Proverbs 23:4 “Labour not to be rich, cease from thy own wisdom”
23:5 “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (KJV)
Matthew Henry commentary on riches - Proverbs 23:4-5 Some are given to appetite(v.2) others to covetousness. We must endeavour to live comfortably, and provide for our children and families, but we must not seek great things. Be not of those that will be rich, that design it as their highest end,1 Tim.vi.9. What thous hast, or doest, be master of it, and not a slave to it as those that rise up early, sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness, and all to be rich. The things of this world are a show, a shadow, a sham upon the soul that trusts to them. Wilt thou do a thing so absurd in itself? What thou, a reasonable creature, wilt thou dote upon shadows? Riches are very uncertain things; they make themselves wings and fly away. The wings they fly away upon are of their own making. They have in themselves the principles of corruption. They go irresistibly and irrecoverably, as an eagle towards heaven, that flies strongly, and flies out of sight and out of call (there is no bringing her back); thus do riches leave men in grief and vexation if they set their hearts upon them.
