When Abundance Becomes A Curse

Common Sense Commentary: Misuse and abuse of God's blessings, the truth and of that which is good, always results in lies, evil and certain punishment. The seed of destruction is contained within the sin itself.

An important understanding in scripture is that material abundance is not synonymous with the "life abundance" Jesus spoke of in Jn.10:10  "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  The "abundance" in this verse is spiritual.  Wealth abundance is material. Wealth, like money, is not in and of itself a bad thing. It is not money that is the root of all evil but "The love of money". 1 Tim.6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  "Coveting" (loving) money, or the stuff it can buy, can do great damage to a person. In that verse, we are told that it has caused many people to err from the faith and pierce themselves through with many sorrows. But money didn't cause that tragedy, covetousness in the person caused it. Money is just a tool like a hammer or saw. It is an inanimate thing... no mind, no feelings, no opinion. Those things are in the person wielding the hammer or money. God disapproves of covetousness and greed for any kind of stuff,  but He approves of wealth and even promises to prosper those who use it well.  Jesus, himself, gave us a formula for gaining wealth. Luke 6:38   "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."  The primary subject in this verse is not about "giving" but "receiving". The first word is "Give" but the rest of the verse is "receive". This divine formula is as automatic as sowing and reaping. "....whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal:6:7.  Jesus brought that formula down from heaven with him from God. It was taught in the Old Testament but had become a legalistic tool in the hands of the religious leaders, those receiving the tithes and offerings.  Jesus updated it by reminding his disciples that real giving, while a sacrifice, is a blessing not a burden.  The front part of giving is against human nature and even Christians who know better, experience the fleshly human inclination to hold on to what we have. But that fleshly emotion to keep value, to retain it, to store it up, is the reason God blesses those who lay greed aside and yield to a higher, nobler standard of obedience to God, and compassion toward those who suffer need and those who do the work of God. When that formula is followed, by joyful giving, abundance results ..."good measure" (more received than given), "pressed down" (still more received), "shaken together" (yet more increase), "and running over" (abundance of increase). This kind of giving clearly results in abundance and wealth.  The formula works when it is done in good conscience and in joyful obedience to God in our giving. That kind of abundance is a blessing; but, abundance not used as a tool for good becomes a tool used for bad and against good.  We are all seeing the results of abundance misused, world-wide, as a tool against good and God while promoting everything God is against and opposing everything He teaches us in the Bible. That, my friends is "When abundance becomes a curse" and rots the souls of those who practice such evil. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"  Isa.5:20