, you will want to extend your house and build more. After building more
homes, you will desire to get more women.
Then,
you will desire to build a real estate. After getting into the real estate
business, you will desire that people bring their funds to invest in the real
estate business. After getting the investment funds, you will desire more funds
to diversify the business.
After
diversifying the business, you want to build a house on a different planet.
From there, you will desire to build mansions under the sea. The desire will
keep rising because desires are limitless. Secondly, you will want to
compete with your money.
You
will never be satisfied with what you have. That is the deceitfulness of
riches. Solomon had everything a man needed and wanted. However, he concluded
that they were empty and worthless. As stated, I will continue to state that I
am not against riches (money).
I
want you to know the hidden truth of life. Life is more than worldly assets. Solomon, one of the wealthiest men who ever lived,
concluded that the things of this world are vapor.
It
vanishes within a second. Like a flower, give it time. It will die. That is how
the world revolves. Whatever has a beginning has an end. The cars, houses, jet
planes, ultra-modern assets, and beautiful buildings you see will perish one
day because they are limited.
The vanity of ploutous
Trust not in oppression, and
become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
Psalms
62:10 KJV
Do
not put all your faith in your riches because they can disappoint. Some people die
of heart attacks because they placed all their hope, faith, and trust in their
assets. Maybe they heard that a natural disaster struck their assets. Because
of that news, they committed suicide. David stated that if you increase riches, do not set your heart
upon them. Setting your heart upon temporal assets can lead to calamities.
Surely every man walketh in a
vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and
knoweth not who shall gather them.
Psalms
39:6 KJV
Mysteriously,
life is vain. We are born empty-handed, and we shall die empty-handed. We came
with nothing, so shall we leave with nothing. Have you seen a rich person buried
with his mansions, money, and assets?
The
rich man dies empty. All that he has acquired will remain while he goes empty.
That is what David states. People accumulate worthless assets without knowing
who will manage them. That’s the deceitfulness of riches.
The emptiness in Akwatia
I
recently visited Akwatia, where I was born. I was sad and depressed because the
Diamond company had become empty. The workers had deserted the place. What used to be a busy industry has
now become empty and bushy.
The
water bodies and the land in Akwatia had become brown and contaminated. What a
tragedy! A vibrant company had now become empty, desolate, and worthless! The workers'
bungalows were empty, and the houses had weeds and trees surrounding and
growing within.
The
environment was quiet, like a cemetery. The school (building) I attended in
Akwatia had become bushy. What a life! Anything that has a beginning has an
end. Wealth and riches have a reigning season. However, a time will come when
it will cease and die. That’s the deceitfulness of riches. It’s just a matter
of time.
The emptiness of humanity
Again, I considered all
travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour.
This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes
4:4 KJV
What
a pity to envy your neighbor. It is so pathetic that you will find coworkers
destroying each other. A worker wants to get the boss's favor, so he destroys the
reputation of his associate. Some people go far by taking people to shrines to
kill or damage their neighbors just to get money, opportunities, power, fame,
and favor.
Most
women pretend to love men because they are greedy. When choosing a partner, they
look at money, cars, houses, and other mundane things, forgetting that
character and purpose are the foundation.
Some
women ignore potential husbands because of greed. Most women are single because of greed. Some men, too, are single because of greed.
However, men hardly pretend to fake love.
Women
are the real pretenders. Most women live in regret because they allow
greediness to destroy potential relationships. Some women have fallen in “love”
with abusers because of greediness. Some men, too, have been trapped because of
greediness.
Some
families fight over land, houses, cars, and businesses because of greediness.
What a pity! The wise man (Solomon) states that it is vanity to envy a neighbor.
I will not use my precious energy to envy a neighbor. I will use that energy to
do something productive!
Vanity of vanities, saith the
Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes
1:2 KJV
Solomon
continues to emphasize the emptiness of life. He states that everything is
vanity. The desire for power, fame, and wealth is vanity. It is a waste of time
to embezzle the country's funds. It is a waste of time to destroy someone’s
glory just to get recognition.
It
is vanity to heap up funds for yourself just to die from a mosquito bite. It is
vanity to pile up the economy’s treasures in a secret account and die without anyone's
knowledge. The owner of the bank will misuse those funds if he finds that no
one knows of the account.
It
is vanity to heap up funds and precious assets in your secret storehouse and make
the employees and citizens suffer. It is vanity to possess worldly assets, yet
in your community, you have not done anything to help them. Buying houses and
assets people cannot benefit from is vanity.
He that loveth silver shall
not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is
also vanity.
Ecclesiastes
5:10 KJV
As
stated, desires are infinite. You can have cars, houses, businesses, and whatever
a man can possess. However, your desire (greediness) will not stop you from
acquiring more. You will even be frustrated because you have almost everything.
If you are greedy, you will never be satisfied, peaceful, or happy. You will always
want to get something new. That is the deceitfulness of riches. Judas Iscariot
betrayed Christ Jesus because of money (greediness).
However,
he couldn’t spend the money. Judas Iscariot committed suicide. Delilah lost a
great husband (Samson) because of money. Delilah would have become a great
woman just by marrying Samson.
However, greediness made her lose a treasure. Judas Iscariot would have become a great apostle. However, greediness cut his life short. He lost his position and died a disgraceful death because of greediness.
- What have you lost because of greediness?
- What are you losing because of greediness?
- What are you about to lose because of greediness?
It’s
time to unveil the uncommon keys that destroy the foundation of greediness. Below
are uncommon wisdom keys to break the apatē (deceitfulness) of ploutous (riches).
Kindly share the link to this article to save a life.
Seven uncommon keys to diffuse the apatē of the `osher and the `ashar
1. Embrace Christ Jesus
The
master key to breaking the deceitfulness of riches is surrendering your life to
Christ Jesus. When you repent from sin (greediness) and surrender your life to
Christ Jesus, He gives you the grace to dominate the desire of greediness.
2. Build your mind
The word of God (the Holy Bible) can build your mind. It takes the word of God to
transform your mind. Until your mind is transformed, you cannot walk in the
path of the Holy Spirit. The more you feed on the word of God, the more you
grow in wisdom and understanding. Greed is a dark mindset. Change it with
the word of God (meditate on Romans 12:2, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 2:2).
3. Be content
Contentment
is a great key to destroying the seed of greediness. When you are content with what
you have and work effectively and efficiently, the Holy Spirit will not forsake
you (meditate on Hebrews 13:5).
4. See the limitations
Earthly
things can help us to do many things. However, they are temporal (meditate on
Matthew 24:35). The things of this world have a lifespan. Don’t put all your
trust in earthly things because they are destructive. Have this mindset so that
the things of this world will not occupy your mind and heart.
5. See beyond the physical
Think
about the treasures of Heaven while pursuing the assignment. When you see that
you are a traveler and, that this world is just a temporal place and that
Heaven is your permanent home, you will not be greedy.
6. Build a solid relationship with the Holy Spirit
If
you want to overcome the depression, vanity, and darkness of this world, commune
with the Holy Spirit daily. When you become one with the Holy Spirit, He will
create a seed of inner peace, joy, and satisfaction in your heart. I encourage
you to download and read my series of books on the Holy Spirit. The books are free on my blog. Do well to share the link
to this article to save a life.
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