Proverbs - Helium

Proverbs 13:11

 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished:

but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Vanity is a King James word for emptiness.  Vanity describes things that may take effort and labor but there is nothing to it.  Vanity can be understood by looking at a helium balloon.   It moves around, its presence is obvious but there really is nothing of substance to it.  When we seek after money using empty means, the wealth is like that balloon – fragile and gone in what seems like an instant.  Using credit to gain things to make us feel better lasts no longer than the newness of the item.  When the bills come, the satisfaction of what we acquired diminishes.  There is no money behind it.  Accruing debt to look wealthy is vanity.  The Lord wants us to be a people who look to Him and can wait upon Him to give us the desires of our heart.  We must be hard workers who are willing to save up for things and then we will appreciate them and teach our children the value of things.  Our pursuits of any sort of things should be marked by a willingness to work for it and have the money available to purchase them.   This helps us know God’s will.  He is our provider.  If the money is not there, perhaps He does not think it a good thing at the time.

 Sister, stop getting wealth by emptiness.  Look to the Lord to provide.  Work hard.  Don’t give in to your fallen nature that cries out for immediate gratification.

 Wait on the Lord.  He will renew your strength and you will abide satisfied.