Wealth and Poverty
Notes
Transcript
1. The Comparison of Wealth and Poverty
1. The Comparison of Wealth and Poverty
15 The rich man’s wealth is his fortress, The ruin of the poor is their poverty.
People can trust in retirement accounts, but even those are not a guarantee. Financial advisors often recommend having 1-6 months of income saved for a rainy day.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, But the poor hears no rebuke.
Wealth sometimes attracts scammers, extortioners and the wealthy may need their wealth to buy their lives. The poor don’t have this problem.
11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.
wealth provides false security. A persons wealth can be taken. The only tru source of security is with the Lord.
7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
This is a general statement.
Especially true of credit cards. If they are not used wisely, credit card debt can take people years to payback. debt takes away your financial freedom.
7 A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.
people who are wealthy develop a taste for the finer things in life. while those who are poor are much happier with the simple things of life.
Neighbor who owns a property management company, told about renovating a home in Stowe where he cleaned out their closet with last years skis, boots, apparel, so they have the newest equipment for the 2 weeks that they would come to Stowe.
2 The rich and the poor have a common bond, The Lord is the maker of them all.
No matter how rich or how poor you are, You have a creator in heaven who should be our joy.
2. The Problems of Wealth
2. The Problems of Wealth
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.
23 The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly.
Poor: “please please can I borrow some money.”
Rich : “What! get out of here!”
4 Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.
6 Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
If you want to know how to win people over, bring them a gift.
3. The Preference to Wealth
3. The Preference to Wealth
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
savings and loan bail out of a number of years ago is a perfect example
The Savings and Loan (S&L) Crisis was a slow-moving financial disaster. The crisis came to a head and resulted in the failure of nearly a third of the 3,234 savings and loan associations in the United States between 1986 and 1995.
The problem began during the era's volatile interest rate climate, stagflation, and slow growth of the 1970s and ended with a total cost of $160 billion; $132 billion of which was borne by taxpayers.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
In God’s eyes, this is what is better.
8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
22 A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him.
Everyone know the name Bernard Lawrence "Bernie" Madoff. He was an American financier who executed the largest Ponzi scheme in history, defrauding thousands of investors out of tens of billions of dollars over the course of at least 17 years, and possibly longer. He was also a pioneer in electronic trading and chair of the Nasdaq in the early 1990s. He died in prison on April 14, 2021 while serving a 150-year sentence for money laundering, securities fraud and several other felonies.
4. The Profit of True Wealth
4. The Profit of True Wealth
9 Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Specifically for Israel.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
Having money doesn’t mean that a person is wise.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
[Gospel presentation]
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
The Delusion of Wealth
A national survey, conducted by scientists at the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, found that over half of Americans feel at least moderate stress in their lives. What is surprising is that the more highly paid and educated report higher and more persistent levels of stress. Apparently, education may lead to a higher income, but not necessarily to a higher life. Indeed, stress soared with the level of income, a factor many economically pressed citizens can hardly understand. And, more bad news, those who can most afford to enjoy the high life often don’t, missing meals and sleep, drinking more often, and getting less exercise. Perhaps even more unexpected, women, usually considered more tolerant of difficult situations, suffer more stress than men.
It seems that money becomes so important to people that all other aspects of life become secondary. When that happens, wealth becomes a vicious deity, inflicting an equally vicious penalty.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.