A wealthy man lying on his deathbed, invited his three best friends to his bedside. He had one last request of his friends. One was a professor, one was a doctor and the third was a preacher. The man told his friends, “I’m going to prove them all wrong. They say you can’t take your money with you when you die. But I’m going to take it with me.”  Then he handed to each friend an envelope with $100,000 of cash inside and told them that at his funeral he wanted them to place the envelopes in his casket with him so that he could be buried with all of his money. A few days later the man had died and the three friends came to his funeral and each placed the envelope he had received in the man’s casket. Afterward they were sharing a meal together and talking about this weird request of their friend. One of them, the doctor, said, “Guys, I need to get this off my chest. We all know that money wasn’t going to do any good in the ground. The hospital’s needing a new children’s wing and so I took fifty thousand dollars of it and donated it to that cause.” Then the professor said, “Well, since we’re confessing, I also just couldn’t make sense either of putting all that in the ground. I donated seventy thousand of it to the University for a new lab and computer equipment.” Then they both looked expectantly at the preacher, waiting for him to make a confession and he said, “I’m just ashamed of both of you. Our friend trusted us. I didn’t hold back any of the money. I wrote a check for the whole one hundred thousand and put it in the casket.”

I know that’s how many today think of preachers, that they cleverly get money out of people and look righteous doing it. And I’m going to talk this morning about money. So let me begin by saying I’m not after your money. I’m not trying to get you to put more in the collection plate here. If you’re being generous to the needy or other ministries that honor God and don’t put much in the plate here, that’s okay with me if that’s how you feel your money is best given. I’m not after your money.

We’re in the book of Proverbs if you’re keeping up with the Bible reading. And in this book of Scripture, money and possessions is a major theme. And it makes sense that it would be a major theme because the goal of the book of Proverbs, as stated in its introduction, is to give us the understanding we need to live wisely and truly successfully in a way in which God is delighted with us and we are extremely blessed and a huge blessing to many. And money is a big part of the lives of each one of us. We all need it. We all have to use it. And daily we’re having to make decisions on how to use it. So Proverbs talks a lot about how to view, earn and use money in such a way that we may have the favor of God and enduring riches and honor.

To help you stay awake, I gave you a little outline to fill out; also to help you remember what we’re going to talk about and enable you to go through these scriptures later.

Is it bad to possess earthly wealth?

You know there are Christians today who say it is. They believe Christians should not be rich materially, or that it’s more holy and godly to be poor.

There are some Scriptures that can be twisted to that conclusion. Like Jesus’ statements about how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. If someone is outside the kingdom and doesn’t yet have the wisdom and relationship with God to view wealth properly, then their wealth is a hindrance to them being humble before the Lord and surrendering to Him. But if someone has come into the kingdom and has learned to see wealth in the right way and God has their heart, then wealth can be a blessing and a great tool with which to bless many.

According to the book of Proverbs, wealth comes with some dangers, which we’ll talk about. But if one has the wisdom and character to not be snared by the dangers, then wealth is a good thing.

Proverbs tells us that material prosperity is generally something God rewards the righteous with if they’re faithful in His ways long term.

Proverbs 3:9-10 speaks of a way of honoring God, which we’ll talk about, that will result in our barns being filled with plenty, and our vats bursting with wine, or whatever is our equivalent to barns and vats.

11:24-25 speaks of a way of obeying God that makes us grow richer.

13:22, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.”

15:6, “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.”

There are several examples of faithful people in the Bible whom God rewarded with abundant wealth: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, David, Solomon, Daniel, Ester and Mordecai, Philemon…

Proverbs mentions several advantages to having material wealth.

Such as, you are not slave to the lender (22:7). You’re free from the control of credit card companies and banks and collection agencies.

Another advantage, according to 14:20, “The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.” You probably know that to be true. People don’t often like to be around those who are poor because the poor often need something and are not seen has having much to offer. But if you’re rich, the reverse is true.

Wealth also empowers us for good deeds (11:24-25). It enables us to take care of people in need.

These advantages make it preferable to be rich than poor, as long as one has the wisdom and character to not be snared by the dangers of wealth.

So let’s notice from Proverbs…

What are the Dangers of Wealth?

Wealth is like a table saw. It can be a very useful tool, but dangerous. Here are three dangers of having much.

First, it tends to give its owners a false sense of security. Proverbs 18:10-11, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. [That’s where true security is found, in the Lord. But verse 11 says] A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.” The rich tend to think that they are safe, that their future is secure, because they have so much. And it’s delusion, right, because wealth does not protect you from Satan and demons. It does not protect you from cancer or freak accidents. It does not protect you from family turmoil, addiction, shame, depression, and many other things. And when our short stay in this world is over, our money cannot do anything for us. 11:4, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

Second, wealth tends to make its owners think too highly of themselves. 28:11, “The rich man is wise in his own eyes…” The rich tend to think, “Look at what I have achieved. Look how successful I am, more than other people. I must be wise or I wouldn’t have so much. I don’t need instruction; I don’t need correction.” But Proverbs 26:12 says, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” So the inflated view of yourself that wealth can lead you to believe is a great danger.

Third, since wealth tends to make its owners feel safe and wise. it tends to replace God in their affections and priorities. This amounts to idolatry (Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5), and is a root of all sorts of evil (I Timothy 6:10), like dishonest business practices, taking bribes, overcharging people, not paying your workers fairly and ignoring the people God puts in your path to help.

So in 30:7-9, the author of this proverb, named Agur son of Jakeh, made a request of God in view of this danger of wealth. He prayed, “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; [That was his first request, that God protect him from all deception. Here’s his second request.] give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”

So Agur perceived dangers of both wealth and poverty, but wanted to ensure he would stay close to the Lord. So he requested that God just give him what he needs. The danger he perceived about wealth was that when people aren’t sensing their need for God because they feel comfortable and safe, they tend to neglect their relationship with Him. They don’t pray as much. They don’t seek understanding and guidance from Him as much. So the author says “Lord, to ensure that I stay close you, I don’t want riches, I just want what I need.”

So for all these reasons, wealth is dangerous. Let me read you a New Testament passage that warns the rich about these dangers of wealth. I Timothy 6:17-19, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty [don’t think you’re wiser or more righteous than others because you have wealth], nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches [don’t fall into that false sense of security, don’t think wealth will take care of you], but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” The way you really store up for your future and attain the good life, is not by amassing a huge retirement package. It is by keeping God first and generosity.

Another thing Proverbs emphasizes about material wealth is…

What’s more important than having wealth?

Proverbs answers that with a number of what you could call “Better than” proverbs.

Proverbs 16:8, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” It is better to be righteous even if that is accompanied by poverty, than it is to be wealthy and unjust. So righteous character is never to be sacrificed to obtain wealth. Rather wealth is to be sacrificed if necessary to maintain righteousness.

16:19, “It is better to be of a lowly spirit [humble] with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Possessing humility is more valuable then possessing gold and jewels.

19:1, “Better a poor person who walks in integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”

22:1, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”

(See also 15:16; 28:6)

These Proverbs are not saying the poor are righteous or that it is wrong to be rich. What they do is prioritize righteousness, humility, integrity and a good name over wealth so that we seek to do the right things even when it looks like it might hurt us financially. And the reason this is true is “a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD” (5:21) and He holds us accountable and will eventually repay each person according to their deeds (24:12).

Listen to these two Proverbs that picture two different dinner experiences. Proverbs 17:1, “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” And 15:17, “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” So these picture two different dinner experiences. One of a rich family having a huge gourmet meal with appetizer, salad, entrée, dessert. The other is that of a poor family with just barely enough to get by, just some dry bread or veggies. But at the rich table they’re angry with each other and arguing and tearing each other down. At the poor table they’re loving one another, they’re respecting each other and asking how the other’s day was and showing concern for each other. And these Proverbs say the people having that pitiful dinner are actually happier than the people having the gourmet meal. The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our life, much more so than the quality of the things we own or the food we eat. So it’s really foolish that people say, “I’m so busy with work that I don’t have much time to read the Bible or pray or spend time with the Lord.” The wisdom and understanding they can get from the Lord would bless them immensely more than the money they’re chasing.

One more passage under this point, Proverbs 3:13ff, “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. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” Acquiring wisdom and understanding will bless your life far more than gold, silver and jewels. So we should never be working so much that we have little time to read our Bibles and spend time with the Lord in prayer.

How do we build wealth God’s way?

First, obviously, it starts with making wealth secondary to pleasing God and caring for people. To build wealth God’s way, wealth cannot be your priority. Getting to know God more deeply and obeying Him in every area of our life, must never be neglected. And then we’ll have God working for us.

Second, don’t look for get-rich-quick schemes. Gain wealth the patient gradual way. 13:11, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”

Third, be diligent. Do not be lazy. Be a hard worker. Proverbs 6:6-11, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

10:4, “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

There’s a lot of emphasis in Proverbs on having a good work ethic (12:11, 24; 13:4; 14:23; 21:5; 24:30-34). But there’s also a caution against overworking. 23:4, “Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.” So be diligent, but don’t weary yourself to gain wealth. There’s a balance needed and discernment is needed to see when there’s more important things than working. Remember the things that are worth far more than money: good relationships, loving people, acquiring wisdom and understanding and so forth.

Fourth, to build wealth don’t love pleasure. Don’t be overly indulgent. Proverbs 21:17, “Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.” There are a lot of people who could be rich were it not for how much time and money they spend on entertainment and fine dining and alcohol and other indulgences. (See also 23:19-21). But again there’s a balance needed, because I Timothy 6:17, God does bless us with things to enjoy. So pray for wisdom to see what’s appropriate.

Fifth, a vital key to build wealth God’s way – generosity.

3:9-10, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Honor the Lord with your first fruits. In OT times that meant you set aside at least the first tenth of your income or produce for God.

In Christ we are not under the Law, but under Christ. And Christ has not laid down specific percentages or numbers for our giving. Just some principles, like give according to how you’ve been prospered, and you who are rich be rich in good works. But I don’t think the Lord would expect less of us than was expected of ancient Israel, because we live in a very privileged time where we know of the atoning death and resurrection of Christ and other wonderful things that they didn’t know. So I’m sure the Lord expects us to be just as generous if not more so.

You know the NT, many times, quotes various Proverbs as still applicable and as the way God still works today (Romans 2:6; 12:20; Hebrews 12:5,6; James 4:6; I Peter 4:8, 18; 5:5; II Peter 2:22). And there is no indication that He works any differently today in this area of money and giving. If we honor Him with our wealth, our barns will be filled with plenty.

11:24, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; [Isn’t that interesting? He’s giving stuff away generously, but growing richer.] another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

19:17, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” That is a stunning statement. When I am generous to the poor whom God loves, God considers Himself obligated to me. My kindness to the poor is viewed as a loan to the Lord, who promises to repay me. Sounds like we can’t lose by giving to people who need help. Because the Lord considers it a loan that you gave Him. So giving generously is an opportunity we have to step out in faith with God and watch Him work in blessing ways in our lives.

(See also 11:26; 14:31; 21:13; 22:9; 28:27).

That’s not just an OT principle. That’s NT too. II Corinthians 9:6, in a context about giving says, “… whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 9:10-11, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way…” The apostle Paul describes giving as like sowing seed. As is true in farming, so is true with giving. The measure you sow will determine the measure you reap. If a farmer sows one bushel of wheat and he reaps 50 fold, how many bushels will he get in? 50 bushels. But if he sows 10 bushels of wheat, how many will he get back? 500 bushels. The measure you sow determines the measure you reap. And I don’t think the reaping is limited to material blessings, but it includes those, because Paul tells the Corinthians God will multiply your seed for sowing, He will enrich you for more giving.

Now, you likely will not reap immediately. When you sow a seed in the ground you have to give it time to germinate and grow and mature and the crop to become ripe for harvest. So it will take some patience. But you will get a harvest in return according to how much you sow. (See also Philippians 4:18-19; Luke 6:38).

Do you have mason jars like this at your house? They say “Kerr” on the side. Well, let me tell you a little story to remember every time you see one of these jars. The man who started the Kerr Canning company was Alexander Kerr. In 1902 he was a Christian, but poor and in debt and he came upon a track, a little booklet, entitled, “Judah’s scepter and Joseph’s birthright.” In it the writer talked about how Jacob in the Old Testament had made a vow to God to be a giver of at least ten percent if God would bless him. And God indeed blessed Jacob greatly. Jacob went up to uncle Laban’s in Syria with nothing and came back 20 years later with an enormous family and servants and herds and flocks in abundance. Well, Alexander Kerr in 1902 made a vow to God that he would, from that moment on, give a certain percentage (at least a tithe I think) of his income to God’s work in the world. And he started to do so immediately. After 3 months, unexpected blessings began to occur and he was soon able that year to start the Kerr Glass Manufacturing Company which quickly grew to become one of the largest firms selling fruit jars in the United States. The jars were manufactured for him in a factory in San Francisco. But in 1906 one of the worst disasters in American history happened there, an earthquake that devastated the city and cost thousands of lives. Buildings were in shambles, and gas lines burst and fires broke out in the city. Kerr was out of state when the earthquake happened and when news arrived, he sent a telegram to San Francisco and received this replay: “factory in the heart of the fire. Undoubtedly destroyed. Heat so intense will be unable to find out anything for several days.” Then in a few days he received this wire: “Factory miraculously saved.” He immediately took a train for San Francisco. This factory was a two story wooden building containing two large tanks where glass was melted. These tanks were kept at extremely high temperatures. Oil was used for fuel. And so the building was one of the most flammable in San Francisco. The fire had raged on all sides of the factory, burning everything else in its wake, but this building stood untouched. And the report goes that not a single glass jar was even cracked by the earthquake. To me, that sounds like something the God of the Bible would do.

After that, the Kerrs never doubted that God was on their side. When the two-piece lid (invented in their kitchen in 1915) boosted their business, Kerr gratefully began to put little leaflets with teaching about giving in every case of jars that was sent out.

You know, this is one of the approved ways that we can test God. Malachi 3:8ff, “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.  [The Israelites of Malachi’s day were giving less than they were commanded to, which was in effect robbing God, and had brought a curse upon themselves. But look what God says beginning at verse 10.] 10 Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.” God says test me in this. Give like I’ve told you. And see what happens.

And I believe we can also test the Lord in this and experience His faithfulness for ourselves. Let’s sow bountifully and then see what happens.

-James Williams