What do riches and the cares of the world have in common? Many would think that they are in diametric opposition to one another. When you have riches, worldly cares disappear. If you have worldly cares, riches are obviously absent. So goes the conventional wisdom. And there is truth to it—to an extent, but many a rich person would tell you their cares only increased with their wealth. 

But let’s just for a moment say it’s true. That riches eliminate worldly cares. Do they still have something in common? I would say they do. Even to the extent that riches do eliminate our earthly cares—as in taking away the worry of mortgage bills or food and clothing supplies, with some left over for recreational pursuits—there is still a common element with the worldly cares they eliminate. 

An Example From The Word

Jesus in Mark 4:19 says this:  but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. – ESV 

So, here we have an example in the parable of the sower. The deceitfulness of riches and the cares of the world both have the potential of choking the word of God and making it unfruitful in our lives. So, how does this happen if we approach it from the understanding that in a certain sense, riches do actually eliminate earthly cares? 

Dangers From Different Directions

The thing is, they both have the potential—from different vantages—to keep us from walking in faith. If we are letting the cares of the world weigh us down—and this includes things beyond material cares—we are not trusting in God’s provision. If we live drowning in worry and cares, we are not trusting in God, or letting His promises take root in our lives—thus choking the Word. We cannot add a single hour to our lives by worrying. Jesus lays it all out in Matthew 6:26-34 and we would do well to take heed.

But what about riches, then? If the cares of the world weigh us down and keep us from trusting God, then why are riches on the list? Well, technically, it is the deceitfulness of riches that gets us in trouble. How do riches have deceiving potential? By convincing us we are self-sufficient and with no need for God’s provision. And you don’t have to be extremely wealthy by modern standards to fall prey to this mindset. We, as a society, are so rich in general, that we just take our wealth for granted. 

A Healthy Way To View Riches

Psalm 62:10 says: … if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

And, again, in the section referred to above in Matthew 6, Jesus says to “seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”

These are two healthy ways to approach riches and avoid their deceit. First of all, don’t make them a primary pursuit—let them be added to you after you first seek God and His coming kingdom. Second, if riches do increase, don’t set your heart on them. They are shaky. Money comes and money goes.

Conclusion

No matter where we fall between these two categories—and maybe we are tempted with both—we need to lay down our pride and worry and trust in Jesus. Perhaps then the Word can take root and produce abundant fruit.