Finances are an important part of everyone’s life and we could all use a little wisdom in how to handle them. Well, it turns out the wisest guy in Israel’s history is also the wealthiest and he had a lot to say about wealth. That being the case it would be wise to listen to his valuable insights about how we should handle wealth in our lives.
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1 Kings 10:23–29 23 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 24 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 25 Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules. 26 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 28 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. 29 They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.
Wealth is neutral morally – there are dangers and there are opportunities that come with wealth
- Dangers:
- 1 Timothy 6:10 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
- Matthew 19:23–24 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
- Opportunities:
- Proverbs 13:22 22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
- Proverbs 19:4 4 Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
Big Idea: Use your wealth wisely.
Solomon’s wisdom on wealth:
- Give generously
- Proverbs 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.
- Proverbs 11:24–26 24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 26 People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
- Proverbs 14:31 31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
- Proverbs 19:17 17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
- Proverbs 22:2 2 Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.
- Proverbs 25:21–22 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
- Work diligently
- Proverbs 6:6–11 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 28:19 19 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
- Proverbs 23:4–5 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.
- Earn honestly
- Proverbs 11:4 4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
- Proverbs 11:28 28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
- Proverbs 22:1 1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
- Proverbs 28:6 6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.
- Proverbs 16:8 8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
- Proverbs 20:17 17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
- Proverbs 22:22–23 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.