Don't Be Foolish About Money

Introduction

Greetings...

Have you every heard of the “Roby Millionaires” or the “Roby 43” as they were called?

There is a small farming town in Texas called Roby that became famous in 1997 because 43 of its residents pooled their money together and won the Texas lottery. The story went world wide and little Roby, Texas gained the distinction of being the town with the highest number of millionaires per-capita in the entire United States.

That’s not the whole story however, because in a follow-up program several years later it was discovered that most of the Roby 43 had gone broke, that there were deep divisions within the community and especially among the 43. Some of the 43 had even died already.

All those millions couldn’t make the town happier, more prosperous, and today it struggles to even survive.

Money wasn’t the answer because it never is.

Because the book of Proverbs is a book of practical wisdom, it’s not surprising that it has a lot to say about money.

So, let’s examine what it has to say about money.

Fools Don’t Put God First

Give to God first.

This has always been an expectation God has had with His people, we are to give out of our prosperity to Him first.

Proverbs 3:9–10 ESV

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

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The last part of this verse has led many to believe in the so called “Health & Wealth Gospel.”

However, this isn’t a manipulative technique to extract blessings from God, rather it is an act of trusting in God, with an assurance that putting God first means He will take care of our needs ().

Summery

The bottom line is if we don’t honor God first with our wealth, that’s idolatry, and we will lose everything in eternity.

How foolish would that be!!!

Fools Sacrifice True Value

There are many things more valuable than money.

This might sound like a contradiction to some people, but the truth is, there are many things in this life of far greater value than money.

A good name is of far greater value than money.

Proverbs 22:1–2 ESV

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. 2 The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.

Proverbs 22:12 ESV

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor.

All the money in the world cannot by a good name, but the pursuit of money can cost you that good name.

Wisdom is of far greater value than money.

Proverbs 3:13–15 ESV

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

With applied knowledge, i.e. wisdom, the world is ours to navigate successfully and joyfully because we have learned from God ().

Summery

Though the world struggles to understand this point, God’s children shouldn’t…everything spiritual is far greater than any financial gain one might have in this life.

Proverbs 31:10 ESV

10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

Only the foolish will sacrifice the truly valuable for the second rate.

Conclusion

When we take our financial job seriously, that being steward’s of God’s wealth, that’s when we will be wise with God’s wealth and not foolish with it.

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.