Labor Not To Be Rich

Proverbs 23:4 says, "Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom." The "Labor not" in this verse refers to overworking--someone so taken with riches that he works all the time for more (obsessed.)

Proverbs 23:5 says,"Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." This proverb may not seem to be the case all the time, but add the following to it: 1 Timothy 6:7, "For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
There will be a time that riches will fail to be of assistance!

If a person is instructed not to set his eyes, or his heart, upon riches, then upon what should his heart be set? Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." "Things above" are the things pertaining to God and His Word. Meditation on God's Word leads to obedience to His Word, which in turn leads to "good success" (Jos 1:8.) One thing good success means, in addition to having freedom from sin, is to have contentment. 1 Ti 6:8 says, "And having food and raiment let us be therefore content." This contentment with little--little prestige, little status, little in the way of material wealth--is given to the believer who truly believes this truth. The Apostle Paul said, "...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content...I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Ph 3:11-13)

This contentment, and freedom from sin, eludes those who would be rich. 1 Ti 6:7 says, "They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition."

The question is this: Does the person reading these Bible passages believe them or not?