Riches and property can be a blessing from God. But it is so difficult to keep regarding them as a blessing, because the risk is so high that we grow to love our property more than we love God Who has given it to us. This is why Paul warns us to put our hope only in God, Who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment, to be rich in good deeds.
Whoever possesses much on earth, is easily completely preoccupied by it and wants to have more and more. Therefore, he cannot possibly devote himself undivided to the Lord, for he must see to his earthly goods. What to add to what Ecclesiastes tells us today about the dangers of riches?
But let us not assume that this is only a problem to those who possess more than we do. Every person has earthly possessions. How many people - who say they want to serve God - are stuck with their house, their furniture or their honor?
It might be a good thing for those who truly want to serve God to be completely dependent on Him for a period of their lives, also financially. For only in this way we come to understand what it means to truly depend on God, and to experience in our heart of hearts that God cares for His children.
Being taught this life lesson, it will - honestly - not be difficult for us to be no longer enslaved by our earthly possessions. No, as faithful stewards we will then only long to serve others with everything we have, according to God’s will.