What Proverbs Taught Me About Chasing Wealth (Proverbs 23)
Are you chasing something that won’t last? Solomon reminds us not to wear ourselves out for riches because they vanish like an eagle in flight.
Proverbs 23
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
How do you know the difference between working hard and working too much?
As someone who had tremendous wealth, King Solomon had much to say on this topic. 1 Kings 10:14-15 states, "The weight of gold that came to Solomon annually was twenty-five tons, besides what came from merchants, traders’ merchandise, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land." Additionally, 1 Kings 10:23 highlights his unparalleled wealth and wisdom by noting, "King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and wisdom." Solomon starts Proverbs 23 with these words of caution:
1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
consider carefully what is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you have a big appetite;
3 don’t desire his choice food,
for that food is deceptive.
Solomon’s phrase, "Put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite," is a hyperbolic admonition to exercise extreme caution and self-restraint. Solomon's words hold extra weight as someone who would have wined and dined with some of the most outstanding leaders of his day and who knew what it was like to be a ruler with tremendous wealth. He knows the great danger that lies in store for those who obsess over wealth. He goes on to say in the following verses:
4 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich;
because you know better, stop!
5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears,
for it makes wings for itself
and flies like an eagle to the sky.
The phrase "because you know better, stop!" implies that the reader should have the wisdom to recognize the futility of such efforts. The imagery of wealth making wings and flying like an eagle underscores how quickly and unexpectedly it can disappear. As Paul E. Koptak writes, “The image seems to say, “Let your eyes stay put on that which lasts instead of flying around to fleeting riches.”[1] As the ancient Egyptian scribe Amenemope wrote, “They have made themselves wings like geese and are flown away to the heavens.”[2]
This is how quickly wealth can vanish. One turn of the market, one housing collapse, one health diagnosis can sweep away that which has taken us years to accumulate.
A Meditation to PRAY
Praise | Lord, I praise you for being a God of infinite wealth. Everything I think I own is already yours. You own the cattle on a thousand hills and are the true ruler of this world.
Release | Because of this, I release my anxieties and the relentless pursuit of wealth. Help me to let go of the desire to wear myself out for material gain. I release the worries that come with the fear of losing what I have. Teach me to trust in your provision and to seek contentment in you.
Ask | I ask for the wisdom to recognize the fleeting nature of earthly riches. Help me focus on what truly matters – my relationship with you and the pursuit of righteousness. Give me the discernment to make wise decisions and to value integrity over wealth. Guide my heart to seek your kingdom first.
Yield | I yield to your wisdom and your way. I commit to living a life that prioritizes your teachings over worldly desires. I surrender my plans and ambitions to you, trusting you know what is best for me. Help me to live a balanced life filled with peace and guided by your truth.
