Managing Wealth in the Way of Wisdom

Have understanding and knowledge and you will have the kind of stability that will be for a long time. - Proverbs 28:2 “When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.”

There’s a smart way of managing your finances - through interest and profit. But notice that the reason for it is for generosity - for the giving to the poor. - Proverbs 28:8 “Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.”

Chasing after riches can be determined by whether or not you are in a hurry to become rich. And to GOD He has set it so that there would be consequences to such actions. - Proverbs 28:19–20 “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”

Why are there consequences?

Chasing after riches comes from a place of distrust from the Lord.

Chasing after riches comes with so much strife because of that distrust

Chasing after riches makes you live a small and self-centered life

Those who trust in the Lord will be enriched.

Those who walk in wisdom will be delivered from his foolishness (greed, chasing after riches).

Those who give to the poor will not lack anything

Proverbs 28:25–27 “A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.”

in 2 Corinthians 8:13–15 “For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”” Paul describes how those who have abudance should have nothing left over and those who have little will have their needs met.

This is not to burden those who have a lot - this should come from revelatioin 2 Corinthians 8:9–12 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”

Paul was also constantly engaged in this practice as specified in the book of Acts.

The danger of giving

John 12:3–8 “Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.””

Be careful that you do not give from a place of pride - replacing Jesus’s place of glory for your own personal gain. Like Judas he said to give what was given to Jesus for the poor - but really it was for his own pocket money.

The pouring to JESUS does not invalidate the giving to the poor. JESUS always had alms to give to the poor. The pouring of the perfume rather was a place of worship to JESUS in preparation for His death.

also - Matthew 6:3–4 “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Wealth driven with purpose for expansion of the kingdom and for the blessing of people to glorify GOD. This means giving to the ministries and growing your personal wealth that you can also be used by GOD to bless the many or the few.