Wise Money
I. Introduction
A. The Businessman and the Fisherman
1. A businessman noted that a fisherman was back early from the catch.
2. The fisherman said he had caught enough for the day.
3. The businessman said it was too early to quit and many more fish could be caught.
4. The fisherman asked why he should catch more fish.
5. The businessman then explained if he caught more fish he could make more money. Then he could buy more boats and catch more fish and make even more money.
6. The fisherman asked why he would want to do that.
7. The businessman said then he would be free to whatever he wanted and treasured in life.
8. The fisherman said that what I’m doing now.
B. In our live we must balance the physical and spiritual.
1. We are not to neglect our financial responsibilities – 1 Timothy 5:8
2. Yet we are not to have a love for money that ruins our souls - 1 Timothy 6:9-10
3. We are to seek God first and the physical will fall into place – LK. 12:31
4. In 1 Timothy 6:17 Paul exhorts us to trust in certain riches (God’s).
5. The wise man in Proverbs has much to say about our money.
II. Approaching Our Money Wisely
A. Attitude
1. Trust in God and not in riches.
a) Proverbs 11:28 – “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”
b) Seek God’s direction – Proverbs 16:9 – “A man’s heart plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.”
c) Take positive action – Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.”
d) Right Reflection – Proverbs 22:2 – “The rich and the poor have this in common, the Lord is the maker of all of them.”
e) Engage in prayer and supplication – Philippians 4:6-7
2. Learn Contentment
a) Proverbs 27:20 – “Hell and Destruction are never full. So the eyes of a man are never satisfied.”
b) Being balanced – Proverbs 25:16 – “Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, lest you be filled and vomit.”
c) Unselfish giving – Proverbs 3:9 – “Honor the Lord with your possessions…” Acts 20:35
d) Establish priorities – Hebrews 13:5 – “Let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
3. Remember the following are more important than money:
a) Wisdom – Proverbs 3:13-15
b) Family Relationships – Proverbs 15:17 – “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than the fatted calf with hatred.”
c) Intelligence – Proverbs 20:15 – “There is gold and a multitude of rubies but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.”
d) Reputation – Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Loving favor rather than silver or gold.”
e) Integrity – Proverbs 28:6 – “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways though he be rich.”
B. The Abuses of Money
1. The desire to get rich quick.
a) Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.”
b) Proverbs 28:20 – “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”
2. Unreasonable standards of living
a) Proverbs 30:8-9 – “…Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food allotted to me. Lest I be full and deny You. And say, “Who is Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”
b) Proverbs 22:7 – “…the borrower is servant to the lender.” Do not overextend yourself.
c) When borrowing, make sure income and collateral can cover the loan – Proverbs 22:26-27
3. Taking Advantage of Others
a) Proverbs 11:26 – “The people will curse him who withholds the grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.”
b) Proverbs 11:1 – “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord.”
c) We are not to use usury and extortion to increase our wealth – Proverbs 28:8
4. Making money our master.
a) Greed gets the best of us – “He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates a bribe will live.” – Proverbs 15:27
b) Envy makes us foolish – Psalm 73:3 “For I was envious of the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
c) Seeking pleasure – He who loves pleasure will be a poor man – Proverbs 21:17
d) Matthew 6:24 – You cannot serve two masters.
e) Matthew 19:22 – Our possessions must not possess our souls.
5. Looking for Danger Signs
a) Getting too comfortable with both prosperity and poverty.
b) Focusing on worldly success.
c) Dullness toward spiritual matters and dependence on God.
d) When monetarily blessed having an attitude of superiority.
e) Indifference to the needs of others.
C. Application of Money
1. Good Financial Planning
a) Count the costs – Luke 14:28-30
b) Proverbs 14:15 – “…the prudent considers well his steps.”
c) Proverbs 27:23-24 – “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds. For riches are not forever nor does a crown endure to all generations.”
d) Proverbs 24:27 – “Prepare your outside work and make it fit for yourself in the field and afterwards build your house.”
2. Give to the Work of the Lord First
a) Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the Lord with your possessions and the first fruits of all your increase.”
b) Do not be guilty of robbing God – Malachi 3:8
c) Paul exhorted the Corinthians to “show before the churches the proof of your love…” in 2 Corinthians 8:24
d) As we give remember the proportion principle – Galatians 6:7, 2 Corinthians 9:6
3. Get to Work
a) Proverbs has much to say about diligence and laziness.
b) Those that are lazy live in poverty (10:4, 13:4, 19:15), become enslaved to others (12:24), waste God-given resources (18:9), and waste God-given opportunities (10:5).
c) Those that are diligent plan their work (21:5), commit their work to God (16:3), are honest (12:22), are generous (11:24-25, 21:26) and provide for their families (13:22).
d) Do not overwork (23:4-5) – “Do not overwork to be rich…For riches certainly make themselves wings…”
e) Colossians 3:23-24 keeps us in focus about working and earning money.
4. Good and Faithful Servant Do Not Hoard Money.
a) In the parable of the talents the master commended the servants that used their financial blessings.
b) Ecclesiastes 5:13 – “There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun, wealth hoarded to hurt of its owner.” (NIV)
c) The rich have been instructed to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share (Proverbs 11:24-25, 1 Timothy 6:18-19).
d) It is OK to enjoy our financial blessings (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, 3:12-13,5:18-20, 1 Timothy 6:17).
e) It is good to prosper materially because we can use the money for the good of others (Ephesians 4:28).
5. Get Out of Debt
a) Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is the servant to the lender.”
b) If necessary seek counsel – Proverbs 15:22
c) Establish specific goals keeping God at the center of that plan – Proverbs 8:17
d) Make necessary adjustments. This may mean a wife and mother working outside of the home or taking a second job. But do not confuse God’s roles in the home.
6. God’s Plan for Financial Management
a) Borrow Sparingly – “The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.” Psalm 37:21
b) Save Proportionately – “There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it.” Proverbs 21:20
c) Be Patient – Hasty plans lead to poverty – Proverbs 21:5
d) Budget – “Poverty and shame come to those that neglect discipline” Proverbs 13:8
III. Conclusion
A. We all have been blessed financially to some degree.
1. Poverty does not save us nor do riches condemn us.
2. Our stewardship is what is important.
3. Have we used God’s blessings to His glory and to the benefit of our families and others?
4. If have placed ourselves in a difficult financial position, don’t give up be persevere and work it out.
B. Invitation.
