Generating and Using Wealth
I have been doing a little bit of study this week on wealth for the youth meeting on Thursday night. As always the wisdom of God is golden and quite striking. There were two ideas that stuck out to me as I studied.
First- a relationship with God, growing in the knowledge of God, and becoming wise is far more valuable than any earthly wealth we could ever gain. Yes this is simple and probably something we already know but the question is whether this is influencing our day to day lives and decisions. Consider the following Proverbs-
Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
Proverbs 16:16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
Proverbs 19:22 22 What is desirable in a man is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
Proverbs 20:15 There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.
Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
Second- God is serious- deadly serious about the importance of giving to and caring for the poor with our wealth. The verses below, along with Ephesians 4:28, make for an indisputable case that, in large part, the purpose of wealth is fulfilled in giving it to those in need. Read the following verses and let them sink in.
Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
Proverbs 21:13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered.
Proverbs 22:9 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.
Proverbs 28:27 He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
When we contemplate wealth we have a great opportunity to remind ourselves of the gospel. Here are just a couple of ways that the gospel relates to the issues addressed above.
The gospel opens our eyes to what is of infinitely superior worth than earthly wealth and gives it to us- a relationship with and communion with the all glorious God of the universe. This puts earthly wealth in perspective. It is a display of God’s goodness towards us and a faint hint of the all-valuable God we worship.
The gospel shows us that we were spiritually bankrupt and destitute and God generously gave His only Son to buy us back from our hopeless position and make us heirs with Christ. This provides a basis for our giving generously of our earthly wealth to those in need.