Prov and money
The Proverbs have a great deal to say about money and related
topics such as giving, poverty, righteousness and wisdom. The purpose of this
study is to narrowly focus upon the issue of money and wealth in order to draw
out, from the vast material in Proverbs, principles to help us in maintaining a
Biblical lifestyle in relation to money.
A Representative List of Verses
Pro 3:9,10; 8:18-21; 10:4,15,16,22; 11:4, 24-26,28;
13:7,8,11,21,22; 14:20,23,24; 15:6,16,27; 16:8; 17:6; 18:11,23; 19:4,7; 21:5,17;
22:1,2,4,7,9,16; 23:4,5; 27:24; 28:6,8,11,22,25; 30:8; 31:18.
Honor God with your wealth.
- Prioritize your giving; give to Him first (Pro
3:9).
- God will often bless people materially who
give first to him (Pro 3:10; 13:21).
Lesson 1: When it comes to money, put God first (Mat
6:24).
Remember that wisdom is more important than
money.
- Wisdom often brings enduring wealth (Pro
8:18,21).
- Wisdom yields better fruit than money
(Pro 8:20).
- Wisdom enables one to rightly use
money (Pro 17:16).
- Wisdom gives one proper
restraint in the pursuit of money (Pro 23:4).
Lesson 2: Ask God for wisdom in dealing with money (cf Jam
1:5).
Remember that righteousness is more important than
money.
- Righteous people can have great riches that
involve no trouble (Pro 15:6).
- A poor, but
blameless man (ie one who is righteous) is better off (ie before God) than a
rich, but perverse man (Pro 28:6).
- God often
rewards the righteous with money (Pro 13:21).
- It
is better to have a little money with righteousness than much with injustice
(Pro 16:8).
Lesson 3: Seek uprightness in money matters (cf 2Co
8:21).
Remember that fearing God is more important than
money.
- Fearing God is better than a lot of money (Pro
15:16).
- Humility and the fear of God often leads
to the acquisition of money (Pro 22:4).
Lesson 4: Remember to whom we must give an account (Rom
14:10)!
People, diligent at what they do, often acquire much
wealth.
- Diligent people, in contrast to lazy people,
often have more money (Pro 10:4).
- All hard work
brings a profit whereas mere talk accomplishes nothing (Pro
14:23).
- Acquiring wealth takes diligent planning;
anything less may end up in ruin (Pro
21:5).
- People who cannot control their spending
habits end up with nothing (Pro 21:17).
Lesson 5: Plan for your financial future as far as it depends
upon you.
Recognize the limitations of money.
- Money can do nothing to deliver someone from the
wrath of God (Pro 11:4).
- Money is very temporal
and lasts but a short time (Pro 23:5;
27:24).
- Money cannot be trusted in for it will
lead to one's downfall (Pro 11:28). Trust, instead, in God (Pro
28:25).
Lesson 6: Be sober about money; keep it in perspective (1Ti
6:6-10)!
Recognize the potential for good that money properly used
can have.
- Money can provide protection from certain
problems and alleviate certain stresses (Pro 10:
15).
- Money can be left as an inheritance to help
one's descendants in this life (Pro 13:22).
- An
industrious wife can make sufficient money to help he family (Pro
31:18).
Lesson 7: Be prepared to use your money to good ends (cf Phi
4:14).
Recognize and avoid the evil that money can cause in
relationships.
- Rich people tend to receive more attention from
others than poor people do. There is often favoritism (Pro 14:20; cf Jam
2:9-11).
- If you are rich, be careful of people
who desire your friendship (Pro 19:4a).
- If you
are poor, do not be surprised if people abandon you for a rich friend (Pro
19:4b; cf Pro 19:7).
- Those with money often
become the target of thieves etc (Pro 13:8).
- The
poor person can often see through the facade of the rich person who thinks he
knows it all (Pro 28:11).
- A good reputation with
people is better than much money (Pro
22:1).
- Because of money people often try to
pretend to be something they're not; they live a lie (Pro
13:7).
- Rich people often "lord it over" poor
people (Pro 22:7).
Lesson 8: The rich and the poor must remember that God made
them both (Pro 22:2); humility is the order of the day.
Giving generously often leads to acquiring further wealth
and spiritual benefits, but poverty awaits the stingy.
- Generosity, not stinginess often leads to having
more money (Pro 11:24).
- Generosity often leads to
the giver being spiritually refreshed (Pro
11:25).
- Those who are stingy often end up with
nothing (Pro 11:24b; 11:26b; 28:22).
Lesson 9: Give generously (2Co 9:6,7).
Money gained by unjust means leads to naught, whereas the
monetary blessing of God brings no trouble.
- Money gained by dishonest means dwindles away
fast (Pro 13:11).
- People who oppress others for
money can come to poverty because of it (Pro 22:16a).
Lesson 10: Earn your money honestly (cf Act 24:16; 2Th
3:7-9).
Be careful for greed.
- Greed for money can lead to family problems (Pro
15:27).
- Do not charge exorbitant interest;
justice will prevail (Pro 28:8).
- Ask God for the
proper amount of money (Pro 30:8).
Lesson 11: Search your heart before God so that you might be
aware of any greed (cf Eph 5:3).
Summary
Remember that a Biblical view of money begins by a commitment
to honoring God first with our money (Lesson 1). Then we must keep in mind that
wisdom, righteousness and the fear of God are more important than money (Lessons
2-4). This will enable us to serve God more effectively (Lessons
5-11).
