Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
Trust in oppression is forbidden, and becoming vain over robbery or dishonest gain is forbidden. When riches and earthly property increase, the heart and affections must not be set upon them or bound up with treasure. God tests people by giving rich bounties to some and withholding favors from others, proving the rich to reveal whether they love God the Giver and their neighbor as themselves. That proving also reveals their relative estimate of time and eternity and of earth and heaven.
As property grows, the desire for still more tends to grow with it and must not be allowed to strengthen, and hoarding strengthens covetousness. Increased riches bring fiercer temptation. No earthly treasure is to become a person's portion, god, saviour, or object of devotion, and letting passion for riches absorb mind and heart is idolatry that forfeits both worlds.
Setting the heart on wealth makes people more selfish and less generous, leading them to scheme only how to amass wealth for self and to withhold a due share in good work. It leads them to resent returning a tenth as a severe and unjust tax, yet riches never excuse withholding giving or fixing the affections on earthly treasure. Benevolence must keep pace with accumulation, for wealth has value when humbly and liberally used for the good of others and the glory of God. Such right use pleases God and leads Him to entrust greater responsibilities.
The danger is countered by regular, self-denying giving that makes benevolence a habit by directing a portion of income and investment profits to God's work and the needs of the poor. The safeguard and path of discipleship is the self-denial of Christ, who left heaven's treasure and became poor with nowhere to lay His head so that people might have eternal riches. Studying this psalm helps in learning to abide in the Saviour and to prepare for the mansions Christ is preparing.
Trust in oppression is forbidden, and becoming vain over robbery or dishonest gain is forbidden. When riches and earthly property increase, the heart and affections must not be set upon them or bound up with treasure. God tests people by giving rich bounties to some and withholding favors from others, proving the rich to reveal whether they love God the Giver and their neighbor as themselves. That proving also reveals their relative estimate of time and eternity and of earth and heaven.
As property grows, the desire for still more tends to grow with it and must not be allowed to strengthen, and hoarding strengthens covetousness. Increased riches bring fiercer temptation. No earthly treasure is to become a person's portion, god, saviour, or object of devotion, and letting passion for riches absorb mind and heart is idolatry that forfeits both worlds.
Setting the heart on wealth makes people more selfish and less generous, leading them to scheme only how to amass wealth for self and to withhold a due share in good work. It leads them to resent returning a tenth as a severe and unjust tax, yet riches never excuse withholding giving or fixing the affections on earthly treasure. Benevolence must keep pace with accumulation, for wealth has value when humbly and liberally used for the good of others and the glory of God. Such right use pleases God and leads Him to entrust greater responsibilities.
The danger is countered by regular, self-denying giving that makes benevolence a habit by directing a portion of income and investment profits to God's work and the needs of the poor. The safeguard and path of discipleship is the self-denial of Christ, who left heaven's treasure and became poor with nowhere to lay His head so that people might have eternal riches. Studying this psalm helps in learning to abide in the Saviour and to prepare for the mansions Christ is preparing.