What does "riches are not forever" teach about the nature of wealth?

Riches are not forever (Proverbs 27:24: “for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation”)

The fleeting nature of wealth

- Money, property, and status all have an expiration date. They can be lost through economic downturn, illness, disaster, or death.

- Even royal authority (“a crown”) fails to stay in one family forever; how much more ordinary assets.

- Proverbs 23:4-5 echoes the warning: “When you fix your gaze on wealth, it is gone, for it sprouts wings like an eagle and flies away toward heaven.”

Wealth’s limits and unreliability

- It cannot secure eternal life (Luke 12:15-21).

- It brings no guarantee of happiness or safety (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

- It can breed false confidence: “Command those who are rich… not to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches” (1 Timothy 6:17).

A call to wise stewardship

- Because riches vanish, they are tools, not treasures. Use them to serve God and people (1 Timothy 6:18-19).

- Planning, saving, and honest work still matter (Proverbs 6:6-8), but trust rests in the Lord, not the balance sheet.

- Generosity stores “treasure in heaven” where loss is impossible (Matthew 6:19-21).

Hearts set on what endures

- True riches are spiritual: faith, wisdom, righteousness, relationships rooted in Christ (Revelation 3:18).

- When wealth is held loosely, it can be enjoyed without anxiety (Ecclesiastes 5:19) and shared without regret.

- Contentment, not accumulation, marks lasting prosperity (Hebrews 13:5).

Putting it into practice

- Regularly thank God for provision and remember He can give or take away (Job 1:21).

- Budget with eternity in view: include giving, saving, and restrained spending.

- Measure success by obedience and love, not by net worth.

Riches are a passing steward­ship; the wise learn to handle them faithfully while anchoring their hearts in what will never fade.