Only Christ, Not This World Can Bring True Life – (Proverbs 23:4-5)
Daily Proverbs
Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
Daily Bible Study
The overall message of these passages, and this chapter of Proverbs is to seek God's wisdom not wealth. Seek happiness through a relationship with Christ, which brings us before God. Do not chase after material wealth which is fleeting. All of us who have lived long enough have heard the stories of those who are rich or famous. Those who once achieving the fortune they sought so desperately, had their lives fall apart in a most miserable way. This is because, like sin, the desire for wealth and fame can never be satisfied. This is because pride and sin can never be controlled, they always want more.
Like sin, greed creates a hunger that cannot be quenched. When is enough, enough? Those who go down this road are only happy when they chase after more, only to soon discover the "more" they attain, the more it does not satisfy their desires. Moreover, what happens when the wealth is gone? The Bible tells us not to trust in the things of this world, for they are going away. Like an eagle, wealth can at any time fly away. Therefore, we are to place our trust in Christ alone, through whom we experience true life. And by whom we have a more joyous and abundant life. This is so because we were created in God's image, to worship God and have a relationship with Him. We were created to have a relationship with God and not to chase after more possessions for ourselves. And that relationship is only possible by first having a relationship with Jesus.