The Money Trap

Proverbs 1:17-19

¹⁷ If a bird sees a trap being set,
    it knows to stay away.
¹⁸ But these people set an ambush for themselves;
    they are trying to get themselves killed.
¹⁹ Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
    it robs them of life.

In the movie Ice Age, we all get a kick out of seeing the little prehistoric squirrel go crazy trying to get the huge nut. He will stop at nothing to get it. To his own peril he continues to try to hold it and when he does, somehow, the nut slips through is paws and we witness another funny encounter of getting the nut.

Our verse likens a crazy lust for money like a trap that everyone can see. Getting consumed and greedy for money only leads to self-harm. How do you get to this point you ask? Well, such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain (NIV). The definition of ill-gotten gains is “acquired by illicit or improper means”.  Singling out the people who commit crimes for these set of verses is obvious.   What about spreading this improper and illicit acquiring across a broader scope?  One does not have to be a criminal to be counted among the ones who seek after ill-gotten gain. 

John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  Jesus told us he would give us peace and that peace would be sustainable unlike the world’s version. Money should not be source of your peace in other words. Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 6-11, ⁶ Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. ⁷ After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. ⁸ So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.⁹ But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” I can hear a mic drop.

Solomon nails the point; “it robs them of life”.  How many traps have you gotten into out where other Godly people in your life have cautioned you to stay away from?  You seek everything that only the Lord can give but refuse to go to Him for it, acquiring by illicit or improper means…. ill-gotten gain.  Verse 33 says, “but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”  It starts by listening to the Lord and builds from there.  Satan broadcast the biggest lie; you can have everything God wants you to have without God!  Don’t caught in the money trap, surrender to the Lord and let him give you the peace Jesus talks about in John 14.  

Prayer: I pray that all of us will do a Matthew 6:33 tells us, “To seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness”. Father you promised to all the things we need to us if we do Matthew 6:33. I thank you for your promises and I believe in your word. I pray that I will not be greedy for money or any of its traps in Jesus’ name, amen.