What is your fate?

Proverbs 1:19 NLT

Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
it robs them of life.

------- ------- ------- ------- -------

I was surprised to read this verse. It's not what you expect. At least to my ear's life experience, I would have thought that the conclusion of this section of the Bible would have had to do with violence, pain, blood or death. And although all the above does play into the comeuppance, instead of being swept up in the violence of it all, we're brought back to motive, greed.

****** ****** ****** ******
Take the time to read the verse in context.

Proverbs 1:10-19 NLT

My child, if sinners entice you,
turn your back on them! They may say, “Come and join us.
Let’s hide and kill someone!
Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave;
let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. Think of the great things we’ll get!
We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. Come, throw in your lot with us;
we’ll all share the loot.” My child, don’t go along with them!
Stay far away from their paths. They rush to commit evil deeds.
They hurry to commit murder. If a bird sees a trap being set,
it knows to stay away. But these people set an ambush for themselves;
they are trying to get themselves killed. Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
it robs them of life.

****** ****** ****** ******

What started all the killing and violence? Greed.

I think we down play this discontentment and constant desire to have more. We are consumed by the desire to aquire the better, to upgrade, to have new, to get the best. Isn't our education, upbringing, and nearly all our daily life ordered so we are able to own, to possess, and to control for our own gain? And we know this goes far past the need for food and shelter.

Read what Jesus brother James writes when suming up the problems we all face.
****** ****** ****** ******
James 4:1-4 NLT

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

****** ****** ****** ******

Can you see it?  You are culpable. Your greed and my greed have contributed to all the war and violence in the world today.

Proverbs 1:19 NLT

Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
it robs them of life.

Are you robbing yourself of life?

It would appear that the fountain of life is generosity and contentment. Possibly,  true immortality is found when we trust in God's care, when we believe a generous and compassionate creator has given us everything we need.

Consider the peace possible in this world and in our souls when we cease from our greedy thieving of the needy.

Are you robbing yourself of life?