Elmira
Baptist Church

People who lived in past centuries could not even imagine the abundance of things that we have today. We live in a time of bounty and ease and resources. Diseases that once killed people are now treated with antibiotics. Injuries that once maimed people for life can now be fixed with orthopedic surgery. Earlier generations would have marveled at our modern conveniences. Modern roads crisscross a continent while modern planes fly from San Francisco to New York in the time it used to take people to prepare a meal. We have so much food that every day grocery stores and restaurants throw out tons of food. Our jobs have more legal protections than at any time in history. So why are we so discontent? What reason is there for all the grumbling and complaining? Young adults talk as if they are in a concentration camp. Older adults wish for years gone by. What is wrong with us?
This verse gives us the answer: prosperity destroys fools. Foolish Americans waste the technology and engineering and abundance of our modern age on ease and convenience. We spend our free time playing video games and go away discouraged when we lose. We waste our opportunities on entertainment and leave dissatisfied. We visit more places and yet remain less impressed. Instead of gratitude, we are dominated by selfishness. Instead of peace and contentment, there is strife and envy. People demand less work and more stuff. Neither more leisure nor more possessions can cure the heart of its selfishness. Rather than wish for more, we must learn to be content with what we have. And true contentment expresses itself in sincere gratitude. Don't let prosperity ruin your life. Be thankful for how much God has given you.