"The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendor and to humble all who are renowned on the earth."

Isaiah 23:9

Those who attain wealth early in their careers, may develop a curious kind of pride: their fast success makes them believe they are experts in everything. The people of Tyre seem to have developed some of this same tendency. Known as the ‘market-place of the nations’ (v. 3), its merchants were princes, ‘renowned in the earth’ (v. 8): young and rich. We often think that the main temptation associated with money is greed, and the Bible gives us ample evidence of this, but another and arguably more powerful temptation of wealth is pride: ‘I’m rich, therefore I’m great.’ As Isaiah makes clear, God was planning to bring an end to both errors (v. 9). For those of us who live in relatively wealthy Western countries, the message to Tyre, with a look back on history, leads us to a sobering conclusion: wealthy, proud nations rise and fall. If God has entrusted you with wealth, a prerequisite to good stewardship is the ability to avoid greed and pride.

CLOSING PRAYER

Gracious Father, everything I have comes from you, everything I have achieved has been because of you. Help me to make that truth my constant reality, ready to give generously to others out of what you have so freely given me.

(edited from Encounter with God)