How To Acquire Wealth

Daily Devotional – Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.

Proverbs 16:8 (NKJV)

Students of a populous college were rioting. Unknown people had killed a colleague of theirs. In between running battles with the police, the mob left a trail of destruction and misery.

One supermarket bore the brunt of the rioters’ fury.  Although the superstore reopened in a few days, many shelves remained empty. Several months later, the owner closed the store. He was bankrupt.

It emerged later that the supermarket’s owner had cheated his fellow investor and partner and taken full control of the superstore. Many people interpreted the demise of the business as God’s punishment for the dishonest businessman.

The best summary of this story is in Proverbs 13:11, “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.”

James warns another class of wealth-seekers who exploit their workers. “Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth” (James 5:4).

God’s method for getting wealth is stated in Proverbs 13:11, “he who gathers by labor will increase.” Taking shortcuts by defrauding and exploiting others may result in momentary riches but it will lead to a lifetime of misery.

Contrary to popular prevailing notions, the Bible is emphatic that, “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice (Proverbs 18:8). God’s method may take time to yield, but it is the surest way to get riches that you can enjoy throughout your lifetime and bequeath to your children.

Father, teach me the value of honest labour. Help me avoid the temptation to acquire wealth through dishonest methods.