The goal for this series of articles is for the participant to gain biblical perspectives, wisdom, and behaviors in regard to all things material. The outcome is usually financial rewards, spiritual connection, and certainly a peace of mind.
Money is not evil. Ambition and business are not evil. However, with a little success, each of they can draw an unsuspecting person into a workaholic and unsatisfying life-style and a surprising and unpleasant ending.
Our desire should not be to acquire money or success. Our desire should be to enjoy and rightly handle all God makes available to us. The Apostle Paul warns about the lure of riches while reminding us that God’s provisions are for our enjoyment:
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” 1Timothy 6.17, ESV
Our financial professor is King Solomon, the son of King David. You might recall David as one of the most colorful personalities in all of Christian Scripture. He was a very gifted and passionate person. He is most remembered for killing the giant warrior Goliath. David’s successor to the throne of Israel was his son Solomon.
Like his father, Solomon is a bigger-than-life character. As he rose to the throne of Israel he did not ask God for great wealth, world power, or long life. Instead, he asked for discernment to rule the kingdom well. He asked for wisdom so that the people would be blessed under his leadership. 1 Kings 3:12 is God’s response to Solomon’s request:
“I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again” (HCSB).
Apparently, the Lord was true to his word:
"God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone... His wisdom extended to all the surrounding nations... People came from everywhere, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, to listen to Solomon’s wisdom." 1 Kings 4:29-31, 34. HCSB
This is an impressive resume. No human being has ever or will ever be as wise as King Solomon. Fortunately, for all Bible readers, Solomon’s wisdom is not lost.
As the collector, editor and main contributor to the book of Proverbs, Solomon is recognized as the general editor. Both the Hebrew and Greek title for this book was the “Proverbs of Solomon.” It wasn’t until the Latin translation when it became better known as the “Book of Proverbs.”
The key word in the book of Proverbs is “Wisdom.” It is a book of practical instruction dedicated to character, discipline and skill. It speaks to the many topics of life: wisdom and folly, the righteous and the wicked, pride and humility, the power of words, justice and vengeance, family issues, poverty and wealth, friendship, laziness and work, love and lust, anger, masters and servants, and life and death.
Before you read through these, let me make some suggestions.
Sometimes we forget that it is possible to live life at a healthy pace uncomplicated by the pressures of too many demands and crazy schedules. Sometimes we forget that productivity and busyness are often two different things. Sometimes we forget that a healthy life contradicts the norm of human experience. Sometimes we forget that the emotional cravings of life are often misguided.
The cost of experience has taught many of us that what we want and what we need is the same things. What we want is peace and fulfillment; these are also what we need. However, we often pursue imitations only to be disappointed. We end up abandoning one quest only to start another one with the same results. We live this way because we are in want; we are in need.
We are in need of simplicity. God has given us the ability to choose a life patterned after his original design or one imposed upon us by others or our own desire for more instead of less. Notice the wisdom in the prayer below:
"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." Prov 30:8-9 NIV
See also: Prov 13:8; 15:16; 16:8; 28:6
Sometimes we take too much pride in getting a better deal than someone else. American Christians live in a very competitive culture and many tend to think in terms of “win at all costs.” As the people of God, we are to be concerned about the success of others as much as our own.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Prov 3:27 NIV
See also: Prov 1:18b-19; 2:7; 11:1; 13:11; 14:9; 15:27; 20:10, 17, 23; 21:6; 22:1,16, 22-23; 28:20, 22; 29:14; 31:9
How many times does this issue reveal itself? Let’s face it. In God’s economy, nobody becomes successful until they become givers. The proverbs mention three kinds of financial giving: tithing, caring for the poor, and leaving an inheritance.
The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Prov 11:25 NLT
If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord – and he will repay you. Prov 19:17 NLT
See also: Prov 3:9-10; 11:24-25; 13:22; 14:21, 31; 20:21; 21:13; 21:25-26; 22:9; 28:27; 29:7
We should avoid debt as much as possible. Debt has the greatest potential to rob you of your future, to create relational stress, to reduce your number of life-style choices, and even ruin your reputation.
Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. Prov 22:7
See also: Prov 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 22: 26-27
We should not be amazed reading through the proverbs and noticing the number of times it mentions the blessing of a good work ethic. Hard work implies two things: good planning and persistent. Many miss the blessing of their work because they expect things to happen too quickly. When they don’t many become discouraged and quit.
Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. Prov 12:24
See also: Prov 6:6, 8-9; 10:4-5; 12:11, 14, 24, 27; 13:4; 14:23; 18:9; 19:15; 20:4, 21:5, 17; 22:29; 27:18, 25-27; 28:19
Saving is just like hard work. It requires a good plan and persistence. We need clear pre-set goals because our emotions love to put off what needs to be done. We save because it is the way of the wise. We save because we do not know what tomorrow may bring.
There are four things in life that are small but unusually wise: Ants – they aren’t strong but they store up food for the winter. Prov 30:24-25
See also: Prov 13:11; 27:23-24
Trust is a beautiful thing. To revere God is to have an inward posture that kneels our will before him. And to our shock, the maker blesses our faithfulness in a similar way the kings of Europe would “knight” their brave warriors. The question for each of us is, “Will we trust in our own ways or in the wisdom God provides?”
Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. Prov 11:28
True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life. Prov 22:4
See also: Prov 3:5-6, 13-15; 11:7; 14:24; 16:16; 18:11
