
Walking in Wisdom
Week Seven - Wisdom and Stuff
Proverbs - a lot of them
First problem that’s not really a problem - the Bible has
Second problem that’s not really a problem - the Bible doesn’t settle on absolutes regarding money and possessions
It turns out, our money/possessions are
So what does Proverbs say about our money and our possessions?
1.The extremes of wealth and poverty have unique
7 “Two things I ask of you, Lord;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. —Proverbs 30:7-9
Temptation of wealth is to
Temptation of poverty is to
2.God is the sovereign
The Lord is the Maker of them all. —Proverbs 22:2
Stop comparing! “There is no win in compariSIN.” ~Andy Stanley
Our inequality with God is precisely what makes us equal with one another.
3.You can’t
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine. —Proverbs 3:9-10
4.Money can’t give you ultimate
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. —Proverbs 11:28
5.The Lord detests those who get rich by injustice and loves those who are
22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,
23 for the Lord will take up their case
and will exact life for life. —Proverbs 22:22-23
31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. —Proverbs 14:31
6.Hard work and good decisions
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man. —Proverbs 6:6-114 Lazy hands make for poverty,
but diligent hands bring wealth. —Proverbs 10:4
7.Our money and our stuff is all
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle. —Proverbs 23:4-5
Truths in Tension (Kevin DeYoung)
- 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.