He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies. He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.” Psalm 10:3-11
“That riches can be a substitute for God is suggested at one point in Psalm 10. Paul’s use of Psalm 10:7 in Romans 3:14 indicates that he knew the Psalm. In Psalm 10:3-11 there is a long and traditional description of the wicked: the wicked deny their accountability to God, prosper in arrogant iniquity, and oppress the lowly…The material things that the wicked covet in this verse are set up as a substitute for God…Wealth inspires a lack of accountability to God.”
Brian Rosner in Greed as Idolatry: The Origin and Meaning of a Pauline Metaphor (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007) 74, 76.
Today in Seoul, I am speaking at the International Forum on Financial Accountability and Compliance. I will share biblical remarks to shine light on why administrators of churches and organizations must exhibit accountability and transparency. In plain terms, it protects us from our own greed and tendency to trust in wealth rather than God. When we both comply with laws and follow higher standards of transparency, we move toward preserving God’s honor.
As David, the psalmist notes, the greedy become overcome by their pride which leads them to do horrible things to people to advance their purposes. They become deluded even thinking their sin is beyond the sight of God who, of course, sees everything. Rosner rightly notes that “wealth inspires a lack of accountability to God,” so those who steward it as individuals or in organizations must exhibit transparency to keep it from destroying them.
I love to pray the Psalms when I travel. This Psalm reminds me that God sees everything. He hears the cries of the afflicted. He knows who is trusting in money rather than Him. So, for those of us who desire to live generous lives, we must champion accountability. Who holds you accountable to serve as a conduit rather than a container of God’s blessings? In asking the question, I am not trying to rob you but help you make sure wealth does not overtake you.