Posted: 20 November 2024
From a sermon given on 17 November 2024:
As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
(Jeremiah 17:11)
Truth be said, riches and wealth creation is a journey and not an overnight mushroom sprout. It calls for dedication and sacrifice. Many avoid this long route and go for shortcuts of getting it wrongly through corrupt deals, robbery, scamming, Etc.
Jeremiah compares them with a partridge that fails to lays it own eggs and sits on another organisms eggs not knowing that ones the they hatch, these young ones will go to their natural habitat. Covetousness, greed and competition has driven human into a wealth accumulation sprint and get rich quick.
The wise man didn’t mince his words, “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle (Proverbs 23:4-5). God alone provides the security we all long for. Wealth, like an eagle, can fly away without notice, at uncatchable speeds, to unreachable heights. And when wealth flies away, those who have spent a lifetime pursuing it realize the futility of all their activities. A dream doesn’t become a reality through shortcuts; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. It's God who gives us the ability to create lasting wealth.
Further readings:
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
(Proverbs 15:27)
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
(Proverbs 13:11)
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
(Ecclesiastes 5:13-16)
