What is Wealth? 

WISDOM IS THE GOAL 

• Proverbs 8:10-11 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. 

• Proverbs 15:16 -17 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. 

WEALTH DOESN’T DETERMINE YOUR STATUS 

• Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all. 

THE WRONG WAY TO WEALTH 

WICKEDNESS

• Proverbs 20:17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. 

DECIET 

• Proverbs 20:23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good. 

GOD’S WAY TO WEALTH 

Wisdom generally leads to provision.

• Proverbs 22:4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. 

PRAY 

• Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,  lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. 

• 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 

• Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.  When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. 

WORK 

• Proverbs 10:4-5  A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. 
• Proverbs 12:11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,  but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. 

GIVE TO GOD FIRST 

• Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 

DON’T WASTE IT 

• Proverbs 21:17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.  
• Proverbs 21:20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. 

AVOID DEBT 

• Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

PLOD

• Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. 

REMEMBER YOUR WEALTH IS FOR OTHERS 

For your family 

• Proverbs 31 

For the poor and those who cannot give back

• Proverbs 22:9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. 
• Proverbs 14:21 blessed is he who is generous to the poor.  

REMEMBER WEALTH IS ABOUT THE GOSPEL 

• 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

QUESTIONS 

What are your honest thoughts or feelings about wealth at this time in your life? 

What is your greatest personal struggle when it comes to the issue of money? 

How have you seen God bless wisdom with wealth over the course of your life? How have you seen God faithfully provide for your needs?

What biblical wisdom would you give others when it comes to wealth? 

What specific ways can you strategically use your wealth to reflect God’s grace in Jesus?