The Watchman's Diary

We live in a time of great wealth, knowledge, and technological advancements. Yet, for all our advances in technology human nature remains largely unchanged. We take pride in our material wealth and lavish praise on those who are or appear to be wealthy. We idolize people and set them on the pinnacle of our praise, desiring to be like them. In times past, people were ashamed to admit their idolatry but today it has become a cultural norm, especially in the West. We even overlook how individuals gain their wealth and injustices committed along the way, because that too is our end goal. 

How often have you seen a poor person elevated for their integrity? Yes, it happens but is an infrequent thing in our society. The poor is more likely to be ridiculed for their integrity over the opportunity for great wealth. The rich are lauded for their shrewdness in business and their creativity, even when they gain their wealth by taking advantage of others. This is not God’s design, and such a person is evil. We have so often turned a blind eye to the evils of this world that many have become blind to justice and wise to injustice. Still, we idolize them and make them the pinnacle of our praise. 

The rich deny God and is counted as wise while the poor is ridiculed for their faith in the face of adversity. The rich buys a judge and is counted as blessed. The poor is evicted and called accursed. The rich escapes accountability in the courts and is called God’s anointed. The poor is wrongfully accused and is labeled as sinners getting their just reward. This justice of man is wickedness in God’s eyes. The scales of justice in our time are purposefully imbalanced as even those entrusted with the laws break them for unjust gain.

“A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him” (Proverbs 28:22)

God has blessed us with much wealth, knowledge, and ingenuity, but we have taken the blessing of God and made them into self-obsessed idolatry. We forget the “riches are not forever” (Proverbs 27:24) and glorify the work of our hands instead of the One who created our hands and the work they perform. Instead of glorifying God with our wealth, too many use it to corrupt justice and pile wealth upon wealth. They are not mindful that those “with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon [them]” (Proverbs 28:22).

There is no greater wealth than having favor with God! There is no dry ground the Lord cannot refresh, no wasteland He cannot renew. There is nothing beyond His ability, and only He can deliver from sin. He is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer. He should be the true pinnacle of our praise!