Riches are Fleeting
Read Jeremiah 17:9-11
“As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool”
(v. 11).
All it takes is a hurricane to prove the fact that wealth is not lasting. Multi-million dollar homes on the beach front are gone in a swath of churning water. Billions of dollars worth of investment in businesses, golf courses, automobiles, and infrastructure can be swept away in minutes.
Or take the catastrophe of a financial collapse or the sudden calamity of an investment scam. In a flurry of numbers, the amount dwindles, and the account holder is faced with the reality that little or nothing is left. And riches can be fleeting, not only because they can be lost in a natural disaster or deceitful scheme, but also if they are gained at the expense of someone else.
The partridge, a common sight in ancient times, was often accused of hatching chicks which were not her own. The prophet makes reference to this in his admonition to us that we take heed to our use of riches. Wealth improperly gained is not an asset.
We must not be like a creature only out for gain, no matter the process. We must recognize that riches are temporal and look after the bit that God assigns to us. Only then can we rest in the security from above. (Valerie A. Quesenberry)
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
— Dallas Forgaill
Riches, like eggs, are fragile and must be handled with integrity.