Money

Money and Possessions in Proverbs

April 29, 2011 | Kevin DeYoung

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📷The Bible says a lot about money and possessions. There are a lot of verses about wealth and poverty. With some topics, we can get off track because the Bible says so little. What should we think of tanning? Well, we don’t have a lot of specific instructions, so there’s not much to be dogmatic about.

But when it comes to money and possessions there’s an opposite problem. Because the Bible says so much about money it is tempting to develop an imbalanced theology of money.

On the one hand, it’s easy to see where Prosperity Theology comes from. Take a few promises of the Mosaic covenant out of their national context, take the promise in about throwing open the storehouses of heaven, mix in some of Jesus’ statements about receiving whatever you ask for in faith, and you can bake up a little health and wealth gospel.

On the other hand, it’s possible to come up with an imbalanced Austerity Theology. Point out that Jesus had nowhere to lay his head, turn to the story of the rich young ruler, stir in the parable of the rich fool, and you’ll have a theology that says money is bad and so are those who have it.

You could make a biblical argument that God loves rich guys. Just look at Abraham, Job, and Zacchaeus. Look at the way he blesses obedient kings. Look at the vision of cosmic delight in the garden and in the age to come.

You can just as easily make a biblical argument that God hates rich guys. Just look at the rich man and Lazarus. Look at the book of James. Look at Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount.

So how should we think of money and possessions? What biblical principles should we keep in mind as we see wealth and poverty, as we handle our own wealth or poverty? There are few things the Bible talks about more often. Which is good, because there are few things as relevant to all people everywhere as getting a good theology of money.

A Place to Start

Proverbs is a good place to start in developing a biblical theology of material possessions. For starters, there are a lot of verses on the subject. More important, there are several diverse strands of teaching on the subject. If you started with Genesis, you might conclude God always prospers his people. If you started with Amos, you might think all rich people are oppressors. But Proverbs looks at wealth and poverty from several angles. And because Proverbs is a book of general maxims, the principles in proverbs are more easily transferable to God’s people at different times and places.

Last Sunday evening I gave my congregation ten principles from Proverbs on money and material possessions. I won’t give you the whole sermon here, but I thought it might be worth at least listing the main points. Maybe I can go into more detail next week on specific points.

I’ll give the points roughly in order of how much Proverbs says about a particular principle. That way we’ll end with the most important themes.

Ten Principles on Money and Possessions from Proverbs

1. There are extremes of wealth and poverty that provide unique temptations to those who live in them ().

2. Don’t worry about keeping up with the Jones’ / Wealth is not a status symbol.(; ).

There is the pretending rich

· They could make themselves rich by being greedy toward others. They end up losing their life.

· They can be deceived about their true poverty

· He may pretend to be rich to give the appearance of wisdom’s success

There is the pretending poor

· They could have the appearance of poverty but actually be very rich in relationship to God.

· They may be blind to using the opportunities that they have.

· They pretend to be poor so that they don’t have to give to others.

The both have no love for the community. They deprive the community of what could be given or they seek unmerited honor from the community.

3. Hard work and good decision-making usually lead to increased prosperity (; ; ; ; , ; , ; ;

Wealth that is obtained out of vanity, nothingness, puff of air. This picture can apply to getting money by lies or injustice. I think it could apply to get-rich quick schemes. The resource will dwindle and become small.

This is contrasted with the one who gains little by little. Proverbs show that this slow gathering is a character issue. The gatherer is committed to faithfulness, diligence, generosity, and justice

The end of laziness is poverty. The hand which does nothing will actually produce something- poverty.

The diligent one thinks ahead. He seizes opportunity now.

A wise one would be contrasted with the idle talker in v.23. He does things God’s way. He is diligent in the tasks that are given to Him. He thinks ahead… On and on we could go about wise living. We see in Scripture that God enjoys rewarding wisdom with wealth. It is a natural consequence of wise living.

Folly is the boomerang effect of foolish living.

4. The rich and poor are more alike than they think (; ).

Sin is the thing that creates an order of economic oppression. That is not God’s doing.(Walkte)

In His sovereignty God allows poverty and wealth.

When the rich forget that God is the creator of all, they tend to despise and oppress the poor. God declares that when the rich do that, they are doing it unto their Maker.

When the poor forget that God is the creator of all, they can despise or live in envy toward those in wealth. He could also use untruthful means in order to gain the favor of the rich.

They both should recognize that they are recipients of God’s gracious gifts. God graciously chooses to send rain on just and unjust.

5. You can’t out give God (; ; ).

Proverbs 3:9–10 NKJV

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Our relationship with God is personal. We are not just follow a set of instruction. Trust, reverence, and honor are to be given to God.

Living independent of God is a natural way to want to live. Honoring Him with our wealth shows our trust in Him. It is trusting Him with the outcome. It is a recognition that all things come from Him.

Proverbs 11:24 NKJV

24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

The prosperous are noted for their character. They make decisions that fear God. They delight in His commands. Their wealth of influence lives beyond them. They will face darkness through various circumstances such as rejection of others, loss…but their dawn will come. His character of kindness, tenderness, and righteousness continue in the midst of darkness.

Generosity depends on the character of God. It keeps giving trusting God’s sure dawning. Bad news does not deter Him (Ps. 112)

6. Poverty is not pretty (; ; ).

The rich perceive that their riches provide a fortification for them.

The terror (meḥittat; see 10:14b) refers to constant suspense, fear, and worry due to imminent ruin. Death, starvation, forced labor, injustice, and the temptation to steal hound every step of the destitute

These Proverbs observe how life is. Poverty is not good. It is not a goal or mark of righteous living. It may be part of the territory of living righteously. Neither are riches a real security or deliverer.

So what does one do in the non-desirable condition of poverty.

Be rich in good works

Believe in the gracious character of His God.

Heed the commands of diligence.

Your influence is not your wealth.

Waltke, B. K. (2004). The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (p. 464). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Proverbs 10:15 NKJV

15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Proverbs 19:4 NKJV

4 Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.

Proverbs 14:20 NKJV

20 The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends.

7. Money cannot give you ultimate security (; ; ).

Proverbs 13:8 NLT

8 The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened.

Proverbs 11:28 NKJV

28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Proverbs 11:7 NLT

7 When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.

The one who trusts in His riches is not righteous. The righteous don’t trust in their riches.

7. The Lord hates those who get rich by injustice (Prov. 21:6; 22:16, 22-23).

He exalts virtue over riches. He gives better than Proverbs to show that righteous living in poverty is better than rich living that is gained in unrighteous ways.

8. The Lord loves those who are generous to the poor (, ; ; )

10. Money isn’t everything. It does not satisfy (). It is inferior to wisdom (, ; ). It is inferior to righteousness (10:2; 11:4; 13:25; 16:8; 19:22; 20:17; 28:6). It is inferior to the fear of the Lord (). It is inferior to humility (). It is inferior to good relationships (; ).

Reaching Delicate Conclusions and Finding Christ

You can’t understand the biblical view of money unless you are prepared to accept a number of truths held in tension.

You’ll probably acquire more money if you work hard and are full of wisdom. But if all you care about is getting more money, you are the biggest fool. Money is a blessing from God, but you’ll be more blessed if you give it away. God gives you money because he is generous, but he is generous with you so that you can be generous with others. And if you are generous with your money, God will likely be more generous with you. It is wise to save money, but don’t ever think money gives you real security. Wealth is more desirable than poverty, but wealth is not as good as righteousness, humility, wisdom, good relationships, and the fear of the Lord.

says that Christ is for us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Money can’t give you any of the things you ultimately need. It can’t make you holy. It can’t make you righteous. It can’t save you from your sins. Wealth is a sign of blessing, but it’s also one of your biggest temptations because it entices you to boast in yourself. It promises to be your self-worth and promises to make you self-sufficient. It invites you to boast in something or someone other than the Lord.

So through and through money is an issue of faith. Believe that doing things God’s way is the best way for you. Believe that if you give your money away, he can give it back. Believe that money can be good. But don’t you dare believe it is everything. Money is a gift from God, but the gifts you really need can only be found in God.