Be Wise About Money Series

Introduction:

A. In our sermon series from the book of Proverbs, we have been exploring some very challenging and controversial topics; like: anger, the tongue, sex and alcohol, and today we will continue that pattern as we dive into everyone’s favorite topic…money!

1. We pick up our thoughts and attitudes about money early in life.

2. One day a young boy was with his mother at the grocery store and as they were checking out, the cashier handed the boy a candy bar.

a. The little boy’s mother said what parents often say: “What do you say to the cashier, son?”

b. The little boy replied, “Charge it!” (I think his mom was looking for “thank you”)

3. On another occasion a young girl was with her mother at the ATM and her mother was letting her push the right buttons.

a. When the money was dispensed into the tray, the little girl squealed excitedly, “Look, Mommy, we won!” (We might wish it worked that way!)

B. The Wall Street Journal published an article with an anonymous quote that defined money as “an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven, and as a universal provider of everything except happiness.”

1. The writer might have added that money is also a provoker of covetousness and competition, and it is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.

2. What the Bible said so long ago is still true: The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. (1 Tim. 6:10)

3. Clement of Alexandra, a Christian theologian born in the 2nd century, said: “Wealth is like a viper, which is harmless if a person knows how to take hold of it; but if they do not, it will entwine round his hand and bite him.”

4. On a positive note, Billy Graham said: “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area of his life.”

C. Solomon, the wise writer of Proverbs, would have agreed with all of those quotes!

1. Because Proverbs is a book of practical wisdom, it’s not surprising that it has a lot to say about money and how to handle it.

2. We live in a world where money is a fact of life that we have to learn to deal with and that takes wisdom.

3. Money can be either a great blessing or a great curse, but it depends on whether or not we learn to be wise in our pursuit of it and use of it.

4. As you probably know, there are tons of books, seminars, and courses that focus on how to get rich.

5. Unfortunately, many of the books, seminars and courses are less helpful to those who buy them, and mostly helpful to those who profit from them.

6. But that’s not the case with the wisdom about money offered by Proverbs – for one thing, it is free of charge, and for another, it is God’s wisdom, so we know it works.

7. The wisdom about money offered in Proverbs is scattered throughout the book, but from all these scattered verses, some principles about money emerge and I want to share them today.

I. Principle #1: Put Your Trust in God and Honor God with Whatever You Have

A. Proverbs 11:28 says: Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

1. Proverbs 18:10-12 says: 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. 11 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall. 12 Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

2. These Proverbs clearly delineate the downfall of those who trust in their riches and allow their riches to be a source of pride.

3. No matter how rich or poor we might be, we must be humble and put our trust in the Lord.

4. And we must realize that everything we have comes from God and we wouldn’t have anything, or have the ability to earn anything, without God’s help.

B. Before we do anything else with our money, we should first honor God with it.

1. Proverbs 3:9-10 says: 9 Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; 10 then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

2. The principle of “first fruit” giving became the norm in Israel because of God’s commands (Dt. 26:1-11)

a. Within this principle is the understanding that everything comes from God and therefore everything ultimately belongs to God.

b. By giving to God first, we honor God and show our trust in God’s ability to provide.