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Sunday Reflection

From the proverbs we’ve just read, you could possibly make that argument that it is God's will for everyone to be materially prosperous, but before you do, remember this: proverbs are observations, not predictions or promises. And all Scripture must be read in the context of the whole. There are more places in the Bible that warn of the dangers of money than extoll its wonders, and Jesus taught his followers to pursue treasure in heaven, not worldly riches. 

Whether we have a lot of cash or a little, there are some great principles here for using our finances in a way that honours God. The most important is to be generous – to give freely (11:24). There’s a pragmatic reason for this: if you support others when you are in the black, they are likely to support you when you are in the red. But beyond pragmatism, we honour God by being generous because he cares for the poor and because he knows we are liable to become slaves and worshipers of money. We are all too inclined to ‘wear [ourselves] out to get rich’ (23:4) or to foolishly believe the lie that the more you earn the happier you will be. 

Other principles here include not hoarding, not being greedy, not paying bribes, and remembering that fortunes can be made and lost in a heartbeat – all earthy, practical wisdom and worth heeding. The ultimate purpose of life is to bring glory to God. Let’s ‘honour the Lord with [our] wealth’ (3:9).