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Jesus gave this warning to a man who was concerned for his inheritance. The warning exposes another aspect of the deceitfulness of riches. Contrasting the number of things that one possesses with one’s own life. Here one can see that a desire for things can lead a person to lose sight of the value of his own life.

In touching on the subject of value, Jesus describes the ultimate accounting;

While possessions have the ability to assuage anxieties and provide comforts, in the end they all pass away. True riches would be that which one can carry with them into eternity.

The word 'drugs' is generally taken to mean those families of chemicals that can be used to produce a specific effect in people. In medical practice, this is usually some therapeutic effect. However, in the larger world, the sensations of pleasure or just mind numbing tranquility have such a value that almost any price will be paid for even the brief short term effect they produce.

The consequences of alcohol are well known. Yet people still pursue it. How much more will people entangle themselves in the pursuit of riches, when the negative consequences are far less discernable. If we consider again Paul’s words to Timothy;

The apparent mixed metaphor of falling into a snare and drowning may be better understood as a sequence of events. Beginning with a desire, temptations are encountered which entangle like a snare. This is compounded by lusts which lead to destruction and perdition so complete as to be seen as being covered such as with burial or drowning. This process has two components 'temptations' and 'lusts' that accelerate one down a path whose end is 'destruction'. It could be seen as similar to one who falls into quicksand.

It is interesting that it is not just greed or the desire to be rich that drives this destructive process. The 'many lusts' that are spawned from this essentially compound the destructive forces that can take someone almost as a captive to his destruction. Frequently the desire for power, fame, and prominence work in parallel with greed.

It is interesting that these corruptive dynamics do not require wealth, just the desire for it. It can be seen in anyone. For example, from someone who might participate in a pyramid scheme, buy a lottery ticket, make a hostile takeover of a corporation, or rob a liquor store.

An example of a destructive 'lust' that might seem disconnected from greed could be the destructive characteristics of a narcissist (the desire to control others, have everyone 'respect' him, or acknowledge his 'superiority'). The emergence of additional lusts can confuse the identification of the original triggering lust for riches.

The Christian has the opportunity to avail himself of resources such as wisdom, discernment, knowledge of truth, and the very Spirit of God to guide his path. Those given over to the desires of the flesh are like a blind man on a precipice.

It is not just riches (things that glitter) that can seduce a Christian on a destructive path. He can be flattered, drawn into pride so that he thinks he is doing 'God’s work', or convinced (like the Pharisees) that he has achieved righteousness through his own accomplishments.

For the Christian, the key to not being seduced by various lusts is the ability to see truth. The key to being able to see truth is humility.

Humility allows God to fill us with grace.

Freedom (including freedom from destructive lusts) comes from truth.

When we can look at ourselves and the world through the filter of truth, things that 'glitter' (even gold) become less attractive as we can understand the real cost of such things. We do not need a bigger car, and fancy house, or the best schools. Rather we need the love of Christ to wash away our sins and to trust in his provision.

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