God’s Wisdom Regarding Wealth

*Is money an idol in your life?

*How should we think about money in this life?

*Let’s consider the wisdom from Proverbs regarding money.

The Proverbs speak about the gift of wealth.

In many ways, wealth is a blessing and is often a gift from the Lord. The book of Proverbs has much to say along these lines.

God gives wealth to the wise & righteous. In some cases, God grants wealth to the godly and righteous.

• Proverbs 8:12, 18, 20-21. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion. .. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness... I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.”

Notice here that wealth is associated with wisdom and is a gift to those who possess wisdom. Here God says that He causes the wise and righteous to inherit wealth.

• Matthew 5:5. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

God gives wealth as a reward for diligence. The book of Proverbs also makes it clear that God gives wealth to those who are diligent and hard-working.

• Proverbs 10:4. “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”
• Proverbs 6:10-11. “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.”
• Proverbs 14:23. “In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty.”
• Proverbs 21:5. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.”

In all these passages, laziness and idleness lead to poverty, but hard work and diligence lead to profit. The Christian is called by God work hard.

• II Thessalonians 3:7-10. “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you . . . For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat”

God gives wealth as a provision for Strength. One blessing of wealth that Proverbs speaks of is the help and support it often brings int his life. Those who have wealth have better fortune in this world.

• Proverbs 10:15. “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty”

Here the wealthy are depicted as strong and the poor as week and vulnerable to destruction.

• Proverbs 14:20. “The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends.”

Here the rich are favored by other people, and the poor are looked down upon.

• Proverbs 18:11. “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own esteem.”

Again, wealth gives a man strength and protection. It is like having a high fortress around him.

The Proverbs speak about the insufficiency and trouble of money.

Righteousness is preferred to great wealth. No matter what blessings wealth may bring in this life, Proverbs is clear that righteousness and honor are preferable to financial prosperity. Within the economy of this world, financial wealth is most valuable. But in God’s economy (which is eternal), righteousness is better.

• Proverbs 11:4. “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

Notice here that wealth is worthless in the face of God’s judgment. Death is the great equalizer of all men.

• Proverbs 13:7. “There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.”

Notice here that wealth can leave us empty and hopeless. Many have great wealth but no joy. Mark 8:36, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

• Proverbs 11:28. “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”

Here we are told that failure comes to those who trust in wealth.

• Proverbs 16:8. “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.”
• Proverbs 28:6. “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”

The opposite of the wealthy miserable (Proverbs 13:7), here we see that those who have God but have nothing else have more.

• Proverbs 27:23-24. “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.”

Here we are reminded that wealth does not last forever. Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

• Proverbs 22:1. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.”

And now most clearly, the Proverbs remind us that a godly reputation is better than great wealth.

Greed & Selfishness Bring Destruction. The Proverbs also remind us that greed and the love of money can bring great harm to us.

• Proverbs 15:27. “He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.”
• Proverbs 13:11. “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.”
• Proverbs 28:22. “A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.”

Notice in these passages that greed and evil pursuits of money bring hard to our households.

• Proverbs 13:22. “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”
• Proverbs 28:8. “One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion gathers it for him who will pity the poor.”

And notice here that God honors the good man by letting his children inherit his wealth, but he re-directs the wealth of the ungodly towards those in need.

The Proverbs give us instruction for our money.

Instruction for Wealth. So then, how should we handle wealth? We finish today with God’s instruction for how to keep our hearts pure and use our wealth properly.

• Proverbs 3:9-10. “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

Here we are told to honor God with our wealth. God always cares about the heart. And in return, if we do this, the Proverbs tell us that God will give us plenty.

 Conclusion:

1. Is money an idol in your life?
2. Do you work diligently, trusting God to provide?
3. Do you regard your money as something that is yours, or something that you are a steward over?