Everyone worries about money. Am I getting paid enough; never. Will I have enough money to retire; probably not. Can I pay the bills this month; iffy. Part of the challenge is that everything seems to revolve around money as if it is the ultimate scorekeeper of life. We complain if others are paid more than we are because we are obviously the best at what we do. We strive to increase what we do have through investment schemes always sensing that if we eventually save enough we will have real security. And throughout everything we are on the outlook for new ways to make even more money!
Along comes Wisdom stating the obvious. “Committed and persistent work pays off; get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.” (Proverbs 28.20) The axiom has been repeated for generations and centuries however the message has yet to sink in. Temptations are presented at every corner.
Just last night I received my biweekly email from yet another unknown person offering me the opportunity to earn millions through a promissory bank note scheme. Even if everything in the email was true the premise is still based on taking something that doesn’t belong to you because nobody is going to catch you. There are millions lying on the table, just waiting to be picked up! The scheme just needs one more participant and _________ (fill in your name or anyone else) are the lucky person.
I have explained repeatedly for more than a decade that these schemes are pure fiction at best; yet every few months a naive inquiry surfaces asking me to validate the opportunity. It seems odd to face the same need again and again but the question probably needs to be faced by each on a far broader level.
Do we want to play fair in life? Do we believe we will win that way? Where does the strength of our hope rest? Is having a big pot of gold the ultimate answer?
God offers something very different; a free gift that guarantees freedom and ultimate happiness. It is available to all.
