Wisdom With Finances
What are your secrets to financial success?
Here are some of Solomon's!
Prov 3:9‑10
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.
(NIV)
What does this mean? (See II Cor. 9:6-11)
Prov 22:4‑5
4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.
(NIV)
Why would the fear of the Lord bring wealth?
God gives us principles to live by that will keeps us from things which will hurt us. Sin destroys us in the long term. Obeying God protects us from the ravages of sin.
Prov 24:1‑4
1 Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company;
2 for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
(NIV)
Solomon's Principles
Let's look at some specific financial principles which Solomon gave us.
Prov 12:11‑12
11 He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.
12 The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes. (NIV)
Principle:
Prov 13:11‑12
11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (NIV)
Principle:
Prov 21:17‑18
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. (NIV)
Principle:
Prov 21:20‑21
20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
(NIV)
Principle:
Prov 23:4‑5
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.
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. (NIV)
Principle:
Prov 22:7
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
(NIV)
Principle:
Prov 22:26‑29
26 Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
Principle:
28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.
Principle:
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
(NIV)
Principle:
Prov 6:1‑6
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
2 if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
(NIV)
Principle:
Prov 13:20‑25
20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23 A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.
24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25 The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
(NIV)
What is the relationship between righteousness and prosperity?
Principle
Prov 18:10‑12
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.
12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. (NIV)
Principle:
Prov 20:14
14 "It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase. (NIV)
Principle:
Prov 22:16
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich‑‑ both come to poverty. (NIV)
Principle:
Prov 28:8
8 He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. (NIV)
Principle:
Prov 18:16
16 A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great. (NIV)
Prov 29:4
4 By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down. (NIV)
Principle:
General Questions about Wisdom in Finances:
Which of these concepts are you doing well?
What do you need to change in your approach to finances?
What in one thing you want to start doing in your financial planning based on this lesson?
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