Do Not Be Deceived by Wealth

“And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:2-4, NKJV)

The Apostle John envisions a Babylon entrapped by her wealth. The literal ancient city of Babylon had achieved wealth, power, and dominance through unrelenting warfare, oppression, and corruption, making it notorious throughout the known world for plundering others for self-gain. Here in the Book of Revelation, Babylon likely symbolizes an entire world system at war with God as it was also previously mentioned in Revelations 14:8 that all nations were involved.

Excessive wealth endangers the moral and spiritual health of individuals, cities, and nations. Luxury can lead people into spiritual carelessness, greed, materialism, and destruction. In Matthew 13:22, the Lord Jesus did warn us about the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches how it prevents spiritual fruitfulness. In 1Timothy 6:9-10, the Apostle Paul wrote, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Babylon’s people did pay a heavy price for their self-indulgent lifestyle and the injustice they inflict to sustain it. Although these events will happen in the future, this is a warning for today. Let us examine ourselves. Is our heart attached to the wealth or the Word? Is our love for the world or the Lord? We must get out of her chokehold now and do not allow ourselves to share her sins and consequences.

Let us LOVE the Lord with ALL our heart and SEEK FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness, knowing that as we prioritize gaining spiritual wealth, handling material wealth will not be an issue.

– Contributed by Ptr. Neil Marlon Crisostomo