There is another word of Jesus about "the deceitfulness of riches." The
phrase piques us into a search for its meaning. There is no evidence that
Christ meant that riches deceived us by flying away. The tricks which they
play upon men are far more subtle than sudden departure. Jesus meant that
riches remained with men and still carried on the deceiving work. We have
all seen enough of life to know some of the deceptions. One friend began
his business career with the idea that he would be content with a hundred
thousand; he is now utterly restless with his million. Another friend gave
to worthy causes a far larger proportion of his meager income in the day
of struggle than he now gives of his plethoric income in the day of
prosperity. Still another friend in the old days was simple and humble in
all his attitudes toward life, while in the new days of wealth he has
become proud in spirit and complex in his living. We have all seen men
whose souls lessened as their riches greatened. All these are
illustrations of Jesus's teaching about "the deceitfulness of riches." The
tragic thing is that the men who are the victims of the deceitfulness are
not aware of the sad inner effects. Men do not know that they are stingy;
they are only prudent and economical! So runs the miserable deceit. It
requires a moment of marked self-revelation to enable these men to
classify themselves with truth. Over the Bank of England men read the
words, "The Earth is the Lord's." This describes the source of wealth.
Over many financial institutions it might be good to put another motto as
a reminder of a possible effect of wealth, "The Deceitfulness of Riches."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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