The Deceitfulness of Riches – A Little About A Lot

Because Abraham took Lot with him, against God’s instructions to leave all his relatives behind, they came to a point where there were disagreements between them. Abraham, being the elder and more experienced of the two, gave Lot the first choice of land. Lot chose the fertile plain of Jordan, which was well watered like the garden of the Lord, leaving Abraham with the less desirable land. Lot’s choice turned to be the wrong choice that affected his family and generations after him.

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.  And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Genesis 13:7-12

Abraham and Lot come to a point of disagreement and the Bible is very clear that it is actually because the Lord had prospered them and their flocks were too large. The land could not sustain them and so there arose strife between Lot’s servants and Abraham’s servants at this point. This strife came as a result of prosperity. Prosperity is a good thing and it’s a blessing from the Lord. But we need to be careful because at times there are also the negative effects of prosperity. This is sometimes very clear in the continent of Africa where at times countries that have discovered oil or mineral deposits are the countries that have a lot of conflict, in-fighting and civil wars. So in essence, these are very wealthy countries, but you find out that populations never sometimes end up enjoying the wealth that God has given the nation because of the strife and the conflict that is within. When we prosper without God or prosper and do not fear the Lord, then it’s very easy for us to begin to project these negative consequences and many times it develops into pride and we come to a place where we cannot listen to the people that we used to listen to in the past. We develop the wrong attitude and start to mistreat the people who are lower than us in status. This can lead to a downfall and loss of everything we have gained. Therefore, it is important to always remember to stay humble and grateful for our blessings, and to treat others with kindness and respect regardless of their status. An interesting example in the Bible is the story of David, Nabal, and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. The Bible tells us that Nabal was a very wealthy man, and at one point during a season of prosperity, David sent his servants to ask him for some food. The back story to this is that Nabal owned a lot of flocks, and when noble servants were out in the wilderness taking the flocks to eat, David’s men protected both the servants and the flocks. In David’s mind, it was only fair that Nabal should actually be able to share something with them, and so he sends his servants. However, they are met with a very wrong attitude from Nabal. He disrespects David and insults him, therefore, David orders his men to mount up for war and attack Nabal’s household. It’s only the wisdom of Abigail that stops this bloodshed. Jesus warns us about the deceitfulness of riches. This statement is very telling; it actually means that it is possible for riches to actually deceive you into thinking you’re something you’re not or doing something that you should not do.

For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:10AMP

This verse warns against the dangers of prioritising wealth over faith and morality. It suggests that the pursuit of money can lead individuals down a path of sorrow and spiritual emptiness. We should always strive to keep our priorities in check and not let material possessions control our lives. In other words, Jesus is cautioning us against becoming too attached to material possessions and forgetting about the importance of spiritual values and virtues like love and compassion for others. He reminds us that true wealth lies in the relationships we build and the positive impact we have on others, as well as in our connection with God.   The Deceitfulness of Riches Deceitfulness of riches refers to what people’s hearts are deceived to do in quest of riches and what their hearts are also deceived to do after getting the riches.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:10

This Scripture shows the dangers of placing too much importance on material possessions and wealth. This pursuit can lead individuals away from their faith and ultimately cause them to suffer, just like Lot did. By separating from Abraham, Lot moved to the fertile lands of Jordan near Sodom and Gomorrah, leaving Abraham in the wilderness. While these were highly civilised cities, they were also full of evil and wickedness. Lot opened himself and his family to this evil and wickedness. Jesus emphasises the importance of prioritising spiritual wealth over material wealth and warns that the pursuit of riches can lead to the loss of one’s soul. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain a balanced perspective on wealth and its role in our lives.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

This emphasises the importance of investing in spiritual wealth rather than material possessions. It reminds us that our priorities should be focused on eternal values rather than temporary pleasures, as they will ultimately determine the state of our hearts. David prays and tells God not to give him too much that he forgets God (Proverbs 30:7-9). It’s very possible and easy, when we are in a season of prosperity, to begin to disregard the things of God and the values that we used to hold. We begin to disregard the people who actually helped us reach where we are.  However, it is important to remember that our success and prosperity are not solely the result of our own efforts but also of the grace and blessings of God. Therefore, we should remain humble and grateful and continue to prioritise our relationship with God and the people who have supported us. David’s prayer reflects his desire to maintain a humble and grateful heart towards God. Recognising wealth and success can often lead to forgetting the source of our blessings.