Series: Practical Proverbs
Thesis: The primary message of Proverbs is “Get wisdom or act and look like a fool!”
Sermon 1 & 2: Wise vs. foolish
We learned that wisdom is God given not manmade but foolishness is manmade not God given. We learned that wisdom is given by God to us so that we use knowledge rightly and correctly and if we don’t have God then we don’t have wisdom and therefore we are unable to use knowledge correctly or rightly.
Sermon 3: Wickedness vs. godliness
We need to be able to recognize and avoid wickedness in our lives and instead embrace godliness.
Sermon 4: Laziness vs. diligence
The writers of this ancient wisdom literature inspired by God try to convey the message to us of “Don’t be lazy - be diligent!” In other words “Make a commitment to work hard at being all God wants you to be!”
Sermon 5: Pride vs. humility
Pride is very subtle and crafty and loves to work or weave its way through our lives, our hearts and our minds. It wants to convince us that all the blessings come from our work, our talent our pride tells us that God did not help or intervene – you did it all yourself – it’s your gifting – it’s your insight – it’s your knowledge. God had nothing to do with it --- you did it all! Humility is the opposite of pride because it knows it needs God! Humility knows it cannot do anything in life without Him and His assistance. Humility recognizes what Jesus did for them! It sees the sacrifice and it sees the love!
Sermon 6: Poor versus Rich
Thesis: Proverbs reminds us that wisdom from God looks at what is poor and rich different than the world does. A person with money can be called poor and a poor man with no money can be called rich in the eyes of God.
Scriptures:
Proverbs 10:4, 15:
4Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth… 15The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
Proverbs 13:7-8:
7One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. 8The rich may be able to ransom their lives, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.
Proverbs 14:20:
20The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
Proverbs 18:23:
23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Proverbs 19:1, 4, 7, 22:
1Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse…4Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friends of the poor desert them…7The poor are shunned by all their relatives—how much more do their friends avoid them! Though they pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found…22What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.
Proverbs 21:17:
17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
Proverbs 22:2, 7:
2Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all…7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Proverbs 28:6, 11:
6Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse…11The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
Proverbs 29:7, 13:
7The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern…13The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.
Proverbs 30:7-9:
7“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die:
8Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
9Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Total Proverbs verses which deal with our comparison today - 19.
Introduction:
Once again as we are reading through the book of Proverbs we notice another comparison rising up from the words of this ancient book on wisdom. The comparison is poor versus rich and again we see God redefining what is considered poor in his eyes and what is considered rich in His eyes. Wisdom from God which is godly, diligent, and humble redefines what each of these terms or words represent!
This time of the year we have the famous “A Christmas Carol” story being told and retold in different settings – we see Christmas movies with this theme. The original story compared two lives at Christmas time and helps us get a grasp of our comparison today of poor versus rich:
Let’s look at this video clip of the Christmas Carol in a speedy overview!
Video Clip: A Christmas Carol in 4 minutes! An overview of all the different versions.
The tale begins on a "cold, bleak, biting" Christmas Eve exactly seven years after the death of Ebenezer Scrooge's business partner, Jacob Marley. Scrooge is established within the first scene as "a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!" who has no place in his life for kindness, compassion, charity or benevolence. He hates Christmas, calling it "humbug", refuses his nephew Fred's dinner invitation, and rudely turns away two gentlemen who seek a donation from him to provide a Christmas dinner for the Poor. His only "Christmas gift" is allowing his overworked, underpaid clerk Bob Cratchit Christmas Day off with pay - which he does only to keep with social custom, Scrooge considering Christmas "a poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December!"
Ebenezer Scrooge is revealed as the stingy successful business man – yet he would be considered rich by the world’s standards. But the story shows how poor he really is. Scrooge is visited by the ghost of John Marley on Christmas Eve and he warns Scrooge to change his ways lest he undergo the same miserable afterlife as himself. Throughout the night of Christmas Eve 3 Christmas angels past, present and future come and reveal to him the depth of his poverty. By the time Christmas roles around Scrooge has been born again, renewed and revived. He becomes a man awakened out of his deception and embraces love and joy on Christmas morning. This Spirit of love re-enters into his heart and life and ushers in the Christmas Spirit. Scrooge now a different man –given a second chance overnight goes out and treats his fellow men/women with kindness, generosity and compassion, gaining a reputation as a man who embodies the Spirit of Christmas. The story closes with the narrator confirming the validity, completeness and permanence of Scrooge's spiritual transformation.
The other character in the story is Bob Cratchit and underpaid poor clerk of Scrooge. He is considered poor by the world’s standard. But the story reveals how rich Bob is even though he has very little money and a sick son named Tiny Tim.
The comparison of the two is similar to the story told by Proverbs and the Bible through its description of richer versus poorer.
T.S. – So let’s look at how wisdom from God defines who or what is considered poor and who or what is considered rich in this life.
I. Who is really poor? How does wisdom from God define poor?
a. Once again the book of Proverbs goes practical and reminds us that poor is defined different by God than by the world.
i. We are warned and cautioned through Scripture that the world will redefine the meaning of words. We are told that in the end times good will be called evil and evil will be called good.
1. We see some of this deception of truth happening all around us today.
ii. It is no different when it comes to our comparison between the poor and the rich!
1. The world defines rich different than God does and the same goes for the term poor.
2. You can be wealthy and have a lot of money but still be poor in the eyes of the Lord.
b. Quotes:
i. "There are people so poor that the only thing they have is money."
-- Unknown
ii. "He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has."-- Henry Ward Beecher (1813–1887)
c. The book of Proverbs does practically tell us who is poor and who will be poor according to their lifestyle and actions:
i. A person who has a lazy lifestyle, not willing to work like the ants do, and not diligent in what God called them to do is poor.
ii. A person who has money but no life, no family, no friends, no God is poor!
iii. A person who is enslaved to the lender is poor. Let me rephrase this way- they are in debt so much they are in financial bondage and therefore poor.
iv. A poor person with discernment sees how deluded the rich are without wisdom.
v. A person who loves pleasure, loves wine, loves olive oil will be poor.
vi. A person who is poor is better off than one who is a liar.
vii. A person who is poor has less friends than the rich but are they really friends of the rich or friends of their money?
1. While proverbs is so practical!
d. A moment ago we looked at the Christmas Carol and if you recalled the movie in your mind again- we can see and learn some life lessons from our main character Scrooge:
i. Scrooge lesson One “Stay focused” – no matter what - but not on money because this will make you poor and convince you that you don’t need God!
1. Scrooge lost his family due to his greed, he lost the one he loved because he loved money more than he did her.
2. Scrooge was poor because he had no friends and no compassion for those in need because he loved riches more.
3. Scrooge teaches us that riches do not bring happiness or eternal life in Heaven.
4. Scrooge reveals to us how we need to stay focused on God – His word –His wisdom and His ways and yes even our loved ones.
a. We need to make sure we have the right focus to be truly rich in this world!
ii. Scrooge lesson number two - Learn from your history and experiences, and learn from others history and experiences.
1. Learn the lesson from Scrooge: It took four ghosts to wake Scrooge up from his life of deception and to help him see his poor pitiful condition.
a. Don’t let that happen to you – look now into your past – learn the lessons that God is revealing to you.
b. Don’t allow the pursuit of money to ruin your life and destroy your family.
c. Don’t allow materialism to cause you to rob from God what is rightfully His.
d. Don’t let former mistakes keep you down – seek God’s wisdom and insight into your situation and follow His leading in how to get back up.
e. Learn to repent quick when you make a mistake and change direction – make it right!
f. Learn from the mistakes of others and don’t make the same ones you see them do.
g. Learn from the story of “The Christmas Story.”
h. Help the poor, serve others like Jesus did, lose the consumerism mindset.
2. Learn the lesson from Scrooge about getting second chances – about being born again: Once he realized his condition he changed, he stopped the direction he was going and went the right way instead of the wrong way.
3. He learned to give to the poor, to help out those in need, to pay his employees better. To make a eternal difference with His life. To embrace the Spirit of Christmas!
a. Learn the lesson: Riches will never buy you happiness and contentment in this life.
b. Learn the lesson: It is better to give than to receive!
c. Learn the Lesson: You can never out give the Lord!
d. Learn the lesson from Scrooge that God does give us second chances – we can become born again and get a new life that will bring joy, love and contentment. But that starts with God and asking him to forgive you and then accepting His grace and forgiveness!
iii. Scrooge lesson number three - Be passionate about the good things in life – the way of love – because God is love.
1. Scrooge learned to be passionate about what really mattered in life – not riches – but people – others:
a. Scrooge - As a miser, he let the love of his life leave him, ignored his partner in death, shunned his nephew, and abused his employee Bob Cratchit and his life was filled with misery and poorness even though he was rich.
b. But his passion from receiving a second chance changed what he would be passionate about the rest of his life.
e. What does Jesus say about the poor in Matthew 5:3 Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
i. The Old Testament supplies the background to Jesus' use of the term "poor." From statements like David's, we realize that when God prophesies regarding Jesus—“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).
1. Jesus is not speaking of the economically poor but those who are poor in the spiritual qualities of life or poor in terms of a real relationship with Him.
2. One can be spiritually poor regardless of how much money he or she possesses in their bank account. He can be a person who is brokenhearted though lives in a mansion. He may drive a BMW. He may wear the finest clothes, and he may hob knob in the highest levels of society.
a. The real question to ask is: Is being captive to sin and Satan or addicted to drugs, fashion, materialism or the vain praise of men restricted by economic boundaries?
i. Truth is it is not!
3. Jesus is not speaking to any clearly economic group here. Though riches can motivate pride, the economically poor can possess pride too.
a. Pride is not about economics it is about the heart!
b. Jesus says the poor are blessed, but neither poverty nor wealth can confer spiritual blessings, though poverty may help to lead a person to humility. Both poverty and wealth can entail great spiritual peril.
c. A poverty-stricken person can become very self-centered because of his desperate need, and a wealthy person can become equally self-centered through his riches.
4. Quote: “Jesus' words cover the whole span of mankind's circumstances because anyone without a right and true relationship with God can fall within His description."Poor," as Jesus uses it, truly relates to a spiritual quality. "Poor" does not stand alone; Jesus connects it with "spirit" to clarify His intention.”
a. The above is quoted and adapted from the following source: http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/923/Poor-Spirit.htm#ixzz2ErCe1aUs
5. When we research the Bible we discover David who refers to himself as a "poor" man, in need of what only God could supply.
a. He perceived himself as destitute of the resources to improve his position in life.
b. He saw himself as beyond the help of any man, afflicted, crushed, forsaken, desolate, miserable—as helpless spiritually as the poverty stricken are economically.
i. But here is the major difference of many today, he recognized his need, he cried out to God, and God heard his cry and responded to him.
c. Another Psalm by a thoroughly chastened and humbled David reveals in greater detail his recognition of the spiritual poverty in which he committed his sins.
i. It is important to notice the spiritual things David requested from God —things he knew only God could supply—see Psalm 51:
1. Quote: “Have mercy upon me . . . blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly . . . cleanse me from my sin. . . . Make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop. . . . Make me to hear joy and gladness. . . . Hide Your face from my sins. . . . Create in me a clean heart . . . renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your generous Spirit . . . . Deliver me from blood guiltiness. . . . Open my lips and my mouth shall show forth Your praise” (verses 1-2, 6-12, 14-15).
6. To be poor in spirit is to recognize, understand, to honestly admit our spiritual poverty—indeed our spiritual bankruptcy—before God.
a. Quote: “We are sinners and on the strength of our lives deserve nothing but God's judgment. We have nothing to offer, nothing to plead, nothing with which to buy His favor. But upon profession of our faith coupled with repentance, He allows by His grace the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for the sins of the world, to cover our sins, justifying us and providing us with access into His presence.”
i. http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/923/Poor-Spirit.htm#ixzz2ErekqWgo
T.S. – So we need to make sure that we are not poor in Spirit but embrace the Lord and be on His agenda. We need to make sure that we are not poor people with money. We also need to realize that we can be rich and have no money or resources.
II. Who is really rich? How does wisdom from God define rich?
a. Many in the world and even some in the church believe having wealth, fame, and power is the keys to success and happiness in life. These people are looked at as rich in the eyes of the world. But hear this Christian this is a lie!
i. The Bible, Proverbs and Psalm 20: 7-8 disagree!
1. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
a. A person who is rich is a person who gives sacrificially with their income and resources and in doing so shows who they trust in. They trust in God!
i. Case in point: Widows offering in Luke 21:1-4:
1. 1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3“I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
2. In Jesus eyes this woman was considered rich in the eyes of the Lord! She gave more than the rich people did!
b. Rich according to the Bible has more to do with where the heart is than in regards to ones pocket book or bank account.
i. Here are some thoughts from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on riches:
1. Material riches are regarded by the Scriptures as neither good nor bad in themselves, but only according as they are properly or improperly used.
a. Why?
i. They are transitory (Proverbs 27:24)
ii. They are not to be trusted in (Mk 10:23; Lk. 18:24; 1 Tim 6:17)
iii. They are not to be gloried in (Jer. 9:23)
iv. The heart is not to be set on them (Ps 62:10)
v. But they are made by God (Ps 104:24), and come from God (1 Ch 29:12)
vi. They are the crown of the wise (Prov. 14:24)
vii. Material riches are to be used for the Body of Christ. See, e.g., Rom 9:23; 11:33; Eph 2:7; Phil 4:19; Col 1:27.
ii. We need to be reminded that riches do not bring a rich and prosperous life! Here is a quote from http://www.relishinglife.com/33/does-money-bring-happiness/:
1. Quote: “All of us have at some point in time or another seen extremely rich, wealthy and famous people unhappier than what we would expect them to be, given the amount of material benefits that they have. It is surprising that a large number of wealthy people do not seem to experience the happiness that one would expect goes with so much money and riches. A study conducted by University of Illinois indicated that more than 30 percent of the richest people in America were not as happy as the person who earned a modest income.”
a. Case in point Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, the recent NFL football players who committed suicide.
i. Biblical fact: "God hath chosen the poor to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him." (James 2:5)
ii. Material riches will never bring us eternal happiness and contentment in life!
iii. We need to be rich in our faith and in our trust in the Lord.
c. Larry Wolfe states this about a misunderstanding of riches and the church from http://www.btmi.org/messages/tt/richpoor.html:
i. He points out how the church usually chooses successful business men for church boards and not people with less money:
1. “Now, this does not mean that all poor people are rich in faith, no. Isn't being rich in faith what we need for our spiritual leaders? To be rich in faith is the right qualification for leadership, because that was the main characteristic of the first deacons chosen by the Apostles: "And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost..." Faith, was the main consideration in this listing of characteristics of the deacons chosen to serve God.”
2. He adds, “The rich, in direct contrast, are spoken of by Jesus in this manner: "But woe unto you that are rich! For you have received your consolation." (Luke 6:24); "There was a certain rich man...in hell he lifted up his eyes" (Luke 16:19, 23); "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" (Luke 18:24). This certainly does not mean that all of the rich are condemned, to go to hell, or cannot enter into the kingdom! No, but it does mean that riches can be a disadvantage, a hindrance, a means in which many trust in, rather than trusting in God! This is why the traditional wisdom of choosing the rich because they are rich is unwise, for again the Truth of the Word of God triumphs over traditional wisdom!
a. Having money does not signify faith or a spiritual quality for leadership in the church.
d. In Matthew we have the story of the rich young ruler from Matthew 19: 16-29: Let’s learn a few lessons from this young man and his encounter with Jesus:
i. 16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
18“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,
19honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
1. Lessons from the rich young ruler:
a. Melvin Newland states this about our rich young ruler, “Jesus confronted him with the challenge to sell all and to give to the poor. This man was so shackled to his possessions that nothing less than this surgical excision of them would do. If a man looks on his possessions as being given to him for nothing but his own comfort and convenience, then his possessions are a chain which must be broken. But if a man looks at his possessions as a means to helping others, then his possessions are his crown.”
b. He adds, “Now, I want you to notice a couple of things about the prescription Jesus gave him.
i. Jesus didn’t ask him to give for a particular project. I am convinced that some churches approach stewardship in the wrong way. They ask us to give "so that we can buy new carpets" or "so that we can paint the building" or "so that we can pay the preacher." Those are not the reasons that Jesus gave for giving. He said, "Give before what you possess possesses you." Not, "Give to a project." He was saying, "You are on a dangerous precipice in life and your wealth is about to master you. I prescribe that you give it away before it ruins your life."
ii. Jesus could have asked the rich young ruler to finance the ministry of Jesus and His apostles. And the rich young ruler might have been very happy to do just that. The rich young ruler could have said, "Here Jesus, here’s lots of money. Go out and buy horses and chariots to travel in. Hire Lazarus and Mary and Martha to accompany you and make them into a magnificent musical team. Lord, now you have enough money to travel all the way around the world preaching your great message to thousands of people." But Jesus didn’t ask him for one single cent. How unusual that must have appeared to him. He probably was used to people coming one after another with their hands out saying, "Give me. Give me. Give me." But Jesus said, "Give it away." He didn’t ask for one cent for Himself. Rather, He told him to get rid of it before it possessed & corrupted his life.
2. So how does our rich young ruler react to Jesus offer to sell all and come be one of His disciples?
a. He became sad and walked away!
b. He at this point is spiritually bankrupt a poor man in Jesus eyes – not rich! One who missed a divine opportunity in his life.
Conclusion:
Question: Who is really rich?
Illustration the movie: “It’s a wonderful World”
Give summary of the movie from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life
In Bedford Falls, New York on Christmas Eve, George Bailey is deeply troubled. Prayers for his well-being from friends and family reach Heaven. Clarence Odbody, Angel Second Class, is assigned to save George and earn his wings. Franklin and Joseph, the head angels, review George's life with Clarence. At the age of 12, George saved his younger brother Harry, who had fallen through the ice on a frozen pond, though, because of this heroic action, George lost the hearing in his left ear. Later, working in the local pharmacy, George noticed that the druggist, Mr. Gower, despondent over his son's death, had mistakenly filled a child's prescription with poison, and saved Gower from killing the child and irrevocably ruining his own life.
George repeatedly sacrifices his dream to travel the world. He waits for Harry to graduate from high school and replace him at the Bailey Building and Loan Association, vital to the townspeople. On Harry's graduation night, George, now 21, discusses his future with Mary Hatch, who has long had a crush on him. Later that evening, George's absent-minded Uncle Billy interrupts them to tell George that his father has had a stroke, which proves fatal. A few months later, Mr. Henry F. Potter, a slumlord and majority shareholder in the Building and Loan, tries to persuade the board of directors to stop providing home loans for the working poor. George talks them into rejecting Potter's proposal, but they agree only on condition that George run the Building and Loan. Giving his college money to Harry, George delays his plans with the understanding that Harry will take over upon graduation.
When Harry graduates from college, he unexpectedly brings home a wife, whose father has offered Harry an excellent job. Although Harry vows to decline the offer out of respect for his brother, George cannot deny Harry such a fine opportunity and decides to keep full ownership of the Building and Loan, knowing that this will kill his dream to travel the world.
George calls on Mary, who has recently returned home from college. After several arguments, they reveal their love for each other, and marry soon after. As they depart for their honeymoon, they witness a run on the bank that leaves the Building and Loan in danger of collapse. The couple quells the panic by using the $2,000 earmarked for their honeymoon to satisfy the depositors' immediate needs. Mary enlists the help of George's two best friends, Bert, a policeman, and Ernie, a cab driver, to create a faux tropical setting for a substitute honeymoon. The couple embrace while Bert and Ernie sing in the background.
George and Mary raise four children: Pete, Janie, Tommy, and Zuzu. George starts Bailey Park, an affordable housing project. Potter tries to hire him away, offering him a $20,000 salary, along with the promise of distant business trips, something that George always wanted to do. George, initially tempted, turns Potter down after realizing that Potter intends to close down the Building and Loan and take full control of Bedford Falls.
When World War II erupts, George is unable to enlist, due to his bad ear. Harry becomes a Navy fighter pilot and shoots down 15 enemy planes, two of which were targeting a ship full of troops in the Pacific. For his bravery, Harry is awarded the Medal of Honor.
On Christmas Eve morning, Uncle Billy is on his way to Potter's bank to deposit $8,000 of the Building and Loan's cash funds. He greets Potter (who has the newspaper reporting Harry's heroics) and taunts him by reading the headlines aloud. Potter angrily snatches the paper, but Billy inattentively allows the money to be snatched with it. Potter opens the paper, notices the money and keeps it, knowing that displacement of bank money would result in bankruptcy for the Building and Loan and criminal charges for George. When a frantic search turns up with nothing, and with a bank examiner due that day, George takes his anger and frustrations out on his family.
A desperate George appeals to Potter for a loan. Potter mockingly and coldly turns George down, and then swears out a warrant for his arrest for bank fraud. George, now completely depressed, gets drunk at the bar owned by his friend, Giuseppe Martini, where he silently prays for help. After crashing his car into a tree, George staggers to a bridge, intending to commit suicide, feeling he is "worth more dead than alive" because of a life insurance policy. Before he can leap, Clarence jumps in first and pretends to be drowning. After George rescues him, Clarence reveals himself to be George's guardian angel.
George does not believe him, but when he bitterly wishes he had never been born, Clarence shows George what the town would have been like without him. Bedford Falls, named Pottersville, is home to sleazy nightclubs, pawn shops, and amoral people. Bailey Park is never built. Mr. Gower was sent to prison for poisoning the child and is a despised derelict. Martini does not own the bar, and is nowhere to be found. George's friend Violet Bick is a strip-dancer and gets arrested as a pickpocket. Ernie is helplessly poor with his family having left him. Uncle Billy has been in an insane asylum for years. Harry is dead as a result of George not being there to save him from drowning, and the servicemen he would have saved also died. Ma Bailey is a bitter widow, and Mary a single spinster librarian.
George runs back to the bridge and begs to be allowed to live again. His prayer is answered, and he runs home joyously, where the authorities are waiting to arrest him. Mary, Uncle Billy, and a flood of townspeople arrive with more than enough donations to save George and the Building and Loan. George's friend Sam Wainwright sends him a $25,000 line of credit by telegram. Harry also arrives to support his brother, who is now "The richest man in town". George finds a copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer with the inscription, "Dear George: Remember no man is a failure who has friends. P.S. Thanks for the wings! Love, Clarence." A bell rings, and his daughter Zuzu remembers that it means an angel has earned his wings. George realizes that he truly has a wonderful life.
Play the video clip from it’s a Wonderful Life!
Closing Proverb to read:
Proverbs 30:7-9:
7“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die:
8Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
9Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
