Parental Wisdom about Financial Matters

Introduction:

Robert Fulghum wrote in the KANSAS CITY TIMES, “Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school. Now I might say that my parents taught me these things even before I went to school while playing with siblings or neighborhood children. Some of these things are to share your toys, to play fair, don’t hit people, put things back where you found them, clean up your own mess, don’t take things that aren’t yours, say you’re sorry when you hurt someone, etc. If you take time to think about it, those principles come from scriptural truth. Today, we come to a passage where the Lord imparts to us some more parental wisdom, this time about financial matters. Let us then sit at the Lord’s feet and see four exhortations on how to be wise in financial matters.

I. Be Wise in Choosing Your Business Associates (Pr 6:1)

Explanation: Business requires a certain amount of effort or labor. The Bible often refers to expectations of labor or effort as a “yoke.” A yoke is that which connects you to the work that needs to be done, allowing you to accomplish it.

Illustration: The most common picture in the Bible of a yoke is being used to pull a cart or a plow. This yoke not only connects the worker to the work that needs to be accomplished, but it most often also provides a way for the load of work to be distributed among two or more animals.

A. Analyze the ability of potential partners to help achieve the shared goal (Dt 22:10)

Quotation: “Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.” (Dt 22:10).

Explanation: A yoke works best when the size and capabilities of those within the yoke are relatively equal.

Illustration: “An ox and ass being of different species, and of very different characters, cannot associate comfortably, nor unite cheerfully in drawing a plow or a wagon. The ass being much smaller, and his step shorter, there must be an unequal and irregular draught. Besides, the ass, from feeding on coarse and poisonous weeds, has a fetid breath, which its yoke-fellow seeks to avoid, not only as poisonous and offensive, but producing leanness, or, if long continued, death; and hence it has been observed always to hold away its head from the ass, and to pull only with one shoulder. The classic writers on agriculture give the same precept as Moses; and yet the cruel and unnatural practice of yoking these two animals of different species was very prevalent, as appears from a familiar allusion to it by Plautus (‘Aulularia,’ art. i., sec. 4, where Euclio’s dialogue with Megadorus says, ‘Now if I were to give my daughter to you, it seems to me that, when we had formed this alliance, I should be the ass and you the ox’).”

Application: So it is in human business relations: if the partners are relatively equal on the benefits they can provide to the business, this makes for less pain and more harmony. If you choose unwisely in this respect, there is more likely to be rivalry or ill feeling in who is providing the most support toward the success of the business. Jealousy and envy may erupt and create a painful divide between you, leading to the disintegration and failure of the business rather than the success and prosperity of the business.

B. Analyze the motivations of potential partners to help achieve the shared goal (2 Co 6:14)

Explanation: A yoke works best when those within the yoke are united in their goals––i.e. pulling in the same direction.

Quotation: The Apostle Paul writes, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Co 6:14).”

Argumentation: A person bound to operate a business by the ethical constraints of scripture and a person with no ethical constraints other than getting the most that they can for themselves are not pulling in the same direction. The yoke that binds them to the burden of the business is bound to chafe the skin, irritate the muscles, and probably cause bruises or more severe wounds to each one. Each values different things that require traveling in opposite directions at times. While Paul’s advice in this verse may be most familiar to you in the context of marriage advice, it applies just as clearly in the realm of human business. The wise will take Paul’s words to heart when considering business partners just as much as they should when analyzing marriage partners.

II. Be Wise in Your Motivations for Helping Others (Pr 6:2)

Explanation: The Sage illustrates this principle through the ancient practice of suretyship or pledging yourself as a guarantee for another person’s debts. He indicates that doing this under the wrong conditions results in being ensnared like an animal caught in the trap of a hunter (cf. Pr 6:5).

A. Love for yourself is a wrong motivation that can trap you (Pr 6:2)

Explanation: It is interesting that the father here says that “the words of your mouth” are the mechanism of activating the trap. Some love to hear themselves talk, but what you say has consequences.

1. Love for yourself may lead you to seek acclaim from others (Mt 6:1-2)

Quotation: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” (Mt 6:1–2).

Application: Learn to suspect yourself. Learn to honestly analyze your motivations. It is all too common for humans to do things so that others will think of us in a certain, desirable way. Helping others for this cause is not helping others, but trying to help ourselves. The irony of this situation is that instead of achieving a goal of being viewed as magnanimous, it is entirely possible that the true end would be achieving a reputation of being foolish and gullible. Instead of being seen as one financially able to assist others, the reality would become that the foolish individual actually needs assistance from others.

2. Love for yourself may lead you to seek pride in your own heart (Lk 18:11)

Quotation: “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” (Lk 18:11).

Explanation: Our Lord’s teaching during his time on earth made it very clear that it is relatively easy for our sinful human nature to do the right thing for the wrong motive, or to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. If, in your heart, you value a high opinion of yourself, you may choose to do even good things simply for the fact that they make you feel good about yourself. Actively seeking this misdirected goal, could lead you to making unwise decisions: spending your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy (cf. Is 55:2).

B. Love for others is a wise motivation that can save you (Pr 6:2)

Quotation: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 Jn 4:7–8).

Explanation: These verses from John sum up much of what Proverbs is teaching: a proper relationship with God molds us more and more into His character, which is what we were designed to reflect in the first place.

1. Love for others properly discerns those deserving of help (2 Th 3:10-15)

Explanation: The Bible is full of illustrations that show people who have done the right thing and still experienced problems. In particular, these types of people are worthy of our support or assistance. They have fulfilled their responsibilities, yet the consequences of living in a cursed world have still placed them in a position of need. Like widows and orphans, these people are objects of the Lord’s concern and ought to be objects of our love as well.

Quotation: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Mt 25:34–40).

2. Love for others properly discerns those of reaping what they have sowed (2 Th 3:10-15)

Explanation: The relationship of sowing and reaping is an educational relationship. It is also a just relationship. It is just in that you get what you deserve. In a society based on farming, if you plant no crops, you harvest nothing. This is just. You received your due reward based on the effort you put in. But that can also be educational. When the next planting season comes around, you may remember your hunger and decide to put some effort into planting crops this time around.

Application: If we always save people from the negative consequences of their actions, we literally steal from them the opportunity to learn about God and his wisdom, for the principle of sowing and reaping was placed in operation in this world as the result of the loving God’s infinite wisdom.

III. Be Wise in Choosing in What Projects to Invest (Pr 6:2-5)

Explanation: The amount of effort encouraged by the father in our passage to free the son from a dangerous situation makes it clear that there are unwise financial situations that should be avoided at all costs.

A. If it sounds too good to be true, it is (1 Ti 6:9)

Quotation: Paul’s advice to Timothy puts it this way, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (1 Ti 6:9).

Explanation: Valuing earthly wealth is setting up an idol in our heart. Mga kapatid, nothing of spiritual value comes through idolatry. Valuing earthly wealth is contradictory to our Lord’s command in the sermon on the mount. Jesus makes it very clear that our heart’s desire should be his kingdom.

Quotation: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt 6:33).

Argumentation: It is so easy for human beings to fall for the lies of this world in regard to getting rich quickly and getting rich with little or no effort. Again, this is not the mindset of godliness. A spiritual mindset understands that the law of sowing and reaping applies here as well. We reap in proportion to what we sow. If we sow little, we can expect to reap little. It is only if we sow much that we should expect to reap a larger harvest.

Application: A true believer should be able to see that playing the Lotto does not match up with God’s principles. Getting wealthy without putting in hard work is not the lifestyle that the disciples of Jesus Christ should pursue. A true believer should not easily fall prey to the scams through email and text that are so prevalent today. Many promise easy and vast wealth for enough information to steal your identity or what is in your bank account. Why should a person from another country whom you have never met know about you and want to give you a significant amount of money at no cost to you?

B. If it could raise ethical questions, avoid it (1 Ti 6:9)

Explanation: Throughout the text of Proverbs to this point, there have been multiple warnings against foolish, sinful people who among other things have a thirst to be rich at any cost. Consequently, their schemes to attain riches are unethical and harmful to others. These are the schemes of the foolish, not the helpful and ethical plans of the wise.

Quotation: The book of Proverbs will sum this up later in its typical, memorable way: “Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” (Pr 28:6).

IV. Be Wise in Choosing How Much to Invest (Pr 6:2-5)

A. The wise only invest what they can afford to lose (Pr 6:5)

Explanation: Notice the impact of what the son has done in his situation. He has apparently placed his finances and reputation in a situation similar to that of a hunted animal and faces complete ruin if he cannot free himself from this unwise commitment.

Argumentation: You see why the loving father gives this command for the son to avoid vital sleep, if necessary, until he frees himself from this vulnerable situation.

B. The wise consider the impact of their commitments on others for whom they are responsible (Pr 6:5)

Illustration: Let me illustrate (from Ray Ortlund, Proverbs – Wisdom that Works). A pastor I know gives this account of a friend of his that made this very mistake. “He was at home one day when a man came by to ask him to cosign a loan for $250,000. The bank wanted more security. My friend thought, ‘He’s a good guy, I care about him, I don’t want to disappoint him,’ and he signed it. He knew Proverbs 6, but at that moment he forgot it. Then the man went belly-up, and the bank came after my friend. He lost about $100,000 in cash. And the bank did not let up on him until he begged them not to throw his wife out of their house. He had jeopardized his wife’s future. He repented before God, and over the next ten years or so God graciously restored the lost money. It was pure grace.”

Application: I can hear the excuse now from someone who made an imprudent commitment to a business venture, “but the whole reason I did this in the first place was to ensure a secure future for my children.” I say to you that your children need an example of biblical wisdom to follow more than they need an inheritance of wealth for which they did not labor.

Application: Show your children that what they need more than anything else is a relationship with God. If God then blesses you with material things above and beyond necessities, that is wonderful. If God chooses to continue to use you as an example of faithfulness to him while being poor in this world’s goods, that is also wonderful. Either way your true reward will be in heaven.

Conclusion:

Will you permit me to make my own paraphrase of Proverbs 1:7? Holding the LORD in awe is the beginning of knowledge. Why is that so? It is so because we seek to imitate and be like the one we hold in awe! How many young children have seen a Marvel or DC Comics superhero action movie and then gone out to play pretending to be the superhero character that they like the most? If we want to be like Jesus, these four exhortations will guide us to be like him in our financial matters.

Perhaps today, you recognize that you have violated or even are violating one or more of these truths in your life. Through the words of the father in our passage, the Lord exhorts you to repent and make it right, even if it means you miss out on some sleep. Do that immediately! Don’t put it off! Determine, with God’s help, to practice these principles of financial wisdom going forward for your safety and God’s honor and glory.