“I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.” (Ecclesiastes 5:13-14)
Next up on Solomon’s fail list: Money is fickle. People pile it up and pile it up hoping that money will give them security, take care of them when they’re old, or keep them from having to worry.
Instead, a percentage of the rich can’t bring themselves to spend any of it even when they really need it. Some misers with millions in the bank die from malnutrition or diseases that could have easily been cured if they’d been willing to pay a doctor to look at them.
An even larger group of wealthy folks experience some sudden economic disaster. They turn around and notice all their piles have blown away overnight, either from their own bad choices or something completely beyond their control. All it takes is one financial catastrophe to prove that money can’t be trusted to provide what we really need.
Think: Are you ever tempted to think that if you or your family just had enough money, your problems would be over? Why do you think cash is so undependable?
Pray: Ask God to help you to believe that money is not a good place to look for security or peace of mind.
Do: Take a quick survey of a few friends with retirement accounts: What’s the most they ever lost from their retirement in a year due to a drop in the market? What’s the most they’ve gained in a year? Did they see it coming either time?