The Deceitfulness of Riches.

This phrase, "the deceitfulness of riches' used to be a meaningless phrase to me. I had no clue what it meant in relation to my life. I suppose if I were rich, I'd know what it means, but for my family who was just trying to get by - well, I didn't think it applied to me. But, today, or at least this week - I got a tiny glimpse into it's meaning. My husband works for a company that has a Business Jet. Only the top executives get to use the jet. It's one of those modes of transportation that I've only read about, and seen pictures of - in expensive magazines. The Jet costs around 50 Million and it seats 5 people. This week, my husband was invited to be one of 5 people, who will be 'taking the jet' to a business meeting outside this country. When I heard that - I kept thinking, "I'm rich. I must be rich. My husband is taking the corporate jet to his meeting." I thought that every day, and the more I thought it, the more important I became in my own mind. "I am the wife of a very important executive who is going to be taking a 'private, corporate, 50 million dollar jet' to his next meeting." Now, I'm really the same woman, who struggles with the same financial pressures I had last week, when I didn't know Tom would be using the corporate jet - but somehow the deceitfulness of riches - made me think higher of myself. Or elevate myself. Maybe that's what Jesus meant when he talked about "the deceitfulness of wealth' - maybe part of the deceit that wealth brings - is it makes us think higher of ourselves than we ought. Maybe it makes us think so high of ourselves that we look down on others, and even God. Maybe poverty brings a clarity - a humility that causes us to look up. The deceitfulness of riches and the private jet - I experienced it a bit this week.