the subtle snare of worldly prosperity. Matthew chapter 19, verse 23, I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 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. Mark chapter 4, verse 19.

Worldly prosperity has ever been an unfavorable soil for the growth of piety. Prosperity tends to blind the mind to spiritual and eternal things, dry up the spirit of prayer, foster pride and ambition, furnish the appropriate food to covetousness, and lead to a sinful conformity to the spirit, maxims, and fashions of the world.

In general, God in mercy refuses to give worldly prosperity to his children. He has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith. That is, He has commonly chosen poverty as the safest condition for His children. Oftentimes the more full a man is of the world, the further his heart is from God.

Pride, idleness, and luxury are the three daughters which are bred by prosperity. Samson fell asleep in Delilah's lap. Just so, millions have slept their way to hell in the lap of prosperity. How few are those who can carry a full cup without spilling, who can rightly use great wealth and estates, who can bear popularity without pride, and riches without covetousness, and ease without luxury.

High places are dizzy places, and many have fallen to their eternal ruin through climbing aloft. I dread prosperity more than adversity. Earthly riches are the golden snares that Satan uses to catch poor souls. The world is a flattering enemy. Prosperity destroys more than adversity. To see a man humble under prosperity is one of the greatest rarities in the world.

Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. 1 Timothy chapter 6, verses 9 and 10.

Remember Lot's wife. Luke Chapter 17, Verse 32