The subtle snare of worldly prosperity!

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Matthew 19:23, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven!"

"The cares of the world,
 and the deceitfulness of riches,
 and the desires for other things,
 enter in and choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful." Mark 4:19

Worldly prosperity has ever been an unfavorable soil for the growth of p    iety.
Prosperity tends to . . .
  blind the mind to spiritual and eternal things,
  dry up the spirit of prayer,
  foster pride and ambition,
  furnish the appropriate food to covetousness,
  and lead to a sinful conformity to the spirit, maxims, and fashions of the world!
In general, God in mercy refuses to give worldly prosperity to His children.
He has chosen the poor of this world, to be rich in faith.
That is, He has commonly chosen poverty as the safest condition for His children!
Archibald Alexander, 1772-1851

"Oftentimes the more full a man is of the world, the further his heart is from God. Pride, idleness, and luxury—are the three daughters which are bred by prosperity. Samson fell asleep in Delilah's lap. Just so, millions have slept their way to Hell in the lap of prosperity. The world's golden apple, bewitches."
Thomas Watson, 1620-1686

How few are those who can carry a full cup without spilling; who can rightly use great wealth and estates; who can bear . . .
  popularity without pride,
  and riches without covetousness,
  and ease without luxury!
Robert Leighton, 1611-1684

High places are dizzy places, and many have fallen to their eternal ruin, through climbing aloft. I dread prosperity, more than adversity.
Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892

"Earthly riches are the golden snares that Satan uses to catch poor souls."
Thomas Brooks, 1608-1680

"The world is a flattering enemy. Prosperity destroys more than adversity."
William Gurnall, 1617-1679

"To see a man humble under prosperity, is one of the greatest rarities in the world!"
John Flavel, 1630-1691

"Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils." 1 Timothy 6:9-10

"Remember Lot's wife!" Luke 17:32