The folly of giving all to the world is illustrated in the parable of the foolish rich man. He had been greatly prospered by the Lord, but instead of giving God what was his due, "he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do, I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." Is it any wonder that the Lord said to him: "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided"?
Like the rich man, many today are living wholly for the world. The deception of the enemy is upon them, and their senses are perverted. Under this spell they sacrifice eternal riches for worldly treasures, which will be theirs no longer when their life history closes; and in God's eyes they are fools.
Through the love of the world Satan deadens the senses of men. Are you going to allow him to lead you astray? It is infinitely better for you to struggle with poverty now, to endure privation and neglect, to see your cherished hopes shattered, and to know that you have a title to the heavenly mansions, than to possess much worldly treasure, and in the last great day hear the irrevocable sentence: "I know you not." "Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." ST, December 17, 1896 par. 7-9
When Edan shall bloom on earth again, God's law of love will be obeyed by all beneath the sun. Hvn 78
Selfish people are in a hurry to get rich and do not realize they soon will be poor. Proverbs 28:22 (New Century Version)