Proverbs 23:4-5 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 

This verse does not condemn honest labour, success, or wealth gained through righteousness. Scripture repeatedly praises diligence, wise stewardship, and faithful work. The warning is against making riches the supreme purpose of life.

The phrase “labour not to be rich” means not to make wealth your god, do not exhaust your life chasing material abundance, and do not measure your (or others’) worth by possessions. A person may gain riches yet lose peace, integrity, family, spiritual sensitivity, or eternal reward. The obsession with wealth often produces anxiety, greed, selfishness, and spiritual blindness.

True wisdom teaches to balance work faithfully and provide honestly, but to trust God rather than riches. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” 1 Timothy 6:10.

Biblical labour has dignity and purpose. God ordained work before the Fall, making labour part of man’s calling and stewardship. The issue is not whether one works hard, but why one works.

Labour becomes sinful when riches become the highest goal, greed governs decisions, or earthly success replaces eternal priorities.

To be continued…

Proverbs 23:4-5 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 

Five instructions from a father to his son (continues): [4] Labour not to be rich – do not make wealth your chief pursuit (23:4-5). This passage does not condemn honest labour, diligence, or prosperity, for Scripture often praises faithful work. The warning is against making riches the supreme goal of life. Earthly wealth is uncertain and temporary, for riches “certainly make themselves wings; they fly away.” Money can disappear through economic troubles, sickness, theft, death, poor decisions, or changing circumstances. Therefore, eternal things must come first: wisdom, righteousness, godly character, and one’s relationship with God.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36.

Human wisdom often teaches success at any cost, wealth as identity, and possessions as security. Biblical wisdom teaches dependence upon God rather than trust in material abundance. A person consumed with gaining wealth may gain money while losing peace, integrity, family, health, or spiritual life. Solomon, instructed by David and writing personally to his sons, teaches throughout this chapter that true wisdom values eternal treasure above earthly gain and remains spiritually discerning in every circumstance.

To be continued…