Qur'an 20080209

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

34. Never did We send a Warner to a population but the wealthy ones among them said, "We believe not in that with which you have been sent."

35. They said,"We have more in wealth and in sons, and we cannot be punished."

36. Say, "Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the Provision to whom God pleases, but most men understand not."

37. It is not your wealth nor your sons that will bring you nearer to Us in degree: but only those who believe and work righteousness- these are the ones for whom there is a multiplied Reward for their deeds, while secure they are in dwellings on high!

38. Those who strive against Our Signs, to frustrate them, will be given over into Punishment.

39. Say, "Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the Sustenance to such of God's servants as God pleases: and nothing do you spend in the least but God replaces it: for God is the Best of those who grant Sustenance."

Sheba 34:34-39
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Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the Provision to whom God pleases, but most men understand not.

Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the Sustenance to such of God's servants as God pleases: and nothing do you spend in the least but God replaces it: for God is the Best of those who grant Sustenance.

Undoubtedly, most people crave wealth, because they relate to the stuff and "security" that it brings. We all know that you can't take all that stuff with you when you die. Some people build mausoleums, which are great for grave robbers. As for security, you can make a lot of money buying and selling houses. Then you spend that money building more houses, but then nobody can afford to buy any of it. Broke!

Whether it's houses or whatever, having all that money can make you spend (invest) too much of it, and become broke. Sometimes it doesn't matter how cautious, or responsible you are. That's because humans are not self-sufficient. People rely on others to survive, moreover people rely on God. How about a nice blizzard to wipe out that wheat harvest. Or a father getting brain damage from a stroke, leaving sons fighting and killing each other for the family business.

God is the great Provider. Maybe you built your bakery on a microscopic thermal fissure that stimulates the dough to rise nice and fluffy. Or maybe one day you were shooting at some food, and up through the ground comes a bubblin' crude.

What matters to God is correctness of faith, and good deeds. From those will God determine our sustenance, not just in this life , but also in the hereafter. Those who spend their wealth to defy God, and commit evil, will be delivered their Punishment. Some of may get a time break, so that they can pile up their penalty. And it usually is what you accumulate, that becomes your penalty. It could be your children. It could be that nice car which you backed up on your child. And that doesn't include what's coming in the Hereafter!

Let's not be fooled by appearances, either. Some of the weathiest people in the world wear jeans and t-shirts. Some hang out with bums. Some were bums. Whatever, again it is God who determines our sustenance.