People generally get excited when they suddenly come upon a large amount of money, whether through a work bonus, inheritance, or illicit games (lottery, etc.). They suddenly believe that all their troubles and worries are things of the past. Money is the answer to everything (they think)! While possessing material wealth can offer many advantages on this earth, it is NOT the answer to everything. There are some things that money cannot buy, fix, or change. Once we understand this, money will lose some of its deceptive luster, and the real value of life will be better understood.
Consider some things money cannot buy.
Love - Though some may be seen as more appealing because of their great wealth, money cannot buy love between two people. Love is based on something much deeper and lasting than earthly riches. The Scriptures declare, "If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised" (Song of Solomon 8:7b). Trying to buy love is a foolish purchase.
Happy Family - Families are in trouble in our society today. Strife and divorce are at critical levels. Many folks believe that if they just had more money, their family problems would be solved. So they take another job, waste cash on lottery tickets, or fall for get-rich-quick schemes that only make the problems worse. The Bible says, "Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife" (Proverbs 17:1). "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred" (15:17). A happy family is never based on loving money.
Wisdom - The wisdom that is from above - heavenly wisdom - is priceless: "For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies" (Proverbs 2:14-15a). Job rightly stated that wisdom "cannot be purchased for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price" (Job 28:15). Money can buy academic degrees, but not true wisdom.
Salvation - Christians were "not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold" (1 Peter 1:18), because these things could never purchase our salvation. Only the precious blood of Jesus could do so (v. 19). In fact, the whole world is not worth as much as your soul (Matthew 16:26). Money can buy you a lot of things, but it cannot buy you an eternal heavenly crown.
- The Central Voice, September 2013