In Proverbs, chapter twenty-three, verse four, “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” Why? There are three good reasons for this commandment. This command repeats in the New Testament from Matthew six, verse nineteen, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.” The first reason here is that people who plan ways to get rich do not include God and are prone to attract the ungodly, setting themselves up for the enemy to control their environment.
The second reason is in First Timothy six, verse nine, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” Those who develop wealth do not realize what lies ahead of them. Most wealthy people will attract the envious who plan to befriend and persuade them. Therefore, the rich will often compromise and follow the world and its ungodly ways. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon, as in Matthew six, verse twenty-four.
The last reason is found in Hebrews thirteen, verse five, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. For believers, the challenge will be how we talk. What comes out of our mouths will determine our inner intentions. All people must understand that mammon is a spirit. Riches and wealth are associated with evil. It is tough for a rich person to be unassociated with the ungodly environment, being in that position.