A Proper Perspective on Wealth

Introduction:

Who is one person in your life that you would be willing to take money advice from. Probably one of the first requirements is that they aren’t broke! No one wants to be told what they should do with their money from someone who hasn’t got any.

I remember in college reading many books on investing and money management. One of the best books I read was a book called The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. If you don’t know the story of Dave Ramsey, it is worth listening to, but in short, he lost everything and had to file for bankruptcy. He learned some biblical money management principles and decided to pay back everything that he had dismissed in bankruptcy court. Dave Ramsey’s ministry is the direct product of his life’s experiences.

Tonight we are going to look at some sage advice regarding wealth from one of the wisest and wealthiest men that ever lived. Solomon was so wealthy that the Bible says the silver was like rocks in his time!

1. Money Perverts Justice in this World (5:8)

2. Money Can’t Satisfy Us (5:9-17; 6:1-9)

A. Worry Increases with Wealth (5:10-12)

B. Money is Fleeting (5:13-14)

C. You Can’t Take Money With You When You Die (5:15-17)

D. We Are Never Satisfied with Wealth (6:1-9)

We can fail to enjoy what we have (vv.1—6)

Our appetite is never satisfied (vv.7-9)

We can lose what we have

3. Have a Biblical View of Money (5:18-20)

A. Work Hard (v.18)

B. Enjoy What You Have (vv.18-19)

C. Accept Your Position in Life (v. 19-20)

Conclusion

A. Man is Finite and God is Eternal (6:10)

People live their whole lives for something that is here today and gone tomorrow. We think we know what we want only to realize we want something different. We make investments that are not guaranteed to bring us wealth and happiness.

B. Man is Silenced Before God (v.10-11)

But there is one investment that is worthy of all we have. Jesus spoke of this investment. It is the investment in the Kingdom of God. He said.

C. Man Must Trust God’s Plan for His Life (vv.12)

Matthew 5:44=

Matthew 5:44–46 ESV

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

All of these analogies point to one thing: committing completely to trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and living our lives to advance His kingdom. That is the only investment that will last for all eternity. It is the only investment that yields eternal rewards.