Jeremiah 17:11

"As a partridge that broods but does not hatch,
So is he who gets riches, but not by right;
It will leave him in the midst of his days,
And at his end he will be a fool."
Jeremiah 17:11 NKJV

This text does not say there is anything wrong with riches, but there can certainly be something wrong with the way the riches are acquired. So often we think our happiness will be complete if we have wealth and riches. We can buy the stuff we crave and have the power and prestige that will cause others to envy and respect us. And it seems that no matter how these riches are acquired, the world looks favorably upon those who have them. When wealth is ill gained through dishonest or disreputable means, the end result is disillusionment at best. At the end of life it truly will not matter how big a pile one has accumulated, but what will matter is the integrity of the life lived. In Luke 12:16-21 Jesus tells of the end of a man who thought that riches were valuable.
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Whether or not the wealth of a person is honestly gained, in the end reliance on the riches makes one a fool. So one who gains riches without integrity has nothing, and is despised by all who know the truth. All the pretend respect from those who feared them and connived for gain is gone, and all that remains is sadness at what should have been from those who should have been loved and a desire to supplant by those whose greed will cause the same fate. The partridge expects the reward of chicks and the rich expect happiness, and neither will come to fruition with God.

Lord,
Help me today to live my life with integrity so that I may have a reward worthy of You and so that I may serve You in such a way that others can see Your glory.