A Scriptural View of Wealth

A SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF WEALTH 1. How we view wealth will impact our entire life. a.
Our view of wealth affects our personal decisions, how we spend time and money, and how we plan for the future (LUK 12:14-21). b. Our view of wealth determines how we judge people and situations (PSA 49:1618; PRO 19:4, 7; JER 44:15-18). c. Our view of wealth impacts our personal relationships (PRO 15:17, 27). d. Our view of wealth reveals our spiritual condition (MAT 6:19-24; 1TI 6:9-10). e. The following quotes are sadly true and show how most modern Americans view wealth. i. Its not that I want to be a multi-millionaire, although like everyone else, I do. Ill settle for being comfortable very comfortable. Id like to own a nice home and a vacation property, help my children get an education, and retire in relative affluence at a reasonable age. And I want to accomplish all of this without substantially sacrificing my present standard of living. I think these goals are shared by most Americans. David Chilton, The Wealthy Barber, p. 11. ii. We all share pretty much the same goals an annual vacation, a nice car, a comfortable home, early retirement, the ability to give our children what they need and wantand baseball season tickets. These are the average Americans goals. Ibid., p. 28. iii. The average Americans goals are outright heathen (MAT 6:31-32). 2. We begin by defining terms relevant to this study. a. Wealth 1. The condition of being happy and prosperous; well-being. 2. Spiritual well-being. 3. Prosperity consisting in the abundance of possessions; worldly goods, valuable possessions, esp. in great abundance: riches, affluence. i. Prosperous Having continued success or good fortune; consistently successful; flourishing, thriving. 1. Success 1. That which happens in the sequel; the termination (favourable or otherwise) of affairs; the issue, upshot, result. 3. (good success) The prosperous achievement of something attempted; the attainment of an object according to ones desire; now often with particular reference to the attainment of wealth or position. 2. Good fortune Good luck; success, prosperity. ii. Well-being The state of being or doing well in life; happy, healthy, or prosperous condition; moral or physical welfare (of a person or community).
iii. Riches Abundance of means or of valuable possessions; wealth. iv. The Hebrew word translated wealth in DEU 8:17-18 is chayil and means a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength. b. Treasure Wealth or riches stored or accumulated, esp. in the form of precious metals; gold and silver coin; hence in general, money, riches, wealth. c. Revenue 1. Return to a place. 2. The return, yield, or profit of any lands, property, or other important source of income. 3. The definition of the word wealth in both English and Hebrew shows that wealth involves more than an abundance of material possessions and is thus not limited to them. a. By definition, one may be wealthy who does not have an abundance of worldly possessions. b. Since being prosperous is having continued success and since success is the achievement of something attempted or the attainment of something desired, being prosperous depends upon what ones goals are. c. Hence, by definition a poor man could be wealthy, prosperous, and successful. d. Observe that the Hebrew word for wealth also entails virtue, that is, character. e. This broader view of prosperity is clearly seen in 3JO 1:2. i. Even Exactly, precisely, just. ii. True prosperity accords with the prosperity of the soul. iii. If you prosper and are in health even as your soul prospers, what would your condition be? 4. Scripture clearly presents a view of wealth that extends beyond the abundance of material possessions so that one may be wealthy in the Scriptural sense while being poor in material possessions. 5. Scripture does indeed speak of wealth and riches in terms of material possessions (GEN 13:2; JOS 22:8; 2CH 32:27-29; JER 41:8; EZE 27; ZEC 14:14; MAT 2:11; REV 18:917). a. This kind of wealth is substantial. b. This kind of wealth can be weighed. c. This kind of wealth can be stored. d. This kind of wealth can be used to eat, or to wear, or to make things for other uses. e. This kind of wealth is not fiat as our debt-based currency is. 6. Material riches are fleeting, corruptible, and uncertain (PRO 23:4-5; 27:24; MAT 6:19; 1TI 6:17).
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a. Hence, they are not to be trusted to secure the future (PSA 62:10). b. Trusting in riches characterizes the wicked of this world (PSA 52:7). c. He who trusts his riches shall fall (PRO 11:28). d. Trusting in riches makes it hard to enter the kingdom of God (MAR 10:24). e. Placing ones hope and confidence in material wealth is classed with idolatry (JOB 31:24-28). f. Therefore, do not trust your wealth to secure you in old age! 7. However, Scripture also speaks of wealth and riches as extending beyond material possessions. a. There is God Himself, Who is the believers shield and exceeding great reward (GEN 15:1; PSA 16:5-6; 23:1). b. There are the exceeding riches of Gods grace in His kindness (EPH 2:7). c. There are the unsearchable riches of Christ, which we preach (EPH 3:8). d. There are the riches of the full assurance of understanding (COL 2:2). e. There are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid in Christ (COL 2:3). These riches are durable (PRO 8:18). f. There is the wealth of love or charity (1TH 3:12; 2TH 1:3). i. To abound in: To be plentiful, wealthy, or copious in; to possess to a marked extent, so as to be characterized by; to have wealth of. ii. Charity builds and binds relationships, which are a source of wealth (1CO 8:1; COL 3:14; PHI 4:1; 2CO 8:13-15; ECC 4:7-12). 1. Relationships provide a good return on ones investment. 2. Relationships provide security against times of failure. g. There is being rich in good works (1TI 6:18). h. There is being rich in faith, which the poor of this world can be (JAM 2:5). i. The return on faith is fullness of joy and peace and abounding hope (ROM 15:13). ii. Faith gives us access into Gods all sufficing grace (ROM 5:2; 2CO 8:8). i. There is the fellowship of the gospel and of the church, which money seeking Jews lost (ROM 11:12). j. There are the riches of the reproach of Christ (HEB 11:26). The return Moses would receive on the reproach of Christ was greater than the return on the treasures in Egypt! k. There is the treasure of the fear of the Lord (ISA 33:6). l. There is the great gain of godliness with contentment (1TI 6:6).
m. Our Lord spoke of the true riches in contrast to material wealth (LUK 16:11). n. With such riches as these, one may be poor in this world and yet rich in Gods estimation (REV 2:9). o. Without these true riches, one may be rich in this world and yet be poor in Gods estimation (REV 3:17; LUK 12:21). 8. These immaterial riches are to be valued, desired, and sought above material riches. a. Our Lord teaches that our life does not consist in the abundance of things we possess (LUK 12:15). b. The word of God, truth, and wisdom are to be prized and sought above material possessions (PSA 19:10; PRO 3:14-15; 8:10-11). i. So valuable is truth that we should be willing to spend other things to have it (PRO 23:23). ii. Wisdom yields a better return than gold and silver (PRO 8:19). iii. They will teach you how to gain substance (PRO 8:20-21). More about this later. c. Good character and loving favour are to be chosen over material riches (PRO 22:1). i. Loving relationships are to be valued over money. ii. Good character assures a better investment even if it is small 37:16). (PSA
d. Our Lord taught us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things needful will be added (MAT 6:33). i. Consider the return on this investment! ii. This investment is backed up by the full faith and credit of God Himself Who can certainly deliver as promised (1CH 29:11-12). e. We are to be willing to let go of earthly perishable treasure to gain heavenly imperishable treasure (LUK 12:33-34). f. A little with the fear of God is better than great treasure and trouble with it (PRO 15:16). The fear of God is superior to the great treasure! g. Quietness is to be preferred above abundance of things if in having that abundance our life is full of travail and vexation of spirit (ECC 4:6). i. Travail Bodily or mental labour or toil, especially of a painful or oppressive nature; exertion; trouble; hardship; suffering. ii. Vex To trouble, afflict, or harass (a person, etc.) by aggression, encroachment, or other interference with peace and quiet. h. The wisest man learned that having lots of things does not equal wealth-filled living (ECC 2:1-11).
i. He viewed all that he had acquired as vanity. 1. Vanity That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value or profit. 2. Imagine all of Solomons possessions being worthless and of no value. ii. Solomon sought the good life in abundant possessions and discovered it is not there. iii. The conclusion of Solomons pursuit is that fearing God and keeping His commandments fulfill a mans life (cp. ECC 2:3 w/ ECC 12:13). i. We are straightly warned against aiming to be rich in this world. We are told to flee these things and to pursue spiritual things instead (1TI 6:6-11). 9. Time is a valuable commodity that we need to redeem (EPH 5:15-17). a. Redeem - To buy back (a thing formerly possessed); to make payment for (a thing held or claimed by another). To regain, recover (an immaterial thing). b. We should spend other things to secure time. c. Time is a commodity that once lost cannot be regained. d. We should budget our time just at we should budget our money (PSA 90:12). e. Possible areas where time can be recaptured are: i. Television viewing. ii. Overmuch indulgence of novels, magazines, newsletters, etc. iii. Computer games. iv. Internet usage. 1. Much time can be wasted learning via the Internet. 2. Consider the Internet in the light of 2TI 3:7. 3. More truth can be gained just reading and meditating upon your Bible (PSA 119:98-100; ECC 12:9-13). 4. Focus on the resources God has ordained for your growth rather than trying to drink from every well of information (EPH 4:11-16). v. Childrens activities outside the home. Do they really need all that activity to be happy and well-adjusted children? vi. Things and gadgets that eat up time in use and maintenance. 1. Timesaving devices have a way of becoming time-consuming devices. 2. Take e-mail as an example. It is easier and faster than regular mail. But because it is easier and faster, we get more mail to sift through.
3. Greater means of communication mean more communicating, which requires time. 10. Lets look at a practical application of what we have learned thus far: Consider a family that is burdened with debt. Both parents have to work to pay for all the things they are buying. Their budget and schedule are extremely tight with little elasticity. They are stressed to their limits. Mother is burdened with guilt because she is not staying home with the kids. Relationships are strained. Then they decide to sell the house, pay off their debts with the equity, simplify their standard of living to live on the husbands income, and rent a modest home. a. Many would say they are throwing money down a hole. b. By Gods standards they are buying time, which means they are walking as wise which means they are in the center of the will of God, which is the best and safest place to be. c. How this scenario is judged depends upon ones view of wealth. d. Factoring in a Scriptural view of wealth, relate this scenario to PRO 13:7. 11. Meditation in Gods law is essential to wealth-filled living (JOS 1:8; PSA 1:1-3). a. Recall that wealth is the condition of being prosperous, which is having good success. b. Meditate - To muse over or reflect upon; to consider, study, ponder. i. Muse To be absorbed in thought; to meditate continuously in silence; to ponder. ii. Reflect To turn ones thoughts (back) on, to fix the mind or attention on or upon a subject; to ponder, meditate on. iii. Consider To contemplate mentally, fix the mind upon; to think over, meditate or reflect on, bestow attentive thought upon, give heed to, take note of. iv. Study To apply the mind to the acquisition of learning, whether by means of books, observation, or experiment. To think intently; to meditate (of, on, upon, in); to reflect, try to recollect something or to come to a decision. v. Ponder To weigh (a matter, words, etc.) mentally; to give due weight to and consider carefully; to think over, meditate upon. c. More is needed than merely hearing or reading the word of God. d. Meditation allows us to absorb the word of God into our thought processes so that Scripture directs us through the day and night (PRO 6:20-24; PSA 119:11). e. Lack of meditation is more owing to a lack of love for the law, than to a lack of time (PSA 119:97).
f. Meditation requires quiet, undisturbed time (JOB 37:14; PSA 46:10 w/ DEU 4:39). i. Israel rejected the strength to be found in quietness (ISA 30:15-16). 1. They would choose the fast lane instead. 2. Israel endeavoured to secure itself by relying on Egypt. 3. Are we in the fast lane because we are making the same choice? ii. Many disquiet themselves in the pursuit of more and more things (PSA 39:6). iii. If the Lord is leading us and we are bearing His yoke, we will find quietness (PSA 23:2; MAT 11:29). g. Too much noise, too much pleasure, and too many cares crowd out time needed to meditate (ISA 5:12-13; LUK 8:14; 10:38-42). h. The word of God needs to be in our heart. Otherwise, the accumulation of things will result in our forgetting the Lord, Who saved us (DEU 6:4-12; COL 3:16). i. Understand that the command to give oneself wholly to the study of Scripture is a command to a preacher (1TI 4:13-15; 1CO 9:14). i. If not called to preach, you must pursue another occupation (2TH 3:1012). ii. But maintain a standard of living that does not demand that you work to the exclusion of building up spiritual wealth through meditation (JOH 6:27). j. Meditation taps into the wealth of understanding contained in the testimonies (PSA 119:99). k. Understanding Gods words by Gods means of understanding them enriches the life to the point of celebration (NEH 8:7-12). l. Now we are to understand all the rest of Scripture through the revelation given to Paul, who is the pattern of believers and the apostle to the Gentiles (1TI 1:16; ROM 11:13; EPH 3:1-10; 1TI 4:6; 2TI 1:13; 2:2). i. Get a good grasp of Pauls teaching before trying to unravel the prophets and the book of Revelation. ii. If someone wrests Pauls teaching, he will wrest the other scriptures as well (2PE 3:15-18). 1. It is a mark of unlearned and unstable souls that they occupy themselves with those parts of the Scripture that are hard to be understood. 2. In wresting Scripture, we fall from our own stedfastness rather than growing in grace and knowledge.
m. Accumulating information from the Bible without using Gods method of understanding will not enrich you. i. It is like a man who makes a lot of money but is still broke because he does not know how to handle money (PRO 13:23).
ii. Consider the scribes and lawyers of Christs day who devoted themselves to the study and interpretation of the law and yet were blind guides that rejected the Messiah (MAT 23:13, 16; LUK 11:52; ACT 13:27). n. We must beware that we be not cheated out of this rich investment of wisdom and understanding (COL 2:1-4, 18; 2JO 1:8). 12. Consider how television can rob us of true wealth. a. Television isolates us from one another. We receive from the set rather than giving and receiving from one another. b. Television is a powerful medium for mind control. i. Just listen to people in the world and note how much their perceptions of and reactions to people and situations are programmed by television. ii. News reports are generally edited and programmed in such a way as to mold your opinion of the events. iii. Most of what is pumped to us by means of television is ungodly and deceptive. iv. To what extent does television help or hinder our obedience to PHI 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. v. Is watching a lot of television compatible with meditating in Gods law day and night? vi. Connect the following warnings to television. 1. PRO 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. 2. 1CO 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. c. Advertisements on television and elsewhere constantly emphasize the possession and enjoyment of things, which can distort a true view of wealth. i. Advertising exists only to purvey what people dont need. Whatever people do need they will find without advertising if it is available. This is so obvious and simple that it continues to stagger my mind that the ad industry has succeeded in muddying the point. Jerry Mander, Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, p. 126.
ii. Remembering that the mere possession of things is vanity, consider the prayer of PSA 119:37 with respect to television: Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. d. Television will fill your mind with the very things that our Lord teaches us will choke the word of God (MAR 4:19). e. In order to keep our attention, television manipulates technical events. i. Technical events are such things as zooming the camera back and forth on an image; taking the camera before, behind, over, under, and around the image; changing the size of the image; instant shifting from one scene to another scene in another place or time; superimposing words over an image; putting music in the background at a tempo and level to achieve a desired effect. ii. These technical events do not represent life as we actually live it. iii. Dr. Matthew Dupont saysthese technical effects help cause hyperactivity among children. They must surely also contribute to the decline of attention span and the inability to absorb information that comes muddling along at natural, real-life speed. Ibid., p. 304. iv. What excitement does a lecture offer to one addicted to fast action on television or in computer games? v. Hence, people without television can become more easily bored. f. In order to take in the information it offers, television does not require the power of concentration that reading or listening to a speaker requires. i. Like anything else, the ability to concentrate increases with exercise. ii. Instead of having to focus our attention, television reaches out and grabs it with its manipulation of technical events. iii. Inability to concentrate limits ones capacity to acquire truth. iv. God calls us to hearken diligently unto Him (ISA 55:2). 1. Hearken To apply the ears to hear; to listen, give ear. 2. Diligently With constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent application and endeavour. v. The process of gaining knowledge described in PRO 2:1-9 does not usually take place in watching television. g. If we did not have television, would we have more time? Would we be more creative? Would we get more sleep? And would more time, more creativity, and more sleep enrich or impoverish our lives? h. The extent to which television interferes with personal relationships, corrupts our thinking and character, and competes with the absorption of truth, to that extent it robs us of true wealth.
i. Given the power and danger of television, we must practice restraint and discernment in using it (PHI 4:5; HEB 5:13-14). i. Too much television will hinder spiritual growth. ii. The more spiritually immature one is, the less able he is to discern television. iii. The less able one is to discern television, the more prone he is to be influenced by it. 13. If we love God and Jesus Christ, we will not be fascinated by material things. a. The love of God and the love of riches cannot coexist (MAT 6:24; 1JO 2:15-16). b. Our Lord Jesus was so taken up with loving and serving His God, that Satan could not allure Him with the promise of all the kingdoms of this world (MAT 4:8-10). c. Paul is an excellent example of one who was so enamoured with Jesus Christ that everything else was but dung in comparison to Him (PHI 3:7-8). i. Here we see Pauls account ledger in which he posts his gains and losses. 1. This reveals Pauls view of wealth. 2. What one records as gain or loss depends upon ones view of wealth. ii. Not only did he count his former religious gains as loss for Christ, but he also counted all things loss for Him. 1. Nothing this world can offer, not even life itself, rates in comparison with the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. This mind-set foils the devil for how does one tempt another with the gain of something that he considers but loss? iii. He shifted from the past tense, counted, to the present tense, count. 1. Paul not only counted things loss for Christ in the past, but he continued to do so. 2. "We are never more in peril than when we are trusting to a past experience....It is only as we can express the decision of the past in terms of the present, the 'I counted,' as 'I count,' that there is any real value in the past" (G. Campbell Morgan). 3. As a true disciple of Christ, he denied himself and took up his cross daily (LUK 9:23). iv. For Paul, knowing Christ so far excelled everything else that he considered all else but loss in comparison. 1. The knowledge of Christ excels the wisdom, the might, and the riches of this world (JER 9:23-24).
2. If it was a choice between something else or an opportunity to learn about the Lord Jesus Christ, which would have chosen? v. Paul not only counted all things but loss, but he actually suffered the loss of all things for Christ. 1. Paul's entire reputation among the Jews went down the tubes and he became one of their most wanted criminals. 2. Rome imprisoned him and finally condemned him to death (2TI 4:6). 3. Paul was indeed Christ's disciple in that he chose Christ above everyone and everything, even above his own life also (LUK 14:26-27, 33). vi. Paul suffered the loss of all things that he might win Christ. 1. Note the contrast of losing and winning. 2. There are all things to be lost and there is Christ to be won. 3. This winning is not gaining Christ as our Saviour, but rather it is gaining His knowledge, power, and fellowship (PHI 3:10). vii. We must esteem our losses but dung if we would win Christ. If we still value what we gave up, this will obstruct our growth in the knowledge of Christ, our power, and our fellowship with Him. d. The recognition of what we have if we have the Lord counteracts covetousness and brings contentment (HEB 13:5). i. Covetousness - Strong or inordinate desire. ii. Content - Having one's desires bounded by what one has (though that may be less than one could have wished); not disturbed by the desire of anything more, or of anything different. iii. The commandment thou shalt not covet forbids desiring what God has not given us (DEU 5:21). iv. Covetousness, which is the desire for what one does not have and may not have, stands in contrast to contentment. v. Covetousness is a gross error and a hateful sin. 1. The covetous man has the wrong idea of what it is to have a life (LUK 12:15). 2. Covetousness is idolatry (EPH 5:5). 3. Covetousness will destroy you and cause you to err from the faith (1TI 6:8-11). vi. If you have the Lord, you have everything truly needful and desirable (PSA 23:1). The recognition will affect your desires (PSA 73:25-26).
e. The less fascinated we are with material things, the less prone we will be to spend our lives, our energies, and our money in the accumulation of them. 14. With a Scriptural perspective on wealth, we are now ready to examine what the Scripture teaches about the accumulation of material riches. a. Material things are not evil. i. They are a gift God richly gives us to enjoy (1TI 6:17). ii. The problem arises when we view them as a source of trust or the ultimate good of life. b. Wisdom, which is set forth in Scripture, leads us in such a way that we can both gain and retain material wealth (PRO 8:20-21). Consider what wisdom teaches us about gaining and retaining material wealth. 1. First, consider what wisdom has to say about how not to get material wealth. a. Do not be hasty to get rich as this will lead to moral downfall and poverty (PRO 28:20, 22). i. PRO 20:21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. ii. This raises a red flag on all ventures that promise great gains with little effort! iii. This reveals the folly of trying to strike it big by gambling. 1. The entire appeal of gambling is getting riches hastily. 2. It is foolish to invest in something in which the overwhelming odds are against you. It is a fact that the only consistent winner in the gambling industry is the house. The few winners only serve as advertisement to draw in more suckers. 3. People who do occasionally win big money usually lose it quickly. 4. If you lack the self-discipline to work, save, and accumulate gradually, you will lack the self-discipline to retain what you win. 5. PRO 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. a. Vanity That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value or profit. b. Gain by labour is placed over against gain by vanity. c. How hard is a gambler really working? d. Easy come. Easy go!
e. This verse also has something to say to bankers who get rich by creating money out of nothing when they issue loans. 6. That prostitution and liquor have been long time bedfellows of gambling should tell you something about gambling (JOE 3:3). iv. Be patient with the process of wealth building (JAM 5:7). b. Do not defraud others to enrich yourself (MAR 10:19; 1TH 4:6). i. Defraud To deprive (a person) by fraud of that which is his by right, either by fraudulently taking or by dishonestly withholding it from him. ii. Fraud The quality or disposition of being deceitful. iii. Examples of defrauding are: 1. Overcharging for goods and services (ISA 56:11). This is sometimes done when people are desperate for a commodity or service. 2. Using false measurements to get more for less (AMO 8:5). 3. Not paying employees a fair wage or not paying them at all (COL 4:1; JER 22:13; JAM 5:4). 4. Receiving pay for work not performed. 5. Appropriating company property and time for personal use (TIT 2:9-10, purloin- To make away with, misappropriate, or take dishonestly; to steal, esp. under circumstances which involve a breach of trust). 6. Not telling a cashier when you are undercharged or given too much change. 7. Not paying debts (PSA 37:21). 8. Not paying due tribute, custom, fear, or honour (ROM 13:7). 9. Not honouring God with our substance (MAL 3:8-9). iv. The rule of MAT 7:12 covers all of the above cases. v. Those who resort to deceit to get gain dig their own grave (PRO 21:6). vi. Such a means of gaining wealth only brings self-destruction (PRO 21:7). c. Do not practice extortion to get gain for yourself (1CO 6:10). i. Extort To obtain from a reluctant person by violence, torture, intimidation, or abuse of legal or official authority, or (in weaker sense) by importunity, overwhelming arguments, or any powerful influence. ii. Examples of extortion would be:
1. Lawsuits as in the case of the woman who sued McDonalds because she spilled hot coffee on herself. 2. The Pharisees, who used their religious position and influence to squeeze money out of the people (MAT 23:14, 25). 3. People who expect others to give them something for nothing because they are family. 4. A pastor who expects his brethren to do work for him at no charge just because he is the man of God. 2. The fear of the Lord is an essential ingredient in gaining and retaining wealth (PSA 112:1-3; PRO 15:6; 22:4; 28:10). a. When you are out there trying to make a buck, always keep your sights on the Chief Paymaster (EPH 6:5-9; PSA 75:6-7). b. The fear of the Lord will preserve the true and durable riches when material riches fail. c. Gain at the expense of right is not profitable in the long run (JER 17:11). i. PRO 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. ii. PRO 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. iii. 1TI 4:8 godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. d. There are people in this world who have attained wealth and power without the fear of God (PSA 73). i. These are the servants of Satan, who have fallen for Satans promise of that which will promote their own self-interest. 1. Satan tempted our first parents to self-assertiveness and so will he tempt us (GEN 3:1-6; 2CO 11:3). 2. Self-interest was at the heart of the temptations Satan presented to Christ in the wilderness (LUK 4:1-13). a. Satan offered Christ instant gratification of need, the miraculous, the world, power, glory, and the spectacular. b. Christ countered these temptations with the word of God, worship, service, and trust. ii. Therefore, do not be allured into thinking that if you do as these wicked rich do that you will achieve what they achieve. 1. This parallels the faulty reasoning of king Ahaz (2CH 28:22-23).
2. God is permitting these wicked rich to enjoy Satans promise for a while only to destroy them in the end (PRO 1:32; LUK 6:24; ROM 11:8-10). 3. God turns them over to delusion and lets them think all is well with them, when it is not (PSA 49:16-20; 2TH 2:10-12). iii. Do not adopt these wicked rich as your models! Consider their end. iv. God is working something very different and far better in your life. 1. Rather than envying these wicked rich of this world, be thankful that God does not deal with you as He does with them. 2. God is working to make you richest in the ways that count most. e. PRO 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. i. Do not despair if you fear God and have little. According to this verse you have a better treasure. ii. It is marvelous what our Lord can do with a little (MAT 14:15-21). 3. Two things are necessary to accumulate material wealth: (1) there must be the wealth to acquire and (2) there must be the ability to acquire and retain that wealth. a. God gives both wealth and the ability to get it. i. Israels experience profoundly taught this fact (DEU 8:1-20). 1. God gave Israel the land of Canaan with all its wealth (v. 10) and God gave Israel the power (ability) to get that wealth (v. 18). 2. Before God brought Israel into their wealthy country, He first suffered them to do without that they might realize that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live (v. 3). a. God had proven to Israel that he could take care of them without lands and storehouses. b. With this experience Israel should have known not to put their trust in the accumulation of material goods, but in the Lord. c. Whether we have just enough for today or enough for the rest of our lives, it all comes from God. 3. Israels experience taught that God both withholds and gives wealth. a. Therefore, God is always to be remembered and served. b. Never forget the Source of wealth!
ii. Riches and strength (ability) come from God (1CH 29:12). Hence, it is the Lord that maketh rich (1SA 2:7). b. Inherent in the ability to get wealth is not only the physical strength to work, but the knowledge of what to do, which is skill by definition (EXO 35:30-35; 2CH 2:13-14). c. Since your ability or your skills are a major factor in your acquisition of and retention of wealth, the development of your ability will tend toward the increase of your wealth. i. Hence, invest in your skills! ii. If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin iii. PRO 24:3-4 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 4. Material wealth is gained through work (PRO 13:11; 14:23; 28:19; 1TH 4:11-12). a. Your job, in which you put your ability to use, is one of your best investments yielding the greatest return. As a rule your job earns you the most money. b. Diligent work coupled together with the blessing of the Lord makes one rich (PRO 10:4, 22). i. Diligent - Of persons: Constant in application, persevering in endeavour, industrious; not idle, not negligent, not lazy. ii. Our ability must be constantly applied. They who give up too soon because they do not get rich fast enough end up in want. c. Whatever your job is, be the best you can be at it considering that in all labour there is profit (ROM 12:11; COL 3:23; PRO 14:23; 17:2). Consider the example of Joseph (GEN 39:1-5, 20-23; 41:39-40). d. Consider the following scenario: Here is a man who is paid every two weeks. He has trained himself to live on 90% of his income from his job. He takes 10% of the cash he earns and stashes it in a safe place. This cash is not put into stocks. Neither is it put into an interest bearing account. It is simply stashed away for safekeeping. Although this fund is earning no gains in the stock market neither is it suffering losses there and although it is earning no interest, yet it is steadily increasing every two weeks. If this man earns $1000.00 every two weeks, his fund is increasing $100.00 every two weeks. How many other investments yield steady returns that good? Of course, as that man gets raises, the fund will increase proportionately. e. Jim Ruma pointed out to me three advantages to the investment of your job.
i. There is the advantage of knowledge. You know a lot about your job. You know what you are investing in. ii. There is the advantage of closeness. You are near your investment to monitor it yourself. iii. There is the advantage of control. 1. You can work more and earn more if you need to. 2. With a marketable skill, you can move to another job to improve your working environment and/or the return on your investment. f. Do not limit yourself to investing only in your job. Discover and develop other talents that you might have. i. This opens up other possible sources for income. ii. Should one source of income dry up, it makes sense to have other possibilities. iii. Paul, our pattern, could preach and make tents (TIT 3:14). 5. Wealth is gained though giving according to Gods word. a. Christians are to give for the support of the ministry of the word of God (GAL 6:6; 1TI 5:17-18). b. Christians are to give for the needs of the poor, especially the poor saints (LUK 12:33; GAL 6:10; ACT 11:27-30; ROM 15:26-27; 1CO 16:1). i. Alms Charitable relief of the poor; charity; originally and especially as a religious duty, or good work. ii. This does not require us to go about looking up hardship cases, but to minister to those that come within our knowledge, ability, and judgment (LUK 10:29-37; 11:41; PSA 112:5). iii. Giving to the poor is to be regulated according to need (DEU 15:7-8; 1JO 3:17; JAM 2:15-16). iv. While priority is to be given to giving to saints in need, this does not exempt giving to others we may encounter in need, even to our enemies in need (LUK 6:31-35; ROM 12:20). c. Giving of our substance is a sacrifice to God that honours Him (HEB 13:15-16; PHI 4:18; PRO 3:9-10). d. Giving is so important that it should be a main objective in the earning of a livelihood (EPH 4:28).
e. Giving to the poor is not designed to exempt them from working for income if they are able (2TH 3:10), whereas giving to a minister is designed to exempt him from having to work another job (1CO 9:6-14). f. 1CO 16:1-3 sets forth the apostolic order to the churches for giving.
i. We are each to lay in store by us every first day of the week. ii. The amount we lay aside is to be according to our prosperity (DEU 16:1617). This results in proportionate giving. iii. The intent of this law is that funds will be available for needs. g. This is a no-risk investment in heaven backed up by the full faith and credit of God Himself and one that will yield a generous return (PRO 3:9-10; 19:17; MAL 3:10-12; LUK 6:38; 12:33; 2CO 9:6-11). h. Failure to make this investment will result in loss of other investments (HAG 1:311). 6. Material wealth that we save is material wealth that we retain. a. When we speak of saving wealth we are speaking of storing it rather than spending it. b. Store sb. That with which a household, camp, etc., is stored (furnished, supplied, stocked); food, clothing, and other necessaries, collected for future use. c. Working and storing are the normal means whereby men provide for themselves (LUK 12:24). d. PRO 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. i. Recall that treasure is wealth or riches stored or accumulated, esp. in the form of precious metals. ii. Hence, a wise man has wealth that is stored, i.e. saved. iii. It is the fool that spends it all. iv. To save money you must spend less! e. Mark emphatically that the wealth is stored for future use. i. Stored wealth enables us to be prepared for times in the future when things break down and must be repaired or replaced; or when we break down and cannot work; or when our work becomes less productive, as happens to a farmer in a drought or to a factory worker in a recession. 1. It is a dying world. Things will break down and have to be repaired or replaced (PSA 102:25-26). 2. Scripture teaches that we will get old and break down. It calls that time the evil days (ECC 12:1-5). 3. We live in a cyclical world. There will be times of loss (ECC 3:6). 4. Prudent people look into the future, behold the approaching evil, and take precautions against it (PRO 22:3). ii. Stored wealth enables us to have to give to others that may be in need in the future (2CO 8:13-15; 1TI 6:17-18).
iii. Stored wealth provides an inheritance that we can leave to our children in the future (PRO 13:22; 2CO 12:14). f. Foreseeing the approaching famine in Egypt, Joseph advised the Egyptians to lay up food during the plentiful years in store against the famine (GEN 41:34-36). i. He advised that 1/5 of all the increase be stored. ii. We would be in good shape for lean times if we lived on 4/5 of our increase and laid up 1/5 for a time to come. g. If we are going to provide for our own, we need to have a view to the future and plan to make provision for it since that is what it means to provide! i. Provide - To foresee. To exercise foresight in taking due measures in view of a possible event; to make provision or adequate preparation. ii. This calls for planning. When we fail to plan, we plan to fail. iii. Even ants have enough wisdom to do this (PRO 30:24-26; 6:6-8). iv. If we fail to provide for our own we are worse than infidels and have denied the faith (1TI 5:8). 1. This gives the lie to those who fail to provide and claim that they are trusting God to take care of them. 2. This is not living by faith. h. Therefore, saving is a vital part of meeting our expenses. i. In order to save wealth we must live below our income. i. This requires you to evaluate income and outlay, how much you earn and how much you spend. 1. PRO 24:4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. a. Begin by knowing yourself and your situation. b. You cannot accumulate financial wealth if you do not know where you are financially. c. How can you get where you want to go if you do not know where you are? 2. To know your state of affairs will require effort (PRO 27:23). 3. An evaluation of your expenses will reveal what you can eliminate in order to save. ii. Do not raise your standard of living with every pay increase, especially if you have been living on the edge. iii. If you know your financial situation, you will know whether you can afford something or not.
1. Our Lord taught us the wisdom of counting the cost of a given venture before undertaking it (LUK 14:28-30). 2. Don't even think about building or buying a house if you don't have an income to sustain it (PRO 24:27). j. Here are tips for cutting spending and thus saving money. i. Remember LUK12:15: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. When you are not covetous, you will spend less! ii. Adopt as a rule that if you cant afford to pay for it now, you will do without it. iii. Shop less. The more you shop the more you buy. iv. Do not go to the grocery store hungry. v. Limit the amount of money you take when you go shopping. Do not take a credit card along. vi. Train yourself not to buy on impulse. Dont be rushed into buying. Think it over and pray about it first. Impulses have a way of passing. 1. PRO 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. 2. PRO 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. 3. When you do not control your impulses, you are defenseless against all kinds of advertisements and gimmicks. 4. How many advertisements play on impulses of fear, or greed, or sex? vii. Cut out or greatly limit eating out. viii. Do not indulge emulation, which is a work of the flesh (GAL 5:19-21). 1. Emulation - The endeavour to equal or surpass others in any achievement or quality; also, the desire or ambition to equal or excel. 2. In other words, do not try to keep up with the Joneses. ix. Purchase according to your needs, not your vanity. 1. Live modestly and purchase modestly. 2. A more modest house or car costs less in insurance and maintenance. 3. Avoid unnecessary services on your phone or computer.
x. Avoid costly vacations. Brainstorm ways to have cheap entertainment. xi. Do not be too proud to accept or buy used things. xii. Avoid the use of paper products such as paper plates, cups, pampers, etc. xiii. Do not be afraid to negotiate purchases. xiv. Be diligent and maintain what you own (ECC 10:18). For example, leaky faucets use more water, which increases the water bill. xv. Here are tips on clothing. 1. Purchase basic styles of clothing rather than faddish clothing that will soon be out of style. 2. Select a few basic colours and buy outfits that can be combined. It looks like you have more clothing than you do. 3. Do not let children play in dress clothes and shoes. 4. As much as possible buy home-washable fabrics. xvi. Do not be wasteful. 1. Waste and sloth are kinfolk (PRO 18:9). Lazy people waste a lot of money. 2. Our Lord commanded the disciples to gather the remaining fragments of food that He had distributed that nothing be lost (JOH 6:12). 3. As examples, eat leftovers and monitor the use of utilities. xvii. In the battle to conquer runaway spending, seek counsel (PRO 20:18). k. Observe the following spiritual issues that are connected to the above tips on spending: covetousness, emulation, pride, fear, slothfulness. Spiritual problems lurk behind uncontrolled spending! l. Warning! While we are to provide for the future, we must not let it interfere with our faith in God (MAT 6:19-34). i. Although we should gain and store material wealth against a time to come, our Lord here teaches us to not to set our affection upon that wealth or to trust in it (PSA 62:10; 1TI 6:17). ii. Recall that treasure is wealth that is accumulated and wealth is the condition of being prosperous, which is having continued success. 1. Your concept of success will determine your concept of wealth. 2. If a life filled with obedience to God is your concept of success, then you will have treasure when you obey God. 3. Furthermore, since treasure is accumulated wealth, your treasure will be what you most want to hang on to and increase.
4. Oxford English Dictionary states the transferred sense of treasure to be anything valued and preserved as precious. 5. What you esteem as treasure is where your heart will be. For example if your heart is not in your church or in your marriage, it is because these are not treasures to you. They are not what you most want to hang on to and maximize. iii. Neither are we to be so anxious and stressed over providing for the future that we leave off faith and the service of God. 1. Take thought To trouble oneself, grieve, be anxious or distressed. 2. If God sees fit to deny you a store of material wealth, He can still take care of you. a. PSA 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. b. It belonged to God before it was yours. It belonged to Him while it was yours. It belongs to Him when it is no longer yours. While you may lost control over it, He never does! c. Whether you have material wealth or not is a variable. Gods care for you is a constant! 3. Do the best you can, leave it with God, and dont worry about it. 4. Worrying today does not remove tomorrows problems. It only robs today of needed resources to cope with the evil that it contains. iv. Let us, therefore, be ambitious of the wisdom of Solomon, in which he was outdone by none (wisdom to do our duty in our places), rather than the glory of Solomon, in which he was outdone by the lilies. M. Henry
7. In order to retain material wealth, you need to avoid debt incurred through borrowing, most especially debt that involves compound interest. a. Debt - That which is owed or due; anything (as money, goods, or service) which one person is under obligation to pay or render to another. b. Owe - To have to pay. To be under obligation to pay or repay (money or the like); to be indebted in, or to the amount of; to be under obligation to render (obedience, honour, allegiance, etc.). c. ROM 13:8 teaches us to owe no man any thing, but to love one another. Does this absolutely forbid all debt altogether? i. If all debt is absolutely forbidden, then we could never hire anyone or anything because to do so is to incur a debt (JOB 7:2; MAT 20:1-8; ACT 28:30; ROM 4:4).
1. Hire sb. Payment contracted to be made for the temporary use of anything. (In O.E., esp. for money lent; usury, interest). Payment contracted to be made for personal service; wages. 2. Hire v. 1. To engage the services of (a person) for a stipulated reward; to employ for wages. 2. To procure the temporary use of (any thing) for stipulated payment. ii. Scripture allows borrowing, which incurs an obligation to pay back (EXO 22:14-15; 2KI 4:3). iii. Even Paul pledged in writing to pay in the future any debts that Onesimus had incurred to Philemon (PHM 1:18-19). iv. Our Lord became Surety for a debt we owed and came into this world to pay it (HEB 7:22 with MAT 26:28). v. The context of ROM 13:8 is that of paying due tribute, custom, fear, and honour (ROM 13:7). 1. Due That is owing or payable, as an enforceable obligation or debt. 2. This verse is violated when due payments are not made (PSA 37:21; PRO 3:27-28; 1TH 4:6). vi. When due payments are not made, personal freedom and property can be exploited by the lender. 1. The further behind you get on due payments, the more time and effort it takes to recover yourself, which is the loss of personal freedom. 2. Conversely, it is a fact that the less you owe, the less your personal freedom and property are at risk. vii. Since love can never be fully paid, love is a debt we always have. d. While Scripture allows borrowing, it is quite clear that borrowing is inferior to lending and incurs servitude (PRO 22:7; DEU 15:5-6; 28:43-44). e. Consider the laws with respect to debt in Israel under the Old Testament (LEV 25:35-38; DEU 15:7-8; 23:19-20; 24:6, 10-13, 17; 15:1-5). i. Neither usury nor increase could be charged on money or victuals lent to the poor. 1. Victual collect. Whatever is normally required, or may naturally be used, for consumption in order to support life; food or provisions of any kind. 2. This was a loan to the poor of that, which was necessary to sustain life. ii. One could not pledge the tools of his livelihood as collateral for a loan.
iii. The privacy of a persons home could not violated in securing a pledge for a loan. iv. If the pledge was a poor mans raiment, it could only be held during the day. 1. The poor man had to be allowed to sleep in it at night. 2. Taking a pledge of a poor man was permitted, but not required (EXO 22:26-27). 3. A lender was allowed to take a pledge. The poor must not think that they have a right without responsibility to a rich mans wealth. v. A widows raiment could not be taken for a pledge. Special protection was given to women without a husband to provide. vi. All debts incurred against brethren were to be released every seven years. vii. Hence, there were no debts extending beyond seven years. Only shortterm loans were permitted. viii. The reason for these laws was that the children of Israel were Gods servants, whom He brought forth out of Egypt (LEV 25:55). 1. As Israel obeyed Gods laws as His servants, they would experience freedom from poverty, which drives men to borrow, and from servitude (DEU 15:4-6; 28:1, 11-13). 2. Since the borrower is a servant to the lender, God was placing strict limits upon that servitude so as to maximize Israels freedom as His servants. ix. With respect to foreigners, loans were permitted with usury and needed not be released every seven years. 1. The ungodly are already slaves to sin by nature; the true slave cannot be weaned from slavery, and it is foolishness to treat him as a free man. The godly are free men by nature; in times of distress, they need relief to regain their freedom. Rousas John Rushdoony , The Institutes of Biblical Law, p. 479. 2. Recall that spiritual problems, servitude to sin, lurk behind runaway spending. The same is true with respect to a lot of borrowing! f. Consider the expense of borrowing money at compound interest. I am indebted to Steve Bergstrom of Wealthstudy.com for this information. i. If you borrow $100.00 for 10 years at 6% interest compounded annually, here is how you figure how much interest you will pay: D = P (1 + R)n
D stands for the debt. P stands for the principle borrowed. R stands for the rate of interest. The n stands for the number of years the debt is compounded. Therefore, our formula for $100.00 at 6% interest compounded annually is: D = $100.00 (1 + .06)10 Your total debt at the end of the first year would be $106. At the end of two years it would be $112 and so forth until the tenth year at which time the total debt would be $179.00 ii. Now notice the section on your credit card bill that shows how they determine your finance charge. You may notice one box with the Annual Percentage Rate. Then will notice a box with your Daily Periodic Rate. That daily periodic rate is your annual rate divided by 365 (number of days in a year). Your interest is being compounded by that daily rate every day! That is why you have so much trouble paying off the credit card by just paying the minimum balance due. A huge chunk of that payment is just going for the interest. The minimum payment will always be applied to the interest first. 1. Furthermore, if you do not make minimum payments on time, late fees are added to the principal and interest is compounded on those as well. Do not be late with payments. Remember, lazy people waste money. 2. Minimum payments on your credit card are applied first to interest, secondly to late fees, and lastly to principal. iii. Example: A $10,000 credit card balance at 18% with a minimum payment of 2.5% of balance (or $250) adds $14,615.49 in interest AND takes 382 months (almost 32 years!!!!) to pay off. Steve and Maia Bergstrom at Wealthstudy.com. iv. Now this is what you might call oppressive slavery! v. Therefore, do not ever think of a line of credit as an asset. It isnt your money! It belongs to someone else and you are paying dearly to use it. g. America is a land under the load of an astronomical amount of public and private debt. i. The modern American is a person who drives a bank-financed car over a bond-financed highway on credit-card gas to open a charge account at a department store so he can fill his savings-and-loan financed home with installment-purchased furniture. Your Money: Frustration or Freedom? p. 39.
ii. The wealth of modern America is really an illusion since so much of what we have is owed for rather than owned outright. iii. Our very currency is wealth extracting and enslaving by its very nature. 1. Our government borrows money from the Federal Reserve Bank, a private corporation, at interest. This money is then spent into circulation. The principle that is loaned is created, but not the interest on the loan. 2. Hence, there is never enough money in circulation to pay back all the debt. 3. Inevitably, the lenders seize property that is put up as collateral for loans (foreclosures) since there is never enough money to pay all the debt. 4. A debt that can never be satisfied is servitude with no freedom in sight. iv. We are constantly told we are a free people when in reality we are enslaved! 1. This illusion of wealth and freedom is deception at work. 2. Deceive - To ensnare; to take unawares by craft or guile; to overcome, overreach, or get the better of by trickery; to beguile or betray into mischief or sin; to mislead. 3. This hearkens back to the Jews of Christs day, who did not realize that they were in bondage, when they were (JOH 8:33-36). 4. Behind this grand deception is Satan himself (JOH 8:44; REV 12:9). h. The Christian is a servant of Christ and as such is to seek freedom if possible (1CO 7:21-23). i. Burdening financial debt drains financial resources that could be applied to the service of God in Christian giving. ii. Heavy financial debt puts heavy demands on your time to come by the money needed to service the debt. This can also interfere with the service of God. iii. The extra effort needed to service heavy financial debt also drains physical, emotional, and mental energy, which cannot then be applied to Gods service. iv. The time and effort needed to service heavy financial debt also cuts into time needed to build relationships in the family and among brethren. v. We should strive to eliminate cares from our life so that we may be freer to devote ourselves to pleasing God (1CO 7:29-34).
i. Consider the following facts about incurring debt through borrowing. i. When you pay for something with money borrowed at interest, you end up paying far more for the item than its original price. 1. Review the above section on compound interest to get an idea of what you are actually paying for the item bought on credit. 2. Get an amortization schedule for your house payments and realize how much you are actually paying for your house. The interest on your house note is front-ended so that the early payments are applied predominantly to the interest whereas the latter payments are applied predominately to the principal. 3. When you borrow money to be repaid in the future, this is a drain on your future earnings. This is the opposite of storing wealth, which a wise man does. ii. Debt must be serviced. Payments for debt come from somewhere else: savings and investments. Example: Case 1 $1 to live + $1 to save = $2.00. Case 2 $1 to live + $1 to pay debt + $1.00 to save = $3.00. The person in Case 1 can do with $2 what it takes the person in Case 2, $3 to do. Debt costs you money. Jim Ruma, Winning Money Management Battles. iii. If you have to borrow money to meet your true expenses, you are living beyond your means. iv. Money paid on your credit card debt over and above the minimum payment due is yielding a great return. The same is true regarding money applied against the principal on your mortgage. If you pay extra on your house payment, be sure to designate that the extra be applied to the principal! v. Spending money you choose to spend is financial freedom. Spending money you have to spend, i.e. payment of debt, is servitude. j. If you are under a burden of financial debt consider the following counsel. i. Accept the consequences of your foolish ways and do not fret against the Lord because you were foolish (LEV 26:40-42; PRO 19:3). ii. Deal with the spiritual issues that led to your runaway spending and borrowing through confession and repentance (PRO 28:13; MAT 6:12). iii. Brainstorm ways to pay off the debt. If you really want to do something youll find a way; if you dont youll find an excuse. Anon iv. Seek godly counsel (PRO 12:15; 15:22). v. Eliminate unnecessary expenses and apply the difference against the debt. vi. Put credit bills in a priority list of smallest balance remaining first and add more money to those at the top of the list. This allows you to see
results and this encourages you to continue. Jim Ruma, Winning Money Management Battles. vii. If you are in arrears with your creditors, be humble and cooperative with them and strive to work out a payment plan (MAT 18:23-27). viii. Consider selling possessions to pay off debt (2KI 4:1-7). What you lose in things will you make up for in freedom! 8. What about investing material wealth so as to gain more wealth? a. The purpose of this study is to give you principles from the word of God for you to keep in mind in using your own judgment in investing. i. God has endowed mankind with the faculty of judgment, the ability to make decisions. ii. God does not spell out every move we need to make. He gives us information in His word, which we can apply in making decisions. By making decisions according to that information we may know that our decisions are according to His revealed will for our lives. b. It is hoped that this segment will help to explain why certain things in the financial world happen the way they do. c. Invest v. To employ (money) in the purchase of anything from which interest or profit is expected; now, esp. in the purchase of property, stocks, shares, etc., in order to hold these for the sake of the interest, dividends, or profits accruing from them. d. Forms of the word invest do not occur in Scripture. But the concept of using material wealth to gain more material wealth, which can be discerned in the definition of invest, does occur in Scripture. i. JAM 4:13 mentions the process of buying, selling, and getting gain. This is employing wealth to make more wealth, which is investment. ii. Our Lord Himself taught two parables likening the kingdom of heaven to a man giving money to his servants that they might get gain with it (MAT 25:14-30; LUK 19:11-27). 1. The faithful servants took their masters money (talent/pound) and traded with it so as to gain more money. This is investment. 2. The lord told the slothful servant that he should have put his money into the bank that he might get his own with usury. This is also investment by definition. 3. Notice that it was the slothful servant who was told that he should have gained by usury. It takes more work to gain by trading, something a slothful servant would not be prone to do. 4. Note! These are parables used to describe our Lords kingdom, which is a spiritual entity.
a. A parable is a comparison, a similitude; any saying or narration in which something is expressed in terms of something else. b. Our Lords parables always employed comparisons that were true to the actual experiences of human life. c. Hence, our Lord used the experience of actual investing of material wealth to teach a spiritual lesson about His kingdom. d. The overall lesson is to utilize the gifts God gives us in a way that increases them (1PE 4:10-11; 2PE 1:5-8; 3:18). e. Therefore, if one has increased his spiritual gifts through obedience to God, he is a good and faithful servant even if he is as poor as Jobs turkey (see REV 2:9). f. But that our Lord would use the investment of material wealth to make His similitude shows that investing material wealth to realize gain is not inherently wrong. e. Gods word does not forbid other investments of material wealth provided that: i. You are first giving to God His due honour. ii. You are rendering to all others their dues. iii. You do not trust in your investments to secure you. iv. Your investment does not involve you in disobedience to God. 1. Bear in mind that we cannot go out of the world (1CO 5:9-10). a. Therefore, to some extent we are all involved in this world system that is riddled with evil. b. We are allowed to use this world, but we are not allowed to abuse (misuse) it (1CO 7:31). c. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego held government jobs in which they helped managed the affairs of the wicked government of Babylon, which increased its wealth by subjugating and pillaging others (DAN 2:48-49). d. It is one thing to work in a system in which one is forced to live, and another to design the system itself. 2. It is a matter of the degree of involvement in this world and whether that involvement involves you in direct disobedience to God. 3. For example, that you have an account in a bank that is an integral part of the fraudulent Federal Reserve System does not involve you in direct disobedience to God.
a. To some extent we all use that system and to the extent we use it we enable it. b. Even if we only deal in cash, we are dealing in Federal Reserve notes. c. But to design such an oppressive system and to foist it upon mankind would involve one in direct disobedience to God. 4. Be sure that any investment you make does not violate your conscience (ROM 14:22-23). f. Consider the following before you consider investing your wealth. i. Do not concern yourself with investing your wealth until you are first meeting you true expenses. ii. Consider paying off all debt before concerning yourself with investing. Unpaid debt puts whatever wealth you have accumulated at risk. iii. When you are meeting your true expenses and you have no debt, then you have true disposable income to consider for investment. iv. Weigh the extra stress a given investment may place upon your time and energy. 1. These are resources that are part of your overall wealth that need to be conserved as well. 2. If we become so consumed with investing material wealth that we neglect the spiritual investment of obedience to God, then we become like the rich fool of LUK 12:16-21. 3. Recall that the parables of Christ that likened the kingdom of heaven to investing are teaching spiritual lessons. g. If you want to preserve your investments you need to minimize risk. i. Consider the following definitions with respect to risk. 1. Risk - sb. 1. Hazard, danger; exposure to mischance or peril. 2. The chance or hazard of commercial loss, spec. in the case of insured property or goods. 2. Risk v. To hazard, endanger; to expose to the chance of injury or loss. 3. Hazard sb. 1. A game at dice in which the chances are complicated by a number of arbitrary rules. 2. Chance, venture; a chance. 3. Risk of loss or harm; peril, jeopardy. 4. Hazard v. To put (anything) to the risk of being lost in a game of chance or other doubtful issue; to stake; to expose to hazard or risk.
ii. Risk is the danger of losing your wealth. 1. Considering that risk involves danger by definition, it makes sense to minimize it! 2. Since the Scripture attaches importance to saving wealth, how much do you want to endanger what you have saved? iii. To lose what you have acquired by making a bad investment decision is a sore evil for you and your family (ECC 5:13-14). 1. These are riches kept for the owner. An investment of your wealth in another would be an example of this. 2. The evil travail could be any bad business, of which a bad investment is an example. 3. Note that this sore evil is having nothing left in your hand to pass on to your children. a. Beware of any venture that risks everything you have. b. The only exception to this rule would be the venture of following Christ (LUK 14:33). iv. The only investment of your wealth that is risk free is the investment you make which is insured by the promise of God. This is the investment of your obedience to God. v. All other investments are subject to risk whether it be precious metals, jewels, real estate, a business, stocks, savings accounts at a bank, or people. 1. As noted above, material riches are fleeting, corruptible, and uncertain. 2. People die or, worse, prove unfaithful. 3. Let Jobs experience drive home the fact that all possessions in this world be they material goods, family, or health, can be lost (JOB 1-2). 4. Let Jobs experience also drive home the fact that God can restore anything we lose and more (JOB 42:12-17). vi. Our Lord taught us the wisdom of minimizing risks in a given venture in LUK 14:31-32. 1. A king with an army of 10,000 going against an army of 20,000 obviously has the numerical odds against him. 2. In such a situation, that king needs to consider the ability of his smaller army against those odds.
3. If he judges his smaller army to be unable to take on such numerical odds, the wise course of action is to avoid that risk. h. Recent history should have confirmed to all of us that investing in the stock market is very risky. i. Consider this scenario: People are looking for a place to park their money and get a good return. Savings accounts at banks pay a paltry interest. The stock market offers a chance to get a vastly better return. Add to this that the masses have been subjected to an oppressive and confiscatory income tax. Tax- sheltered and tax-deferred investment plans only make the lure into the markets more attractive. So the masses pour their hard-earned money into the stock market. The media pushes this as the thing to do. As the masses pour their money into the market, the prices of the shares go up. Then the stock market collapses. Some people bought those stocks at pennies a share and sold them when they were high thus making a fat profit. These are the rich in this world. The hire of the labour of the masses that they invested in the market has now been lost. The masses must continue to labour to make it while the rich bask in their profits. Now ask yourself: Is it possible that this was meant to happen? Is it possible that those who profited most from this happening had anything to do with it happening? Is it possible that the market is controlled to enrich the few at the expense of the masses? Is it possible that the masses are led to believe the market is free so that they will have faith in the market and invest in it? Is it possible that there are personalities seen and unseen that have a vested interest in deceiving the masses to increase their own wealth and power? 1. Now read JAM 2:6-7; 5:1-6 and see if you find the answer to those questions. 2. If you believe that man is depraved and that Satan is the god of this world, as the Bible teaches, you know that the answer to these questions is yes! ii. Considering that man is just as depraved as he ever was, it makes sense to believe there are still those around who match the characters described in these passages: 1. ISA 5:8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! 2. HOS 12:7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. 3. MIC 2:1-2 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by
violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. 4. PRO 16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. a. Entice - To stir up, incite, instigate (to a course of action); also to provoke (to anger); to allure, attract by the offer of pleasure or advantage; esp. to allure insidiously or adroitly. b. Insidious - Full of wiles or plots; lying in wait or seeking to entrap or ensnare; proceeding or operating secretly or subtly so as not to excite suspicion; sly, treacherous, deceitful, underhand, artful, cunning, crafty, wily. c. Adroitly - Possessing address or readiness of resource, either bodily or mental; having ready skill, dexterous, active, clever. d. Not all the violent of this earth appear terrifying! 5. It is a comfort to know that the schemes of these wicked people are destined to fail (PRO 22:16). iii. Consider description of the city of Jerusalem in EZE 22. 1. It was a bloody city full of violence and crime. 2. It was religiously defiled. Idols were made and idolatrous ceremonies observed while the things of the true God were profaned. 3. Parental authority was not respected. 4. A propaganda machine to promote bloodshed was at work. 5. Sex perversion was rampant. 6. Bribery was practiced. 7. Greedy gain was made from usury and increase. Profit margins were disproportionate. 8. Extortion was practiced. 9. Dishonest gain was made. Business practices were not fair. 10. Oppression and robbery were widely practiced from the government on down. 11. The less fortunate in the society were subjected to pressure and taken advantage of. 12. These horrible social ills could be traced to a conspiracy among the religious leaders who encouraged the political leaders in pursuing dishonest gain.
13. How safe was an investment in this economy considering it had become dross (scum)? 14. This same description fits our nation. Do you suppose there is a conspiracy at work encouraging these very conditions here? iv. The nation of Tyre was the a mart of nations in its day (ISA 23:3; EZE 27:1-25). 1. The king of Tyre was none other than Lucifer himself (EZE 28:1118). 2. Satan, whose goal is to exercise lordship over everything, is quite involved in the commerce of this world. 3. The allure of riches is one of Satans prime pieces of bait. v. Mystery Babylon is a commercial market (REV 18:9-19). But remember that Mystery Babylon is a whore (REV 17:1-5). 1. Mystery Babylon is much more than a commercial market. She is a system of antichristian religion that embraces governments, cultures, and markets. The market is a subset of the larger entity. 2. Solomon tells us that one of the characteristics of a whore is that her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them (PRO 5:6). This could explain the unpredictability of Wall Street. 3. The danger of being involved with a whore is that strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger (PRO 5:8-10). How many have lost their wealth and labour to Babylon? vi. The warning here is that there are wicked people in this world that are lying in wait to deceive you so that they can increase their wealth and power with the fruits of your labour. 1. Realize that the masses are deceived and are, therefore, suckers for these people to exploit (REV 12:9). 2. Therefore, beware of the hype. Beware of the lure of quick and easy big money. a. Remember the warnings in Scripture about hasting to be rich! b. Remember! They that will be rich fall intoa snare (1TI 6:9). A snare is a trap! c. Keep your focus upon the Lord and His word and not upon the money (PRO 23:4-5). vii. Before you invest in a company, know the ethic and financial practice of the company.
1. This is necessary to minimize risk. 2. Remember PRO 24:4: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. viii. Warning! Considering the high risk of investment in the stock market, do not put money in the stock market that you need to live on. Let it be money you can afford to lose. i. Jim Ruma has submitted the following outline of pointers for taking risk. i. Risk 1. Definition The price you pay for being wrong 2. Not all risk can be or should be avoided. ii. Risks NOT to take 1. Undefined You have no idea how serious or benign the outcome will be if you are wrong (PRO 14:8, 15; 19:2). 2. Cant be controlled 3. No clear benefit if you are right 4. High certainty that the worst will happen iii. Risks that MAY be taken 1. Defined You know exactly the value of the outcome 2. Controlled A risk mitigation plan has been developed (see below) 3. Outcome benefit is worth the risk Example: Should I ask Betty to marry me? She may say no and I will be hurt and highly disappointed. However, if she says yes, I will be exceedingly happy and blessed. The outcome benefit here far exceeds the downside risk. iv. Risk mitigation factors 1. Time Having more time allows for more planning to understand all the factors and to possibly change them. 2. Resources Money, machines, and manpower applied to a problem can lessen risk. 3. Knowledge More information allows you to assess the need to take the risk and how to avoid possible bad consequences. 4. Backup plans Alternate plans of action can be developed to proceed in a different manner or to adjust the original plan should possible bad consequences begin to occur.
j. When investing money understand that gain is not realized until it is actually collected, until you can actually get at it. i. Recall that when Scripture speaks of material wealth, it speaks of the wealth that is substantial; that can be weighed; that can be stored; and that can be used to eat, or to wear, or to make things for other uses. ii. Until an investment in converted into substantial, usable commodity, you have no material wealth as the Scripture describes it. k. If you are meeting your true expenses and have true excess money, you might consider what wealthstudy.com calls strategic pre-pay. i. This concept is based on the fact that our debt-based currency is constantly losing its purchasing power through inflation. 1. That is why prices continually rise. 2. Therefore, your money has its greatest purchasing power right now. A year from now that purchasing power will be less. ii. For example, you might buy up a store of non-perishable items that you use. If you consider the cost of them now against of the cost of them in the future, you are getting a good return on your money. iii. As another example, you might consider prepaying power bills. 1. Then the power company owes you rather than you owing them! You become the head and they become the tail. 2. This will redeem time spent each month paying the power bill. l. Remembering that your work will be one of your best investments yielding the greatest return, an investment in your skills is an excellent investment. m. Also factor in the importance of investing in relationships. As we have already seen, relationships provide a good return on investment and security against times of failure (ECC 4:9-12). Gods Retirement Plan 1. Retire 1. To withdraw to or into a place (or way of life) for the sake of seclusion, shelter, or security. To withdraw to ones usual place of abode, or some customary occupation. To withdraw from company and betake oneself to rest or bed. To withdraw from office or an official position; to give up ones business or occupation in order to enjoy more leisure or freedom (esp. after having made a competence or earned a pension). 2. This section is not intended to rebuke those who have retired from a company. a. One may retire from a company and still engage in profitable work.
b. To retire from a specific job is one thing. To retire from work is another. 3. This section is designed to rebuke those who have retired from work in order to spend most of their time in leisure. 4. The modern concept of retirement is consumptive, selfish, and contrary to the will of God for mankind. 5. The modern concept of retirement can be discerned in Christs parable of the rich fool (LUK 12:16-21). 6. Man was created a working being (GEN 1:28; 2:15, 19). a. Man was to replenish the earth and subdue it, dress and keep the garden, and name every living creature. b. Man's work would occupy his mind and body, and it would involve relationships with persons, animals, and things. c. Man will even work in the new heavens and the new earth (ISA 65:17, 21-23). d. Work is not the curse. The curse is the sorrow and frustration of work (GEN 3:17-19). 7. Work does not have to be for money to be good, profitable work. Consider the work of a housewife or of volunteers. 8. Scripture clearly rebukes slothfulness and idleness. a. Sloth - Physical or mental inactivity; disinclination to action, exertion, or labour; sluggishness, idleness, indolence, laziness. b. Idle Of actions, feelings, thoughts, words, etc.: Void of any real worth, usefulness, or significance; leading to no solid result; hence, ineffective, worthless, of no value, vain frivolous, trifling. Of persons: Not engaged in work, doing nothing, unemployed. c. Sluggard - One who is naturally or habitually slow, lazy, or idle; one who is disinclined for work or exertion of any kind; a slothful or indolent person. d. If we would not be idle, we must not only engage in work, but in work that is useful and productive. e. The man who aims at retiring from work is disinclined for work and is, therefore, a sluggard by definition. f. Slothfulness and idleness are destructive (ECC 10:18). g. Slothfulness is wickedness (MAT 25:26). h. Slothfulness does not lead to wealth-filled living either in terms of material wealth or of immaterial wealth (PRO 6:6-11). i. The leisure-filled life is not a wealth-filled life materially or spiritually (PRO 21:17). j. The abnormality of idleness leads to other abnormalities (EZE 16:49-50).
k. Not working at all is disorderly behaviour (2TH 3:6-12). i. Disorderly Not according to order or rule; in a lawless or unruly way. ii. Work is an apostolic commandment given by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. iii. Work is not only necessary for economic purposes; it is necessary for man's fulfillment as God's servant (ECC 12:13). iv. Not working leads one to become a busybody in other men's affairs. l. Gods welfare system provides support for widows who have worked and continue to serve and not to those who live in pleasure (1TI 5:5-6, 9-10). 9. These points apply as well to women as to men. a. A virtuous woman "looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness" (PRO 31:10, 27). b. Women who learn to be idle have cast off their first faith (1TI 5:11-13). 10. Rest is a satisfying experience to a labouring man (ECC 5:12). a. Idleness causes discontent which causes muscular tension. b. When this tension is not released in productive activity, the muscles do not relax. c. Rather than reinvigorating a man, laziness makes him more tired (PRO 19:15). 11. Consider the following examples of people who were productive in old age: a. Moses took up the leadership of Israel at age 80 and he led them 40 years (EXO 7:7; DEU 34:7). b. Caleb was still strong for war at 85 (JOS 14:10-12). c. The older Levites waited upon the service with their younger brethren though they did not bear the burdens (NUM 8:23-26 w/ NUM 4). d. Anna, a prophetess, was over 90 years old and served God night and day with fastings and prayers (LUK 2:36-38). e. Paul served in the ministry right into old age (PHM 1:9; 2TI 4:11-13). f. Ronald Reagan became president of the United States at the age of 70 and served eight years in that office. g. Winston Churchill became prime minister of England again in 1951 when he was almost 77 years old and served until 1955. 12. Any income that we earn as we grow older will reduce the amount of reliance on savings and thus extend the life of our savings. a. This is making provision for the time when we cannot earn. b. This also maximizes the amount we can pass on to our children.
13. God's program of retirement is stated in REV 14:13: And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14. What about the time when age has taken its toll and one is unable to work as much as before or one is unable to work at all? a. We should work as long as we can for all the reasons given above. b. We should provide for this time by storing material wealth and investing in loving relationships. c. When we are unable to care for ourselves, then it becomes the duty of our children to care for us. i. This is inherent in the commandment of children to honour their father and mother (EXO 20:12; MAT 15:3-6). ii. It pleases God that children requite their parents (1TI 5:4, 8, 16). 1. Requite To repay, make return for, reward (a kindness, service, etc.). 2. The investment you made in caring for your family yields the return of their care of you when you can no longer care for yourself. iii. But let parents remember that they ought to lay up for the children rather than the children for the parents (2CO 12:14). Do not expect your children to care for you exclusively at their expense. d. When there is no family to requite, the church takes over the care of the widows (1TI 5:3, 5-6, 9-10). i. The church that has widows indeed to care for should maintain a fund as a church for that maintenance. 1. This is a continual maintenance. 2. Deacons were ordained to supervise such a ministration (ACT 6:16). ii. These verses are not dealing with temporary assistance until a person can resume supporting himself. iii. Nor are these verses dealing with assistance that may be individually rendered. iv. Provision is only made for those who have invested in the service of God and others. v. No such fund is provided for widowed men. Men are the primary breadwinners and should make provision for themselves and their wives against this time.
e. This may be the time when the abundance of our brethren becomes the supply of our want (2CO 8:13-15). To keep things equal, be sure that when you have abundance, your abundance is a supply of the want of others. 15. With the decline of personal initiative and diligence in work has come increasing dependence on government, which has led to more government control (PRO 6:7; 12:24). 16. Here are a prayer and a promise for old age: a. PSA 71:9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. b. ISA 46:3-4 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. 17. Since it is God Who will carry us in old age, our chief investment should be in His service as this lays a good foundation against the time to come (1TI 6:17-19). Review of the Key Points 1. How we view wealth will impact our entire life. Our view of wealth affects our decisions, how we spend time and money, how we plan for the future, and how we judge people and situations. Our view of wealth impacts our personal relationships. Our view of wealth reveals our spiritual condition. 2. Wealth 1. The condition of being happy and prosperous; well-being. 2. Spiritual wellbeing. 3. Prosperity consisting in the abundance of possessions; worldly goods, valuable possessions, esp. in great abundance: riches, affluence. 3. Scripture clearly presents a view of wealth that extends beyond the abundance of material possessions so that one may be wealthy in the Scriptural sense while being poor in material possessions. a. There is God Himself, Who is the believers shield and exceeding great reward. b. There are the exceeding riches of Gods grace in His kindness. c. There are the unsearchable riches of Christ, which we preach. d. There are the riches of the full assurance of understanding. e. There are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid in Christ. f. There is the wealth of love or charity. Charity builds and binds relationships, which are a source of wealth (ECC 4:7-12). i. Relationships provide a good return on ones investment. ii. Relationships provide security against times of failure. g. There is being rich in good works.
h. There is being rich in faith. i. The return on faith is fullness of joy and peace, and abounding hope. ii. Faith gives us access into Gods all-sufficing grace. i. There is the fellowship of the gospel and of the church. j. There are the riches of the reproach of Christ. k. There is the treasure of the fear of the Lord. l. There is the great gain of godliness with contentment. m. Our Lord spoke of the true riches in contrast to material wealth (LUK 16:11). n. With such riches as these, one may be poor in this world and yet rich in Gods estimation (REV 2:9). o. Without these true riches, one may be rich in this world and yet be poor in Gods estimation (REV 3:17; LUK 12:21). 4. These immaterial riches are to be valued, desired, and sought above material riches. a. LUK 12:15 And he (Jesus) said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. b. ECC 4:6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
c. The wisest man learned that having lots of things does not equal wealth-filled living. d. We are straightly warned against aiming to be rich in this world. We are told to flee these things and to pursue spiritual things instead (1TI 6:6-11). 5. Time is a valuable commodity that we need to redeem. a. Redeem - To buy back (a thing formerly possessed); to make payment for (a thing held or claimed by another). To regain, recover (an immaterial thing). b. We should spend other things to secure time. 6. Meditation in Gods law is essential to wealth-filled living (JOS 1:8). a. Meditate - To muse over or reflect upon; to consider, study, ponder. b. Meditation requires quiet, undisturbed time. c. Many disquiet themselves in the pursuit of more and more things (PSA 39:6). d. Too much noise, too much pleasure, and too many cares crowd out time needed to meditate. e. Meditation taps into the wealth of understanding contained in the testimonies (PSA 119:99). 7. Consider how television can rob us of true wealth.
a. Television isolates us from one another. b. Television is a powerful medium for mind control. c. Advertisements on television constantly emphasize the possession and enjoyment of things, which can distort a true view of wealth. d. Television will fill your mind with the very things that our Lord teaches us will choke the word of God (MAR 4:19). e. In order to take in the information it offers, television does not require the power of concentration that reading or listening to a speaker requires. f. The extent to which television interferes with personal relationships, corrupts our thinking and character, and competes with the absorption of truth, to that extent it robs us of true wealth. 8. If we love God and Jesus Christ, we will not be fascinated by material things. a. Paul is an excellent example of one who was so enamoured with Jesus Christ that everything else was but dung in comparison to Him (PHI 3:7-8). b. The recognition of what we have if we have the Lord counteracts covetousness and brings contentment (HEB 13:5). c. The less fascinated we are with material things, the less prone we will be to spend our lives, our energies, and our money in the accumulation of them. Consider what wisdom teaches us about gaining and retaining material wealth. 1. First, consider what wisdom has to say about how not to get material wealth. a. Do not be hasty to get rich as this will lead to moral downfall and poverty. b. Do not defraud others to enrich yourself. c. Do not practice extortion to get gain for yourself. 2. The fear of the Lord is an essential ingredient in gaining and retaining wealth. a. There are people in this world who have attained wealth and power without the fear of God (PSA 73). i. These are the servants of Satan, who have fallen for Satans promise of that which will promote their own self-interest. ii. Therefore, do not be allured into thinking that if you do as these wicked rich do that you will achieve what they achieve. iii. Do not adopt these wicked rich as your models! Consider their end. iv. God is working something very different and far better in your life.
b. PRO 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. 3. Two things are necessary to accumulate material wealth: (1) there must be the wealth to acquire and (2) there must be the ability to acquire and retain that wealth. a. God gives both wealth and the ability to get it. b. Since your ability or your skills are a major factor in gaining and retaining wealth, the development of your ability will tend toward the increase of your wealth. 4. Material wealth is gained through work. Your job, in which you put your ability to use, is one of your best investments yielding the greatest return. 5. Wealth is gained though giving according to Gods word. a. This is a no-risk investment in heaven backed up by the full faith and credit of God Himself and one that will yield a generous return. b. Failure to make this investment will result in loss of other investments. 6. Material wealth that we save is material wealth that we retain. a. When we speak of saving wealth we are speaking of storing it rather than spending it. b. Store sb. That with which a household, camp, etc., is stored (furnished, supplied, stocked); food, clothing, and other necessaries, collected for future use. c. PRO 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. d. Mark emphatically that the wealth is stored for future use. i. Stored wealth enables us to be prepared for times in the future when things break down and must be repaired or replaced; or when we break down and cannot work; or when our work becomes less productive, as happens to a farmer in a drought or to a factory worker in a recession. ii. Stored wealth enables us to have to give to others that may be in need in the future. iii. Stored wealth provides an inheritance that we can leave to our children in the future. iv. Provide - To foresee. To exercise foresight in taking due measures in view of a possible event; to make provision or adequate preparation (1TI 5:8). e. Therefore, saving is a vital part of meeting our expenses. f. In order to save wealth we must live below our income. g. Spiritual problems lurk behind uncontrolled spending! h. Warning! While we are to provide for the future, we must not let it interfere with our faith in God.
7. In order to retain material wealth, you need to avoid debt incurred through borrowing, most especially debt that involves compound interest. a. While Scripture allows borrowing, it is quite clear that borrowing is inferior to lending and incurs servitude (PRO 22:7). b. The Christian is a servant of Christ and as such is to seek freedom if possible. i. Burdening financial debt drains financial resources that could be applied to the service of God in Christian giving. ii. Heavy financial debt puts heavy demands on your time to come by the money needed to service the debt. This can also interfere with the service of God. iii. The extra effort needed to service heavy financial debt also drains physical, emotional, and mental energy, which cannot then be applied to Gods service. iv. The time and effort needed to service heavy financial debt also cuts into time needed to build relationships in the family and among brethren. 8. What about investing material wealth so as to gain more wealth? a. Gods word does not forbid other investments of material wealth provided that: i. You are first giving to God His due honour. ii. You are rendering to all others their dues. iii. You do not trust in your investments to secure you. iv. Your investment does not involve you in disobedience to God. b. Consider the following before you consider investing your wealth. i. Do not concern yourself with investing your wealth until you are first meeting you true expenses. ii. Consider paying off all debt before concerning yourself with investing. Unpaid debt puts whatever wealth you have accumulated at risk. iii. When you are meeting your true expenses and you have no debt, then you have true disposable income to consider for investment. iv. Weigh the extra stress a given investment may place upon your time and energy. c. If you want to preserve your investments you need to minimize risk. i. To lose what you have acquired by making a bad investment decision is a sore evil for you and your family (ECC 5:13-14). ii. Remember the warning that there are wicked people in this world that are lying in wait to deceive you so that they can increase their wealth and power with the fruits of your labour.
1. Realize that the masses are deceived and are, therefore, suckers for these people to exploit. 2. Therefore, beware of the lure of quick and easy big money. iii. Warning! Considering the high risk of investment in the stock market, do not put money in the stock market that you need to live on. iv. If because of these warning someone should pull out of the stock market and the stock market should then go up, then has that person made a bad decision? It all depends on your view of wealth. If wealth for you is only money, then the decision was bad. If you have a Scriptural view of wealth, then you need to weigh the non-financial wealth that was gained by pulling out of the market, gain such as peace of mind, more time for family, more time for Bible study, more time for fellowship with brethren. v. If you judge the rightness or wrongness of a decision solely on financial grounds, then you have missed the main point of this series! Gods Retirement Plan 1. The modern concept of retirement is consumptive, selfish, and contrary to the will of God for mankind. 2. Man was created a working being. 3. Scripture clearly rebukes slothfulness and idleness. 4. What about the time when age has taken its toll and one is unable to work as much as before or one is unable to work at all? a. We should work as long as we can. b. We should provide for this time by storing material wealth and investing in loving relationships. c. When we are unable to care for ourselves, then it becomes the duty of our children to care for us. d. When there is no family to requite, the church takes over the care of the widows. 5. Since it is God Who will carry us in old age, our chief investment should be in His service as this lays a good foundation against the time to come (1TI 6:17-19). Conclusion PRO 30:7-9 sums up this study quite well:
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 1. Our foremost concern and pursuit should be for truth. a. Truth will make you free (JOH 8:32). b. Truth is the most valuable possession (PRO 23:23). c. Truth will truly enrich your life (PRO 3:13-18). The things that wisdom imparts are the very things that people seek in and with money and possessions. 2. If we are delivered from vanity, we will not make being rich in this world our aim in life (PSA 39:5-6; PRO 23:4-5). 3. We should desire food convenient, that is, suitable for us. The passage defines food convenient as food that is neither too little nor too much. It is just enough. 4. We should pray for God to so order our material concerns that they never interfere with our relationship with God. a. If we have too much, we might deny Him. b. If we have too little, we might take His name in vain. 5. This is a prayer for God to supply what we need. a. The compares with what our Lord taught us to pray, Give us this day our daily bread. b. This prayer agrees with Gods promise as expressed in PHI 4:19. 6. The wealthy man is not the man who has the most. He is the man who needs the least. a. When we recognize how few and simple our needs in the world really are, then we can begin to live truly wealth-filled lives. b. PSA 23:1 says it all: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

A Scriptural View of Wealth

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A SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF WEALTH 1. How we view wealth will impact our entire life. a.

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