Avoid Get-rich-quick schemes
By Tope Banso
“A greedy person tries to get rich quick, but it only leads to poverty” (Proverbs 28:22 New Living Translation).
To say that money is important for transactions among human beings is to say the obvious. Without money you can’t even possibly be reading this! We need money to meet different needs in life. But beyond having money to meet our basic human needs, many people desire to get rich. Thus, in a bid to realize this desire, not a few participate in get-rich-quick schemes.
There are enough sad stories of those who participated in such schemes. Nevertheless, that seems not to have discouraged many others. They are being deceived to believe that their own stories would be different. Common sense should have told these optimistic fellows that they cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. Evidently, they are too blinded by their greedy desire to get rich to the extent that they cannot see that they want to get their fingers burnt.
Greed is the motivating force driving many of the victims of get-rich-quick schemes. These people, including some Christians, were deceived to participate in some get-rich-quick schemes because of the exciting offers. Some of them may be getting some positive results now, deliberately programmed to make them go deeper into the schemes, but it won’t last. Such people may soon be crying over their huge losses.
Human experience cannot nullify the Word of God. No result by anyone can make the Word of God of no effect. If the Bible says something is wrong or evil, you had better believe it. If it says you should refrain from a practice, let nobody’s seeming encouraging result lure you into it.
The Bible says, “The trustworthy will get a rich reward. But the person who wants to get rich quick will only get into trouble” (Proverbs 28:20. New Living Translation). Verse 22 adds, “A greedy person tries to get rich quick, but it only leads to poverty” ( New Living Translation).
Avoid greed that lures you to engage in get-rich-quick schemes, because, eventually, nothing good will come out of it. Any profit that may accrue to you from it will not endure. “Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring” (Proverbs 11:28 New Living Translation).
Colossians 3:5b says, “Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry” (New Living Translation). God hates idolatry, and this is not limited to statutes or graven images, but anything you love more than God. 1 Corinthians 10:14 says to flee from idolatry.
Avoid get-rich-quick schemes. “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows” (Proverbs 13:11 New Living Translation). Many examples of those who had gotten wealthy through get-rich-quick- schemes abound. Today, their wealth has disappeared. They didn’t acquire their wealth through diligent labour, so they couldn’t keep them. Many of them lost their wealth through the same means they had acquired them. Easy come, easy go.
Some of the get-rich-quick schemes that people embrace could be demonic, involving occult practices. Some may simply be fraudulent, having no involvement with magic. The operators of get rich-quick-schemes are almost always criminals or criminally minded. They have to deceive others to dispossess them of their money or property. However, Proverbs 21:6 says, “Wealth that comes from telling lies vanishes like a mist and leads to death” (New century Version). If it does not lead to physical death, it will certainly lead to spiritual death, and ultimately eternal death.
That should not be surprising. God will not tolerate evil. It’s not possible to think you can succeed in making yourself happy by making others sorrowful. You cannot build an enduring fortune on others’ misfortune. What a man sows that he shall reap (Galatians 6:7). Proverbs 15:27a says, “Dishonest money brings grief to the whole family” (New Living Translation).
Children of God should not be deceived to participate in any of these schemes in whatever guise they appear and whoever is running them, even if they’re their church members! Avoid get-rich-quick schemes. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have (Hebrews 13:5).
1 Timothy 6:6 says godliness with contentment is great gain. Verses 7-9 add, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (New King James Version).
Beware of the love of money. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10 New King James Version).
The Bible is clear on how to grow your finances. This includes honouring God with your money and possessions, working diligently, saving, investing wisely, living on a budget and spending reasonably – avoid impulsive and compulsive buying.
Stay with the Word of God. Don’t follow what is trending, but is not Biblical. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes. They’re not God’s way of meeting the needs of His people or making His people rich. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22).
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINT: I shall not engage in get-rich-quick schemes; I shall follow the Word of God.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For more inspiring messages, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪Banso, an Abuja-based minister and pastor, is the head of Cedar Ministry International, and can be reached at any of these addresses:
cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com; or on:
Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
