SOME THINGS MONEY CANNOT DO!

In our study last month on "THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL" we emphasized the fact that "the LOVE of money" is the root of all kinds of evil. We considered a number of evils that may spring from the love of money. Some people say that "money talks, it can do anything". Relatively speaking, this may be so in many respects. However, this is not true in the absolute. In fact money (and the love of it) has many weaknesses. Let us now consider some things that money cannot do.

1. IT CANNOT BUY A GOOD NAME. A good name is of great value. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." (Prov. 22:1). We are further told that "a good name is better than precious ointment;..." (Eccl. 7:1). A good name cannot be purchased with silver and gold. Neither do riches and a good name go hand in hand (necessarily, but note Job, jws). A rich person may have a baneful name and a poor person a good name.

2. IT CANNOT BUY WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING. Wisdom and understanding are precious. "How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver." (Prov. 16:16). We are further told: "For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." (Prov. 8:11). Job said in Job 28:15 that, "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof." Job 28:28 says..."Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." If we lack wisdom, we are to ask of God in faith. (See Jas. 1:5,6).

3. IT CANNOT BRING UP A CHILD IN THE LORD'S WAY. It is of utmost importance that our children be properly trained. Paul says, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Eph. 6:4). God expects and demands of us that we rear our children in righteousness. No amount of money can assure one that his child will be properly disciplined. Every parent has a solemn responsibility to his children. Every child has the right to be properly taught (and cared for).

4. IT CANNOT BUY A MEEK AND QUIET SPIRIT. Our attitude and disposition will determine our eternal destiny. We learn from 1 Pet. 3:4 that the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit "is in the sight of God of great price." The riches of a Rockefeller are worthless as far as buying a meek and quiet spirit. This must be developed by the individual from within.

5. IT CANNOT REMOVE SIN. Sin is a mean and ugly thing. It is dark and bleak. It will destroy one here and ultimately lead to eternal ruin unless it is removed. Peter tells us, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from you fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Pet. 1:18,19). John said: "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." (Rev. 1:5). No amount of money can remove the smallest sin. It takes the precious blood of our blessed Saviour.

6. IT CANNOT DEFY OR WARD OFF DEATH. Death is dreaded and would be avoided by most people if it were possible. All--whether rich or poor -- must die. Death is a universal appointment. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Heb. 9:27). Money is indeed weak and worthless as far as defying or warding of death is concerned.

7. IT CANNOT REMOVE A SOUL FROM HADES. We learn from Lk. 16:19-31 that a rich man died, and was buried, and hell (hades) he lifted up his eyes, being in torments. Although he pleaded for mercy, he was told that a great gulf separated him from the righteous and neither could cross over to the other. In other words, it was now too late to avoid or to get out of torment. He could not buy nor pray his way out of Hades.

8. IT CANNOT PROFIT IN THE DAY OF WRATH. Although one may enjoy the provisions of material riches during his lifetime on the earth, he can take none of them with him when he dies. Neither can they be of further use to him. The wise man tells us that "Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death." (Prov. 11:4). It's not what we possess, but it is how we possess it, that will count in judgement. It is not what we have, but what we are that will profit in the day of wrath. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26).

By: Carrol R. Sutton.

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