Wisdom is a tricky thing. Some people think it comes with age, but then you see some older people who act very foolishly at times. We read in James 1 “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.” So wisdom is a gift of God. Yet God has also given as a complete book of the Bible devoted to teaching us how to be wise. The book of Proverbs is a textbook for those who want to be wise in this world. Yet it isn’t just a ‘how to’ book. It’s actually about learning to have the mind of God so whatever you do or think or say will be wise.
In fact one of the dangers we’ll see is the temptation to take everything we read here literally as though they were formulae rather than observations. And we’ll see that in just a moment.
Today I want us to think about how to be wise with money. What does Proverbs teach us wisdom when it comes to money and wealth?
A. Prosperity as a sign of God’s blessing on the righteous
The first thing we find is that prosperity comes to those who live righteously. So in our second reading we heard: “Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Prov 3:9-10 NRSV)
Proverbs 10:3 “The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. ... 6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”
So those who live righteous lives can expect to receive God’s blessings. Well, this is one of those points where we find a general observation rather than a fixed rule. In most cases God blesses the righteous with good things, but there are other cases where the righteous struggle and the wicked succeed and it’s only in the end that God vindicates us. In any case notice that the next point is that
B. Wealth is a danger for the righteous
Seductive
Proverbs begins with a warning to the young to be careful of those who offer quick riches: “My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; ... 13We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with booty. ... 15my child, do not walk in their way, keep your foot from their paths; ...18they lie in wait--to kill themselves! and set an ambush--for their own lives!” (1:10-18)
The quick profit is the Holy Grail of our modern world. Its call is seductive, but its end is death.
Deceitful
What’s more, money is deceitful. It makes out to be just something that will help you but in the end its desire is to take the place of God. “The wealth of the rich is their strong city; in their imagination it is like a high wall. 12Before destruction one's heart is haughty.” (Prov 18:11-12 NRSV)
Here’s the irony: wisdom may give you wealth but wealth itself is dangerous. In response the wise person says this: “Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die: 8Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need, 9or I shall be full, and deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.” (Prov 30:7-9 NRSV) In other words it’s better to have enough than either too much or too little. One can fool us into thinking we don’t need God and the other can lead us to disobey him.
C. The Limitations of Wealth
Then we find that wealth isn’t all it’s made out to be. If you listen to the ads for Superannuation funds you might think that Super will keep you secure, that accumulated wealth is a protection against anything that might go wrong. But what we find here is that
Death is Greater
(Prov 11:4 NRSV) “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” Death comes to all of us and as rich as you may be, you can’t take it with you, nor will your wealth stop death’s inevitable advance.
Wisdom is greater
On the more positive side we find that Wisdom is greater than wealth. “Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding, 14for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold.” (Prov 3:13-14) Why is her revenue better than gold? Because money can give you a house, but not a home; it can give you food to eat, but not fellowship around the table; it can give you luxuries, but not the love you desire.
D. The Value of Wealth
Temporal value
There’s no question that wealth has a value in worldly terms. “The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.” (10:15). In the time of the writer wealth was security against slavery: “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender” (22:7). In those days if someone had borrowed money and couldn’t repay it or were simply too poor they might sell themselves off as slaves in order to live.
Spiritual value
But wealth also has a spiritual value. On the negative side, as we saw earlier wealth can lead to a loss of relationship with God because we think we don’t need him many more.
And it can also effect our relationship with people, “The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly” (Prov 18:23). On the other hand: “14:20The poor are disliked even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. 21Those who despise their neighbors are sinners, but happy are those who are kind to the poor.” Jesus told his disciples to make friends for themselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may be welcomed into the eternal homes. Rich people who are generous to the poor are generally looked up to by the community.
E. How to Have Enduring Wealth
The problem with wealth, you see, is that it’s too easy to get into a spiral where God blesses us but the wealth he gives us undermines our faith in him. So the question that remains is how can we enjoy his blessings without letting them lead us astray.
Fear God.
The key to everything we read in proverbs is this: Fear God This is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (1:7, 9:10). Remember that it’s God who gives us every good and perfect gift. As we saw a couple of weeks ago, never forget that where you are today is because of the grace of God.
Honor God
So if and when you prosper give God the glory. Honor him for what he’s done for you. “Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Prov 3:9-10) Notice that expression? How do you honor God with your substance? Your substance is your material wealth, but it might also include your gifts, your time, your relationships. He’s talking about our giving of our substance to God’s service. The first fruits were the offering made on the first day of the harvest. They were a sign of gratitude for God’s blessing; but they were also a sign that the farmer trusted God to look after him even if he gave away the first tenth of the harvest.
Do Righteousness
When God blesses you respond with generosity. Then as you’re generous, God will entrust more riches to you to allow more generosity: “The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath. 24Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want. 25A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.” (Prov 11:23-25)
Warnings regarding the Righteous use of Money
We do need to be careful here though. Wisdom is needed even in practising righteousness in this area. Proverbs is clear in warning against unwise dealings with certain people.
We’re told “Do not become surety for a stranger”. Ch 6 warns of the danger of unthinking generosity that leads you to be bound to another in an unfair arrangement.
Ch 30 warns about those who beg without cause. 30:15 “The leech has two daughters; "Give, give," they cry.” 30:22 advises not to feed a fool. 2 Thess. 3:10 follows this warning where it says if a person doesn’t work they don’t eat. Mind you Prov 3:27 also says: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it,” so we have to be careful how we judge each case.
Be Diligent 6:6-8, 10:4-5; 12:11, 24; 14:23; 24:30-34.
The Ant is the model - it works hard all summer and autumn so it’s prepared for winter.
Twice he says: “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want, like an armed warrior.” (Prov 6:10-11, 24:33-34). And get your priorities right - income first, luxury second: “Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house” (Prov 24:27).
Conclusion
A Matter of the Heart 4:24-27
“Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure. 27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” (Prov 4:24-27 NRSV) You see Solomon is a better theologian than Sinatra. It’s not “do-be-do-be-do.” It’s “Be, do, be, do, be, do.”
God’s grace
In the end what matters is not our personal wealth but the grace of God who cares for all irrespective of their social standing: “The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.” (28:13)
Prayer
16:3: “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” As with all of life, prayer is central. If you want wisdom, James tells us, ask God for it. If you have plans to make, pray that God would guide you in right pathways for his name’s sake. And never forget that the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.