REAL RICHES

Proverbs 13:4,7-8,11,18,22-23,25

Proverbs is immensely practical—touching every dimension of daily life. It gives us basic principles from God’s perspective about how life is supposed to work.  One of the recurring topics is about money—securing it, spending it, saving it, sharing it, and much more.  Few chapters fail to mention the topic.  For example, there are eight verses in chapter thirteen to weigh concerning wealth.

1.  WEALTH IS TO BE EARNED BY WORK.  “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” (v.4). We don’t steal it or bum it—we earn it.  Honest labor is valued by God, and we should too!

2.  OUR SUBSTANCE IS MADE TO BE SHARED. “There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.” (v.7). You can have great riches, and hoard it selfishly.  Your bank account will increase, but your soul will shrink.  Giving to help others invests in eternity and will be rewarded greatly by God.

3.  RICHES MAY RESULT IN OUR RANSOM. “The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke.” (v.8). There is assuredly more to life than obtaining money, but money can be a friend when we need it.  That is why Jesus held up the example of a shrewd household manager who knew how to use wealth for his own good (see Luke 16:1-13). We are not to serve money, but we can wisely make it serve us.

4.  INTEGRITY AND INDUSTRY PRESERVES OUR INVESTMENT.  “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.” (v.11). Money made by dishonest means is in peril.  Think of those who become rich through business fraud or illegal activity who have been indicted and incarcerated. They end up losing everything, including their freedom. Should they evade earthy justice, they will answer the Eternal Judge without escape—and that will be the worse loss of all!  Those who labor with integrity and industry, on the other hand, can receive the blessing of God now, and will assuredly have His commendation in heaven.

5.  PRIDE MAY BRING US INTO POVERTY. “Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.” (v.18). There are people who know how money is to be made.  We may have our own ideas and decide to pridefully pursue them.  Foolish investments bring financial loss. If someone who understands finances rebukes you for how you are handling money, you best listen.  The old axiom says, “A fool and his money are soon parted.”

6.  WHAT IS EARNED HONESTLY CAN BRING AN ENDURING HERITAGE.  “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” (v.22). Consider the inheritance the good man who earns his money honestly can leave behind for generations to come, since his offspring are more likely to follow his footsteps, in contrast to a criminal who loses everything in his evil enterprise.  His children are often robbed of a father who is in prison, certainly of a good example to follow, and of any good heritage. Too often, those offspring will follow in their father’s filthy footsteps as well.

7. MAXIMIZING POTENTIAL FOR MATERIAL WEALTH. “Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste.” (v.23). A poor man might look at his little wealth and despair of work.  He might disdain the little he has and try to take from others unjustly, thereby wasting what he might have had honestly. Those who succeed in God’s view (and nothing else matters) are those who take whatever God gives and maximizes its potential.  Study the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30.

8. SATISFACTION OF THE SOUL IS REAL SUCCESS.   “The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.” (v.25). It doesn’t say that the righteous will always eat ribeye steaks.  He or she may consume bologna sandwiches!  What matters is that their godly lifestyle and honest labor have secured for them satisfaction where it counts—in their soul.  The wicked may gorge themselves and fill their stomachs with all manner of good things, but will never be satisfied.  In eternity they will thirst for even a drop of water and have none, while the righteous will enjoy paradise (note Luke 16:19-31).

Search and study the principles of finance found in Proverbs.  Apply them and it can make such a difference!

THE WORTH OF WORK

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 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 6:6-11 NKJV)

A misreading of the Scripture might convince us that work was the punishment for Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden. Actually, they had been given the assignment to cultivate the soil before sin messed up paradise.  It would be the toil and thorns, the sweat and weeds that would result from the curse.  

Work has always had worth and been part of God’s design for us.  When we work in our yard or we grow a garden, we are reclaiming a bit of Eden from this fallen world—redeeming it for God as His stewards.  On our job, our motivation as the servants of God is not just a paycheck, but to glorify God.  Whatever our vocation may be, it is a sacred calling and divine service rendered.  There is dignity about it, when viewed this way. 

Sloth is sin.  When we are being paid to do a job, and we don’t put the effort in, we have stolen from our employer by taking money we haven’t earned.

The ant is our model.  The industry of these little creatures is how they honor their Creator. Watch them work, and emulate them.  Nobody ever saw a lazy ant. 

Don’t be guilty of sloth.  The sluggard can always find a reason to hit the snooze alarm—again and again.  That is a formula for poverty. Let us teach a younger generation the worth of work.  There are too many parasites who live on the government treasury or someone’s compassion—not because they can’t work, but they won’t.