Scripture for Today: Proverbs 23:5 “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”

How amazing to see an eagle in flight!  Their wings are impressive, often measuring six and seven feet across.  They can climb ten thousand feet up into the air and soar for hours.  This amazing “King of Birds” can cruise at forty miles per hour.  The eagle wing, being concave on its underside and convex on its outerside, is created to maximize the wind passing over it thereby giving it lift.

Today’s verse describes how riches often up and fly away.  We are better off to cast but a glance at them rather than to focus all our attention on riches.  We are told not to wear ourselves out to get rich (verse 4).  Those riches somehow sprout wings and fly right out of the wallet.  I am always amazed to hear stories of lottery winners who end up bankrupt!  But some part of me can understand.  I just broke a twenty dollar bill for a small purchase and before I realized it, it was gone.  How does that happen?  Where does it go?  A glance is all I get as money seems to disappear almost as quickly as it appears!

Riches are often a blessing coming directly from God’s hand.  The problem comes when I place my confidence in my own resources rather than in Him.  Riches are uncertain (I Timothy 6:17) but the Lord is worthy of my trust.  He wants me in a place of dependency on Him.  As it turns out, knowing and loving Him is the best kind of riches!

Help me Lord, to give riches but a glance and instead fix my eyes on You.