“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Prov. 22:7)
It has always been this way, those with much wealth in the world are the masters of those who have little, or less than they do. I was shown a truth many years ago concerning great wealth, and it is this, that the most valuable thing it can purchase is power over people, people, most generally, will do almost anything for the right amount of money.
I do not believe, although I could be wrong, that one cannot attain great wealth without lying, cheating, stealing and by subtle ways and with intent cause the destruction of other lives. It is the way of Satan, the world for now is his, and as he said to the Lord, he can give those things to whomever he wants to. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt. 6:24)
There are of course exceptions, Abraham and Job had great wealth, but it is our Lord who set the example. “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” (Phil. 2:7)
“And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” (Mark 10:44)
As usual, the exact inverse of the way of the world.
“And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:3-4)
I cannot say in all honesty that I have never envied the rich, but I can say I have never been subservient to them, for there is something else I also learned many decades ago, a sinful fact of truth, yet nevertheless a fact, the person in charge is the one standing over you while you whimper, “Please, don’t hurt me anymore.” That power over people, one way the rich rule over the poor is by employing those who will protect them from physical harm from others, for there are many who want what they possess.
With great wealth comes great fear, the fear of losing what one has gained, of becoming one of the poor and being ruled over. The wisest and perhaps the wealthiest man saw the truth of all this. “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Eccl. 1:14)
Satan, by offering the world to us, can keep us blind to the truth, but even the wealthiest, most unrepentant sinner understands that one day his great wealth may not leave him, but he will leave it. “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21) I believe this is also a great hatred that resides in the souls of those who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ in this truth, that all they have they cannot take with them, no one is going to be there for them to rule over any longer.
A man with nothing has a choice when he receives something, he can accept it in all humility or in pride, he can see the truth of 1st Corinthians 4:7, “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”
Or he can prepare for the fruit of Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
I have witnessed many times those who have professed the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior prove their words were false when great wealth, at least great in their eyes, has come into their lives. “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19)
The world’s call is fierce and very enticing, that of the Lord’s is simple, follow me. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1st John 2:15)
It is not enough to know that you are an heir to the kingdom of the world, it is not enough to realize the truth of Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” The subtle lie of worldly wealth will entice nearly all who do not follow the Lord for this one singular reason, love.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
