Wealth is a poor source of security in the light of eternity

Wealth can often bring problems which are unexpected and very harmful. In the passage we find, initially, the prophet speaking judgement on Tyre, a region on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Success in commerce had resulted in a dangerous self-sufficiency. They thought their city was unassailable. This was a type of harlotry in God’s sight. The destruction of Tyre came about because its wealth was fuelling pride.

We find that people today often see their wealth as being their security. This also is a form of harlotry. Jesus’ words in the New Testament sound a warning about how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Our stronghold needs to be in God rather than wealth.

There is a type of parallel to Tyre in the New Testament in the life of a woman who had been a harlot. She, however, found forgiveness for her sins in Jesus Christ and used some very expensive perfume to ‘anoint’ Jesus. She knew he would have to go to the cross. He was going to pay the penalty for people’s harlotry so that they could freely receive forgiveness through faith. Jesus was far richer than any person or city but became poor so that others could be rich in him.