We really enjoy the Book of Proverbs because of the time-tested truths and laws it contains. For more articles from Proverbs, check out the Mic Drop Moments in Proverbs Page.
One of the most critical lessons for Christians to learn is being a proper steward of their money. Money is your ability to influence the world around you, and there is a shortage of good Christian influence. Much of this is due to how we are currently managing our finances.
The Bible has so much to say about how God’s people handle their money. The Book of Proverbs is a great place to start and not only gives us direction on money specifically but also on work, greed, giving, provision, and other money-related topics. There are way too many to cover in this post, but here are a few of my favorites.
Go to the ant, O sluggard,
Prov 6:6-8
Observe her ways and be wise,
Which, having no chief,
Officer or ruler,
Prepares her food in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest.
You couldn’t have grown up in my house without knowing this one. It was a favorite of my Great-Grandfather and all of those under his care knew it like the back of their hands and passed it on as well. If you watch a community of ants, it won’t take long to realize just how busy they all are! They instinctually know to store food for the times when it’ll be scarce. As beings with the very Word of our Creator God to guide us, we should know – even better than the ants do – that we need to save some of our income for the future. You never know when a crisis will strike in this life or when financial changes will occur that are out of your control. It’s wise to be prepared!
“Take my instruction and not silver,
Prov 8:10-11
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
“For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.
The “speaker” in this verse is wisdom itself. It’s just one of many places in Proverbs where wisdom is personified to get the point across. It’s not saying that silver, gold, and jewels are bad, just that, given the choice, wisdom is the better option. You can have all the worldly treasure you want, but without wisdom, it’s empty and fleeting.
He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,
Prov. 11:15
But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.
Proverbs 17:18 says pretty much the same thing. Being a “guarantor” can also be translated as “puts up security” or “puts up surety”. In our culture, this can occur when we co-sign for a loan or even lend money to someone. The verse is basically saying that we shouldn’t stand behind the promise of another person to pay us or another entity back. If the bank won’t loan them money, it’s because they probably don’t have the means to pay it back. We can gift money if help is needed, but guaranteeing that money will be paid back when it’s someone else’s responsibility to do so isn’t our place and may cause us suffering.
He who trusts in his riches will fall,
Prov. 11:28
But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
We should ensure our financial success to the best of our ability, using wisely the resources we’ve been gifted with. It’s when we put our trust in that financial success that we fail spiritually. God wants all our attention and doesn’t want what He’s blessed us with to detract from that. Trust in Him and be humbly grateful for the riches He’s blessed you with.
There is one who pretends to be rich but has nothing;
Prov. 13:7
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.
We have a saying that explains what’s going on here – “Keeping up with the Jones’s”. We become great pretenders, with the ability to borrow money in the form of loans and credit cards, allowing us to appear that we have wealth that we do not. So many Americans live drowning in debt just because they childishly “pretend to be rich”. On the other hand, I know millionaires who live like they have much less, driving used cars, shopping at thrift stores, and using coupons. The outer appearance isn’t always an accurate portrayal of someone’s financial situation.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
Prov. 13:22
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
The bible not only gives advice on how to handle our own money but also how to set our children on the right path financially. Starting out your life in debt from student loans, credit card debt, or auto loans is like starting a game with a negative number of points. “A good man” will not only use wisdom to put himself in good shape financially but his children as well. A parent must always have the best for his or her children on their mind. Planning for their financial success also includes teaching them about finances so that even if they do get an inheritance from their parents, they use and invest it wisely rather than squander it away.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
Prov. 15:16
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
I’m pretty sure we would all say that having God is better than having money, but living that way is easier said than done. People are easily distracted, and comforts often win when they compete with our time with or service to God. We can all also think of at least a few celebrities that have great treasures but also have turmoil in their lives that none of us would want! But what if we could have both? What if we could fear God and have great treasure and not let the treasure distract us from what’s most important? That would surely take a large amount of maturity and discipline to achieve.
House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
Prov. 19:14
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
This is the bible version of “there are some things money can’t buy.” In this case, it’s a good wife. In our country, you aren’t supposed to buy a wife, but even if you could, how could you ensure you get a prudent one? So, wives, the takeaway here is that rich, poor, or in between, our husbands can be either blessed or cursed by us. Be a blessing to him, even if he doesn’t deserve it at times. Click here for more advice for wives from the book of Proverbs.
The rich and the poor have a common bond,
Prov. 22:2
The Lord is the maker of them all.
This is really the crux of all of God’s Word, isn’t it? He doesn’t define us by our financial status or other ways we define each other but looks straight into our hearts. He wants our adoration and our obedience, and He ultimately wants to see us all spend eternity with Him (John 3:17). This should also cause us to check how we examine, define, and judge other people. We should continually work to have the ability to see people (including ourselves) through God’s eyes!
The rich rules over the poor,
Prov. 22:7
And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
I cringe a bit when I read this, and I bet you do too. No one wants to admit that this is the way it is, but the rich really do have more power, especially over those who owe them money. So, the lesson in this one is twofold – not to spend money we don’t have lest we become slaves and to handle our money responsibly so that we’re not poor and powerless.
Wait, slaves? In our culture? Absolutely! If you’re not personally carrying around massive debt, I’m sure you know someone who is. And I bet they aren’t living the life of a free person. Living in fear of repossession, being hounded by collections companies, or being sued by those to whom you owe money causes mental, emotional, and marital anguish. We must use our God-given resources wisely because we’ve been given the Gospel with a directive to go and make disciples, and that will be hindered if we’re struggling ourselves.
He who gives to the poor will never want,
Prov. 28:27
But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
When we’re blessed with more than enough, it should be natural for us to want to then bless others. I know it’s sometimes difficult to part with money we know we could use to better our own lives, but there are numerous places in the bible that tell us to responsibly and sacrificially give out of what we’ve been given.
Many people want to give but cannot due to their own poor financial health. If this is you, I understand the helpless feeling you get when you read about giving in the bible. However, just the fact that the bible mentions giving so much should prompt us to strive to become healthy enough financially to be able to fulfill what God wants from us. That said, I know there are many circumstances that put people in difficult financial situations. Please make sure you’re in regular communication with God about His wishes for your life and money, and see the end of this post for professional financial help if you need it.
Two things I asked of You,
Prov. 30:7-9
Do not refuse me before I die:
Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.
This is one of my favorites because it proves God knows me so well! I would love to ask God to make me the wealthiest woman in the world (so humble, I know!), but He and I both know it takes so much humility and wisdom not to ignore God when we’re prosperous. Even now, when things are going well in my life, I tend to attribute that to myself rather than to God, who has indeed given me any success I have. Until I have the change in heart necessary to realize who’s really handing out the blessings around here, this Proverb is my prayer.
Some of these Proverbs are a bit of a slap in the face, aren’t they? But even if we’ve been unbiblical about our finances in the past doesn’t mean we have to be that way forever. Today’s the day to stop digging and find a way out of the hole you’ve put yourself in. You can’t do what God has called you to do as well as you could if you were free financially. You can’t give what you don’t have in the first place.
Let today be the day you start handling your money the way God wants you to. If you don’t already give to your church, that’s a great place to start. If you have been blessed with plenty, find a legitimate charity and give there. If you’re a slave to lenders, there’s hope for you too! My husband and I have both taken and taught Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University and find it to be a direct and effective way to get out of debt and build wealth, even if you’re in way over your head. Here’s the link to his site. You can find a local FPU class, take one online, or use his other valuable resources to get financially fit.
