"ALL THESE THINGS WILL I GIVE THEE, IF THOU WILT FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME"—Satan, Matthew 4:9

     Said the “KING of kings,” “My kingdom is not of this world.” Jn.18:36

     Behold the riches of men, both in and out of the Christian faith. How they spare no expense for themselves. A pope who lives the most lavish life a man could live. An Arab billionaire with a 24 karat gold sink in the washroom of his $200,000,000 private Boeing jet aircraft. Or the yachtsman with the largest ship in the marina, and how he gets utterly depressed when another yacht, larger than his takes up residence.

     The riches of the world are not the lot for the GOD fearing Christian. After the resurrection of Jesus, two extremely wealthy men invested their riches in the fledgling Christian Church. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus spent their entire fortunes building the church for the salvation of men. Even in modern times we have examples, such as a hero of World War II, Oskar Schindler, who started out as a war profiteer, but whose heart was won to the cause of life’s justice, mercy and love wound up spending his every penny to save the Jews under his care from certain death. In the Spielberg film, Oskar was mourning bitterly that he held on to his gold ring that might have saved one more life. Or his car that could have saved several more lives. But while he bemoaned himself, had he not showed a lavish lifestyle before the Nazis he would have created suspicion, and the devil delights in the rumors he can create in the mind.

     The Wisdom of Solomon addresses every aspect of GOD’S plan of salvation and how to best live our lives in a sinful world: to be in the world but not of the world (Jn.17:15). Solomon prayed to God and set his heart to find “knowledge,” “understanding,” and “wisdom.” “Knowledge” is factual information. “Understanding” is the combination of knowledge with life's experience. And “wisdom” is the practical and public application of understanding, that, when blessed of GOD, meets the various needs of our lives. Only by this plea to GOD could Solomon properly serve the kingdom entrusted to his care. God answered the cry of his heart with an abundance of each. And coupled with this gift from on High came every comfort that a sinful world can provide to a man. Solomon was lavished with everything both productive and destructive to the human soul. In his life was experienced the summit and the pits of human nature. The sinful side of his life gives us insight into the final result from indulging in the base passions for the insatiable desires of this world. What did Solomon discover at the end of his life’s journey? “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” Eccl.1:14. A sense of insatiable emptiness was all he was left with! Why? “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” Eccl.1:8.

     How often we hear of stories of men and women who just want to be genuinely loved, and all the false methods employed to receive it. It’s like the man who goes to the bar on payday, and everyone is his friend: kind and caring, they give undivided attention to the man with the money. But when the money runs out, and the drinks stop, so the ‘friends’ disappear. Again, Solomon addressed this sinful side of man, as he did with every aspect of our lives in a sinful world. Wrote Solomon: “Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.” Prov.19:4.

     Jesus had a few choice words on this subject: “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no 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. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” “Then Jesus beholding him [the rich young ruler] loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Lu.12:16-21; Mk.8:36; Mk.10:21.

     Solomon understood what brings joy to the heart: “Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion.” “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.” “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.” Eccl.3;22; Prov.16:8; 15:16.

     In the end of time the wealth of Earth will be viewed for what it is: the means to soften the hardships of others and not to build one’s fortune where upon one’s death, the scavengers come, looking for anything to build their fortune. The prophecies will be fulfilled: “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship , to the moles and to the bats” “For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.” “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.” Isa.2:20; 31:7; Eze.7:19.

     The Christian believes and patiently waits on the fulfillment of the promise: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” I Cor.2:9. These are the riches the saints receive. But this isn’t the reason they follow GOD and His Son Jesus Christ. “God is love.” And where love leads, the true and Bible obedient Christian follows.