"THE BOOK OF PROVERBS"
Wisdom Regarding Money
INTRODUCTION
1. People often have conflicting ideas about money...
a. Some say that it is sinful to be rich; others, that it is a virtue
to be poor
b. Many think that money provides the ultimate security
2. The Bible says a great deal about money...
a. It speaks about earning and spending, saving and giving
b. It even warns about wasting our money
3. The Book of Proverbs in particular discusses issues related to
money...
a. Such as wealth and poverty
b. Such as generosity and greed
[What wisdom can be gleaned from Proverbs concerning money? Let's first
consider what is said regarding...]
I. WEALTH AND POVERTY
A. REGARDING WEALTH...
1. Wealth does have its advantages
a. A degree of security - Pro 10:15; 18:11; e.g., 13:8
b. Companionship of 'friends' - Pro 14:20; 19:4,6-7
c. Power or influence - Pro 22:7
d. The ability to speak more freely - Pro 18:23
2. But wealth does not provide everything
a. It does not deliver us from death - Pro 10:2; 11:4
b. Those who trust in their riches will fall - Pro 11:28
3. The acquisition of wealth
a. Must be gained honestly, such as through labor - Pro 13:11
b. Best if by labor, not inherited - Pro 20:21
c. Best if gained gradually, not with haste - Pro 28:20,22
d. Wealth acquired unscrupulously is temporary and bitter - Pro
20:17; 21:5-6; 28:8
4. Keeping wealth in perspective
a. Do not overwork to be rich - Pro 23:4
b. Riches easily disappear - Pro 23:5
-- Wealth can be blessing, but it can easily become a curse;
wisdom makes the difference!
B. REGARDING POVERTY...
1. Some are poor because of circumstances beyond their control
a. The greed of others - Pro 30:14
b. Usury and extortion - Pro 28:8
2. Others are poor because of their own sinful conduct
a. Laziness - Pro 6:6-11; 10:4; 14:23; 20:13; 24:30-34
b. Refusing to heed correction - Pro 13:18
c. Pleasure seeking - Pro 21:17
d. Drunkenness, gluttony - Pro 23:21
e. Wasting time on frivolous things - Pro 12:11; 28:19
-- Poverty is not always self-inflicted, but in many cases it is!
[Poverty also comes from other causes (natural disasters, God's
chastisement, persecution, even voluntary choice). But as most
Christians today are blessed with relative wealth, let's now consider
what wisdom can be gleaned from Proverbs regarding the use of our
money...]
II. GENEROSITY AND GREED
A. REGARDING GENEROSITY...
1. The expression of generosity
a. Toward the needy (giving to the poor) - Pro 28:27
b. Toward the Lord (honoring Him with our first fruits) - Pro
3:9
2. The benefits of generosity
a. Natural benefits (the inherent joy of giving) - Pro 11:17;
14:21
b. Divine benefits (the blessing of the Lord) - Pro 3:10; 11:
24-25; 19:17
-- For true happiness, with the Lord as our Benefactor, we must be
generous
B. REGARDING GREED...
1. The qualities of greed
a. Insatiable desires (like a leech) - Pro 30:15-16
b. Laziness - Pro 21:25-26
c. Hypocrisy - Pro 23:6-8
2. The danger of greed
a. Troubles one's self - Pro 1:19
b. Troubles one's family - Pro 15:27
-- To avoid misery, for ourselves and others, we must not be greedy
CONCLUSION
1. With the aid of the Book of Proverbs, we can have wisdom regarding...
a. Wealth and poverty
b. Generosity and greed
2. With the blessing of the Lord, we can experience both...
a. Wealth that comes from honest labor
b. Generosity that springs from a merciful heart
Certainly there is no place for arrogance and abuse when we have been
materially blessed:
The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker
of them all. - Pro 22:2
He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors
Him has mercy on the needy. - Pro 14:31
May the Lord give us the wisdom and grace to use our wealth properly...!
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2007
