If Your Money Could Talk - Proverbs 3, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 23 - June 29,2008

Sunday School Lesson – If Your Money Could Talk – June 29, 2008

This is our final lesson in our series of study.

Our scripture is Proverbs 3:9-10; 11:24-26; 13:11; 15:16-17; 16:11; 23:4-5.

To me the essence of this lesson is in the title, if “YOUR “money could talk. Our attitude regarding money and our possessions reflect our relationship to our LORD. When our relationship with HIM is where it should be, our attitude toward the possessions HE allows us to manage for HIM will be in proper perspective. It is vital that we allow HIM to direct our giving and use of our resources. Often we try to show GOD how generous we are by giving or how we use our resources. Giving is good but we need to give as HE directs. Give without expecting to obtain more possessions. We must manage our possessions wisely by seeking GOD’S guidance which means our relationship with HIM is vital.

GOD gives to those who give but it may not be a monetary gain. It may be the joy of being obedient to what HE has asked us to do. In fact GOD may test us at times to let us see the attitude of our hearts toward giving. Many of us give with the expectation of our money or resource source not running out. When our money or resources being to dwindle, often, we become disappointed or discouraged and question the care of the LORD.

We as humans are very much performance oriented. We do what is expected and we in turn expect to be rewarded in tangible ways. God blesses us with the ability to earn money and manage our resources. GOD can also send us a message when things seem to go south. We might need to refine or change our management skills or earning skills. We may be relying on our own abilities and leaving GOD out of our decision making process. We may be depending on GOD to do all the work. If we invest in a “dog” (meaning no good to begin with), it will respond accordingly. There are times GOD may make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear but most often HE teaches us
to work hard to find the silk.

If our money could talk, and it does, it might tell us that we are not being wise in our use of it or our ability to manage it. Our money could tell us that we are relying more on the care that our money can give us versus relying on our LORD to care for us. I had to ask myself the question regarding my resources during the preparation of this lesson. It was most revealing and I need to make some changes, which I am in the process of doing.

The Bible is very clear earning money and managing our resources is what GOD expects from HIS children. We need to be careful when we give on our own because we may be enabling people to trust in us rather than trusting in the provision of the LORD. That is why we need to seek GOD’S guidance when we give. This is true whether our help or giving is to an organization or individuals.

Let’s read Proverbs 3:9-10 and 15:16-17:

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest;[9] Lv 23:9–14 10 then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.[10] Mal 3:10

16 Better a little with the • fear of the Lord than great treasure with turmoil. 17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.[13] Ps 37:16; 16:8,19; 17:1

I love the word “honor.” It means to “to make important.” God wants us to honor HIM and reflect HIM when we use the resources HE has allowed us to obtain, as HE directs us. When we make HIM important, it causes us to focus on HIM and HIS provision and sufficiency for us. When our relationship is right with HIM, we want to show our appreciation and gratitude to HIM for HIS care for us and our family. HE wants us to give HIM the first fruits of the entire harvest - spring, summer, fall and winter from a grateful and faithful heart. Regardless of when we harvest, HE wants us to have a generous heart because HE has been generous to us. When we give the first fruits to GOD, it honors GOD as the giver of these resources and shows our faith in HIM to provide bounty until all the resources are harvested.

We as humans must be careful not to give because we fear if we do not give we will lose what we have. What are our hearts and our money telling us? Are we giving for to honor GOD?

GOD allows the rain to fall upon both the just and the unjust. When the rain stops or the crops fail, how do the “just” respond versus the “unjust” respond? Tough times are challenging to both. The difference is the “just” have their hope and faith in the care of the LORD. This is a witness to the “unjust”.

In Solomon’s day the major harvest were grains, fruits such as grapes and animals. GOD tells us to plan for the future and store up but for the right reasons. When believers maintain the proper relationship with GOD their bounty will be used as HE directs and for HIS glory. Sometimes bounty can change a person’s attitude and heart but when GOD is “honored” it helps him or her to keep the proper perspective when their barns are full and their vats are overflowing. They recognize and acknowledge that GOD is their sufficiency and not themselves.

Verses 16 and 17 reinforce the idea of whether the LORD has blessed a person with much or little to honor the LORD with what he or she has. The important thing to GOD is not the size of what we possess but that we have a heart that honors HIM.
We must remember the widow’s mite. With GOD, it is always the attitude of the heart that is important, not the size of the gift. JESUS said even a cup of cold water will not go unnoticed with the FATHER.

Let’s read Proverbs 23:4-5:

4 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. 5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.[4] Pr 13:11; 20:21; Jr 17:11

Solomon tells us not to focus on earning great wealth because it will ruin our health and it will flee from us. Seek first the relationship with HIM. Those who seek wealth always want more. How much is enough? It is easy for the wealthy to trust in their wealth to take care for them versus GOD caring for them. GOD sees the beginning and the end, HE sees the things hidden and the things revealed and HE has the power to alter that which needs to be altered. All the resources in the world cannot do that.

Do not focus on the power of possessions but focus on GOD, WHO is the power of the universe. This does not mean not to try to earn a living but to focus on that which is the “most important.” Don’t focus on earthly treasure that you will leave behind the moment you take your final breath. Focus on being obedient to GOD and store up treasure in heaven.

Let’s read Proverbs 13:11 and 16:11:

11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,[11] Pr 10:2; 20:21; 23:5 but whoever earns it through labor[12] Lit whoever gathers upon (his) hand will multiply it.[13] Pr 10:4; 21:5–6

11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag[16] Merchants kept the stones for their balance scales in a bag. are His concern.[17] Pr 11:1; Lv 19:36; Ezk 45:10; Mc 6:11

Solomon deals with possessions obtained by fraudulent means. Such ill-gotten wealthy will fade away but those who make an honest living will see their wealth multiply. We live in a world where most young people want fast money. That is why scams, schemes, fraud, drugs, prostitution, shoplifting, to name a few ways to get quick money, are so prevalent today.

Honest work seems to be the slow way to earn money and obtain possessions. But in the long run honest work is the best way to gain wealth. Young folks need to look at various money investing and savings instruments just to see what they can accumulate over a lifetime.

In Solomon’s day there were those who would cheat people because they had scales or weights that were not correct. In the old days many of us heard of the dishonest grocer that either adjusted their scale to weigh wrong or they would place their thumb on the scale to make what you were purchasing weigh more. GOD will be the final judge.

Let’s read Proverbs 11:24-26:

24 One person gives freely, yet gains more;[26] Pr 11:25; 21:26; Ps 112:9 another withholds what is right, only to become poor.[27] Pr 13:7; 22:16; 28:27 25 A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.[28] Pr 3:9–10; Mt 10:42 26 People will curse anyone who hoards grain, but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.

Again, we cannot out give GOD. Often we are tempted to hold back when things become tight. Again, we must manage our resources but why are we holding back? Do we trust more in our resources than we do in GOD’S provisions for us? Our money can tell us.

We must make wise decisions of how, when and where we use our resources. We receive many requests for money. Many are worthy requests but if we gave to all soon our resources would be depleted. This is why we must give as GOD directs. This is not to say that HE may ask us to deplete our resources.

In Solomon’s day, water was scarce during May thru September. Therefore, sharing even a cup of water would not go unnoticed by GOD.

Solomon mentions hoarding. Hoarding can be done to drive the price of a commodity higher; Simple supply/demand. Today this is practiced in a variety of commodities such as wheat, corn and crude oil. If supply is increased then the cost of that commodity is reduced. It was the same in Solomon’s day.

The point Solomon is making is a person can put aside commodities but there is a time they need to sell them. The seller will make money and those who purchase them can use them for themselves and give some to the poor. But those who have should not hoard to the detriment of others.

GOD expects HIS children to use what HE has blessed them with to bring honor to HIM. It is not for HIS ego but for our benefit. It keeps us focused upon HIM during times of plenty and prepares us for the hard times. Having things is not wrong but the love of things over GOD is the problem.

If our money could talk, what would it tell us? It does talk we need to observe and listen to what it is saying as the HOLY SPIRIT searches our hearts. We must use our resources wisely. Honor HIM by seeking HIM first.