How to Overcome the Deceitfulness of Riches

…but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Mark 4:19

Most Christians think the deceitfulness of riches is the foolish notion that riches will bring fulfillment and happiness.

If you believe this, like I did, here is an unpalatable truth; you have probably already fallen victim to the real deceit.

Sadly, the deceitfulness of riches is far more devious than that.

The Deceitfulness of Riches

This is how the deceitfulness of riches really presents in our lives.

As soon as I have just a little more money, I will …

• pay off that credit-card debt
• begin tithing as I should
• be a better steward of God’s resources
• make time to study God’s word
• start saving for my own home
• give to that ministry organisation
• start managing my finances properly
• book that mission-trip I always planned
• take time off work for ministry
• spend more time with my children
• commit to more activities at church
• start to follow God’s call on my life
• give to the poor
• do the things that are really important

Does any of the above sound familiar?

With just a little more money, I will…

How would you finish that sentence?

‘It’s okay!’ the Deceitfulness of Riches whispers. ‘You’re not rich so how can you possibly be deceived? Now, just reach for a little more. Then you can…’

We spend our lives chasing that metaphoric pot of gold, and yet we never have quite enough. The only way to escape this cycle is to make wiser financial decisions today.

We need to become wise stewards of that with which God has already blessed us – today. This involves changing our spending habits. Today! It means living out godliness with contentment. Today! It means accepting that we already have more than enough. Today.

We can’t afford to wait until tomorrow because … tomorrow never comes.

The only way to overcome the deceitfulness of riches is to stop reaching for “just a little more” and start being godly stewards of what we have. The best time to do this is now.

In the words of C.S. Lewis…

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.

C.S. Lewis