Some spiritual dangers of seeking after wealth

Some of us would love to be rich and not be in any need for the rest of our lives. But can riches, or even the longing for riches, hurt your relationship with God. The answer is clearly yes. The first passage we will look at is in Proverbs 30:7-9

 ⁷Two things I asked of You,
         Do not refuse me before I die: 
    ⁸Keep deception and lies far from me,
         Give me neither poverty nor riches;
         Feed me with the food that is my portion, 
    ⁹That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?"
         Or that I not be in want and steal,
         And profane the name of my God.

In verse 8 Agur actually prays that God would not give him riches. Why? Agur was concerned about how he would react if he was no longer dependent on God to have his needs met.  In verse 9 he foresees the possibility of  becoming full and denying God.

Even if we don't have riches, just longing after wealth can stunt our Christian growth. One passage that warns us about our growth being stunted is "The Parable of the Sower"  This parable is found in more than one Gospel but today we will look at a portion found in Mark chapter 4. There is no getting around it. Notice that  ".... the deceitfulness of riches..." is listed among things that will keep the Word of God from bearing fruit in your life.

 ¹⁹but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Also when our priority is to get wealthy we are setting up an idol in our heart. It can consume us and steal away our love for God. In fact our love for God can be replaced with despising Him or even hating Him.

Matthew 6:24

²⁴"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)