Money is a powerful tool and as Proverbs teach us money gives favor and the rich make many friends, but wealth also, unfortunately, has the power to corrupt.
“Our finances reveal a lot about our lives.”
How we manage our finances speaks of our values - what we spend our money on, how much we save, to whom we give.
The Word of God speaks about money and possessions over 2350 times. In fact, money and material goods are the second most referenced topic in the Bible. Here in the book of Proverbs, Solomon, who was the richest man on earth at that time, has a lot of wisdom when it comes to the issue of how to handle wealth.
The blessing of the Lord brings [true] riches,
And He adds no sorrow to it [for it comes as a blessing from God] (Proverbs 10:22, AMP).
When it comes to wealth, let’s look at:
God’s perspective
Pitfalls of Prosperity
Practical Principles for Handling Money
God’s Perspective on Wealth
The Bible states,
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him (Psalm 24:1).
God is not only the owner of the world and everything in it, He is the One who provides for His creation (Matthew 6:25-28).
We can’t predict how the Lord will provide because He uses various and sometimes surprising means to meet our needs. He may increase our income, provide a gift, open up a door to do some extra work or stretch our limited resources through money-saving purchases.
Regardless of how He chooses to provide for our needs, God is faithful and completely reliable. And the Book of Proverbs teaches us that when God provides for our needs, it also lets us know that He adds no sorrow to it.
When God gives wealth, it is a blessing. Think of Job, Abraham, and David—all righteous men, men who feared and loved the Lord who God entrusted with profound wealth and possessions.
In the New Testament, we are introduced to several affluent people such as Joseph, “a rich man from Arimathea” who laid Jesus’ lifeless body in his own family tomb (Matthew 27:57– 60). The Book of Acts talks about Cornelius, a Roman centurion and God-fearing man who gave generously to the poor (Acts 10); and Lydia, a dealer in expensive purple fabrics whose home could accommodate many guests (Acts 16:11–15).
Along with these examples, church history is replete with examples of devoted Christians who possessed considerable wealth and possessions and wisely used their abundant resources for the health of their community and the expansion of Christ’s kingdom. Many of us know Christians like this today and we are thankful for their example.
God created wealth to bless people and so they could bless others.
Proverbs 13:4 says that the soul (appetite) of the diligent wealth [who works willingly] is rich and abundantly supplied.
Furthermore, as for every person to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also given him the opportunity to enjoy them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often call to mind the years of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart (Ecclesiastes 5: 19-20. NASB).
The Pitfalls to Prosperity
But those who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a compulsive, greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction [leading to personal misery].
10 For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6: 9-10, AMP).
It is far too easy to think that the possessions we have and the money we make are entirely the result of our skills and achievements.
Often money and materialism blind people from seeing their spiritual poverty and their need for God. Why does greed and wealth have such power to deceive? Because it can cause a person to have a false sense of significance, superiority, and security.
Significance. For many, not all, having money communicates prestige, rank and importance. When a rich person speaks, people listen.
Superiority. Often when we are successful and have more than others, we feel like we are wiser, better and more important than those who have less than us (Proverbs 18:23).
Security. Proverbs 18:11 tells us that the rich think of their wealth as a strong defence and imagine it to be a high wall of safety but verse 28 reminds us that whoever puts their hope in riches will fall but the righteous who trust in God’s provision will thrive.
“Money cannot buy time, it cannot save you”
(Matthew 16:26,27) it cannot guarantee good health or security (Proverbs 11:7). It cannot deliver you from death or judgment (Proverbs 10:2), it can’t stop you from experiencing sorrow or tragedy, it can’t solve your personal problems or issues.
Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present than a fattened ox served with hatred (Proverbs 15:17).
Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting and conflict (Proverbs 17:1).
Proverbs 3:13-18 tells us that though money has value it is quite limited in what it can get us -
it can buy a house but only godly wisdom and character can make a house a home.
Money can put food on the table, but only godly wisdom and understanding can create rich fellowship around it.
Practical Principles for Handling Money
Giving God ownership over your finances is not easy, nor is it a once-and-for-all transaction.
We constantly need to remind ourselves that
“we are only stewards or caretakers of what God has given us. ”
What are some biblical principles concerning money?
Honor the Lord from your wealth.
This means that God gets the firstfruits of my income (Proverbs 3:9; Malachi 3:8–10).
For some it is their tithe (10% of their income goes to God), for others it is even more as they are able. But this should not be to the neglect of caring for family and making sure their needs are met.
Be content with what you have.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
If we truly trust the Lord and believe that He is our provider and will never leave or abandon us, we would be more focused on Him and not on what we think we need but don’t have.
Work in a way that honors Him.
God instructs us to work hard, with integrity, honesty and diligence (Proverbs 12:27, 13:11). Don’t cheat your employer of time, keep your commitments to God, to others whether at work, to your friends and family.
Don’t make rash or empty promises to help with your time and finances. In Proverbs 10:4-5, it says that those who are diligent, industrious, and thrifty tend to make money, but those who are lazy and chase after fantasies (get rich quick schemes, lotteries) will end up in poverty.
Save.
Proverbs 27:23-27 tells us to budget our money carefully so that when you retire, you will have enough to live on and to pass onto your children and grandchildren.
We should purposely invest for the future.“In the house of the wise are stores of [wealth], but a fool devours all he has” (Proverbs 21:20).
Be generous.
A generous person will always be looking for opportunities to give to others. To invest in things that promote the Gospel.
What are some of God’s promises on generosity?
Good will come to those who are generous (Psalm 112:5).
The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor (Proverbs 22:9).
The godly are always generous…and their children will be blessed (Psalm 37:26)
Acts 20:35 tells us we will be happier when we are generous.
Generous people suffer less depression and live longer. Why do you think that is? It is because we were created in God’s image and when we reflect His image and function in the way in which He designed us, we experience fulfilment, physical and emotional well-being.
Jesus told us,
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back (Luke 6:38, NLT).
The Bible advises us,
““Don’t make your aim in life to get rich.””
If you desire to make money to live and take care of your family then aim at becoming wise and living right with God because He will always provide everything you need when you put His kingdom first.
That is why wisdom is “more precious than jewels” (Proverbs 3:15), and gain from wisdom is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold (Proverbs 3:14).
Whatever God gives us, whether it is money, gifts or talents, ask Him for the wisdom to steward these things His way, because when we do, it will be a blessing to us and to others. This is why knowing what God’s Word says about money, matters.
