What can money buy you? Money has a lot to give, but money can also take. Let’s examine a few things related to money that might just interest you.
Money is often thought of as riches, yet riches can also be found in wisdom and talent and goodness to others. One night long ago, God appeared to Solomon and asked him, “Ask what I shall give you”. Solomon could have asked for enormous wealth but he did not – instead, he asked for wisdom and knowledge so that he could govern a country properly. [Think of that wisdom with today’s leaders – but I won’t digress into that pit.] To that God also gave him riches, wealth, and honor.[1]
Think about what is important to you in your everyday life! Are you focused on wealth to the exclusion of wisdom and talent?
If you aspire to leadership – FIRST strive for wisdom, talent, and goodness to those you lead. Solomon had this to say, “The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor man with understanding can see right through him”.[2]
Don’t be a pretentious rich person, flaunting your possessions, stepping on top of those you lead to advance your own agenda.
“The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, the wicked does not understand such concern”. Proverbs 29:7
If you live your life with integrity, you are already rich – let that integrity gain interest for you by nurturing it day by day. Solomon taught that it is better to be poor and maintain integrity than to gain wealth and riches through crooked behavior or expecting others to pay your way.
“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool”. Proverbs 19:1
“…It is better to be a poor man than to be a liar”. Proverbs 19:22
“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich”. Proverbs 28:6
The emphasis here is that the path to riches starts with integrity. Become rich the right way and you’ll enjoy your riches all the more!
“He who walks in integrity walks securely…” Proverbs 10:9
“The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them”. Proverbs 11:3
Becoming wealthy does not come easily – it takes work, energy, and stick-to-itiveness. Be committed to consistency in your work ethic. Don’t expect others to pay your way. Above all, avoid laziness.
“The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy”.[3] Proverbs 10:4
“Laziness brings on a deep sleep, and the idle person will go hungry”. Proverbs 19:15
“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again”. Proverbs 26:15
God created man to be industrious, not to lay around and expect others to pay his way. Note what God said through a man named Paul…
“…if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Better get to work!
Wisdom test: If you had unlimited resources, what would you buy? Clothing? Automobiles? How about a new smart phone or smart TV? Maybe a new home with all the conveniences and luxuries that money can buy. How about some travel? Better use your wisdom in your pursuit of wealth!
“He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich”. Proverbs 21:17
How about friends…rich people seem to have a lot of friends – generally the wrong kind of friends.
“The poor is hated…those who love the rich are many”. Proverbs 14:20
“Wealth adds many friends… ” Proverbs 19:4
Here comes a good bit of advice from a very rich man…
“Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go”. Ecclesiastes 9:10
Speaking of the grave – where will you end up when your last day comes knocking? One thing about riches is that it cannot buy you favor with God. Only Jesus Christ can provide your way into heaven, only His riches count…
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was rich, He became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich”. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Now THAT is true riches. THAT is true love.
Take advantage of the only riches in life that matter, a wise choice!
“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him“. John 3:36
[1] 2 Chronicles 7:12
[2] Proverbs 28:11
[3] NET Version of the Bible