I've said before that Proverbs is "God's book of wisdom for everyday life." Money - our earning of it, spending of it, desire for more of it and attitudes towards it - is one of the things that seems to take up a huge part of our everyday lives. Quite a few of the verses of chapter 11 are devoted to giving us wisdom for dealing with money.
The Lord abhors dishonest scales,
but accurate weights are his delight.
In other words, don't covet money so much that you are willing to cheat in order to get more of it. (appropriate for tax time)
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
The reference is to Judgement Day.
One man gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
Again we see God's ways are "upside down" from the ways of the world. Proverbs 3:5 comes into play in a big way here: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
In God's world you reap what you sow.
People curse the man who hoards grain,
but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.
If you need a biblical reason to give up hoarding, here it is.
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
The bottom line on money. It is not evil until it replaces God as the object of our trust.
Please leave your comments on this chapter - and enjoy the snow!
Pastor David
God not only talks about spiritual righteouness here but also about being righteous in our public life; especially when dealing with money and goods.
ReplyDeleteAnother way to say this is---"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.