“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:19–24
The devil can make you rich and successful in the world.
This, I believe, is one of the most overlooked realities in the life of the Christian.
God describes Satan as “the ruler of this world,” “the god of this world,” and “an evil authority and mighty power in this dark world.” Scripture also says that “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5)
The enemy of your soul has just as much power to grant you riches, wealth, comfort and luxuries in this life as God above.
Why does this matter?
It matters because we are often too quick to measure our spiritual success by looking at worldly success.
When we are succeeding in the pursuits of life, we are often quick to assume it is because we are right with God. That we are following His plan for our life. That the actions we are taking must be aligned with Him because we are surely being blessed by Him in our daily life.
But that may not always be the case.
In fact, the Christian is at greatest risk when blessed in the world.
We quickly fall into the trap of thinking we can have both—that we can have both this world and the next.
One of Satan’s greatest lies is that if we are blessed in this world, we are right with God.
Not so. We are right with God when we are following His will fully. When we are devoting all our resources toward the only eternal reward: His Kingdom. Our time, our talents, our money, our relationships, and our pursuits.
The devil can make you rich. And he just may be doing so to distract you from the work that God desires to fulfill in you and accomplish through you. This is a stark warning repeated over and over through the New Testament.
Seek first His kingdom—and whatever He calls you to do to secure it and advance it.
Only God can make you whole.
Prayer
Lord, keep my heart fixed on You. Protect me from chasing the things of this world and mistaking them for Your blessing. Teach me to seek Your Kingdom above all else. Only You can make me whole. Amen.