Bible Study - Re-Finance (1) - View Money Properly - Proverbs 23:4-5; 30:5-9 - July 17, 2016

Bible Study – Re-Finance (1) – View Money Properly – July 17, 2016

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Re-Finance: Ancient Wisdom for Money Management.”

Our focus scripture is Proverbs 23:4-5; 30:5-9.

Contentment and security rest in GOD, not money.

We begin a new six (6) week series of study. The scripture for five lessons will come from Proverbs and one lesson from Ecclesiastes.

I know many reading this are likely to say, “Here we go again, always talking about money.” How we use our money is a reflection of our heart.  Finances and how we handle them is a vital subject for every person and especially for couples planning marriage. Credit cards can be maxed out in a heartbeat but paying them off is often very painstaking. In America, we can accumulate a mountain of debt in a heartbeat. Commerce makes it easy to obtain possessions but when you obtain more than you can afford, the bill collectors will come after you with great gusto.

The key is to be wise. Let’s explore GOD’S Word over the next six-weeks to discover HIS wisdom. King Solomon wrote most of Proverbs, with Agur and Lemuel contributing some of the later sections.

The following, within the brackets, was taken straight from the Advanced Bible Study, summer, 2016 Commentary written by Dr. Garrett, professor of the Old Testament at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, published by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175.

[Proverbs 22:17-24:22 is a collection of teachings commonly called the “Thirty Sayings (22:20). It is made up of a set of introductory remarks in 22:17-21 followed by 30 distinctive teachings (22:22-24:22). In the introduction, 22:20 says, “Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge?” This follows a model set by an Egyptian text called “The Sayings of Amenemope,” which is also divided into thirty distinct teachings. Some of the sayings in Proverbs 22:17-24:22 are quite similar to what we see in Amenemope, testifying to the fact that the desire for wisdom was common in the ancient world. Our text, 23:4-5, is the seventh saying.

Proverbs 30:5-9 comes from the “words of Agur son of Jakeh,” a collection that takes up all Proverbs 30. Agur is only mentioned here, and we do not know anything about him. His little set of teachings is perhaps the most colorful and enigmatic chapter of Proverbs. Although edifying, Agur’s sayings are somewhat mysterious. At least one saying 30:18-19, could be called a riddle. This passage gives a list of four items, and the reader has to struggle to determine what they have in common and what their main lesson is. We often have to pause and ask what Agur means. The sayings about animals illustrate this. What, precisely, is the point to the observation, “A lizard can be caught in your hands, yet it lives in king’s palaces. (30:28)? Even the teachings of our fairly straightforward text, 30:5-9, contains puzzles.]

Wisdom comes from GOD. As Christians, we have direct access to GOD 24/7 but do we seek HIS advice and guidance? Often, we only go to HIM when we get into difficulty. HIS desire is for HIS children to seek HIM first. Let’s explore!

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.

Many of us pursue wealth only to find that when we achieve it, it is not what we thought it would be like. The pursuit is the challenge and occupies our time and often is an obstacle to us in building the right relationship with GOD. 

Making money is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Most of us desire that gift but for selfish reasons. Our egos are the drivers and blinds us to the real intent of our hearts e.g. LORD, we could do so much for YOU if we were wealthy, when our desire is to use it for ourselves or to inflate our ego. We often attempt to deceive GOD but HE knows our hearts and our intents.

It is written in 1 Timothy 6:10:

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

GOD often allows us to pursue wealth just to prove the point that when we arrive, it is not all that great and it has many problems associated with it. Often the greatest tragedy in having or obtaining wealth is one of the things we desire most, which is a unified, loving family that loves the LORD and obediently serves HIM. I quickly add that there are many wealthy families that have achieved this by keeping their eyes fixed upon the LORD as they use their wealth to obediently serve HIM. Their first desire is to know GOD through faith in JESUS CHRIST.

Pursuing wealth often robs us of spending time getting to know GOD through our relationship with JESUS. It is easy to know about GOD but it takes being in right relationship with JESUS to get to really know GOD, the Father of every Christian.

In our last lesson series JESUS stated in Matthew 6:33:

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

How much time do you spend reading GOD’S Word, talking to HIM, listening to HIM and putting into practice the things that HE reveals to you?

In our previous lessons, we know that, as Christians, we are building upon the solid foundation that GOD has laid. That foundation is placing our faith in JESUS The CHRIST as our Savior. We are building upon that foundation of faith with Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, Wood, Hay or Straw. One day, our building will be tested by fire. As Christians, when we obediently serve our LORD, we are building with the materials that will survive the test by fire. When we, as Christians, are in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS, we are building with materials that will survive the test by fire. As a Christian, allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you as you walk with JESUS to obediently serve GOD according to HIS plan and purpose for your life.

It is vital that every Christian get to know GOD and not just know about GOD. When you get to know GOD you learn to trust HIM as we read in our next scripture.

Let’s read Proverbs 30:5-6: (As stated in the opening of our study, these words were written by Agur.)

5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

When we really know GOD, we know that HE is truth and HIS Word is pure. 

That is a process. Salvation is just step one in a lifelong journey of revelation through sanctification. As we get to know GOD and learn to trust HIM, we learn that HE is our shield and that we can take refuge in HIM, even when we make mistakes and follow the desires of our hearts. The Apostle Paul learned this as he walked with GOD as he wrote in Romans 8:28-30:

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

Things do not guide our lives but GOD is in all things bringing about HIS will and purpose even when we take a wrong turn because HE has a plan for every Christian. Our part is to confess our wrong doing and stop doing it. GOD forgives, restores our relationship with HIM and we are to continue our walk with HIM as led by the Holy Spirit.

29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

GOD’S goal for every Christian is to be made unto the image of JESUS.

30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

Predestined does not mean that our choice has been taken from us because every Christian still makes choices. GOD has a vision for every Christian. 

When we walk with HIM, as led by the Holy Spirit and are in right relationship with HIM, we are in HIS will. It is all about getting to know GOD through the study of HIS Word, talking to HIM and obediently serving HIM by putting what HE reveals to us into action.

6 Don't add to His words, or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.

This is an important verse. Often, we try to make more out of GOD’S Word than HE intends. This scripture warns us not to do that. Let the Holy Spirit reveal the truth of GOD’S Word to you and do not try to make HIS Word say what HE did not intend for it to say regarding you.

I heard a story many years ago regarding GOD’S Word. It went something like this. A man decided that he would do whatever GOD’S Word, the Bible revealed to him. He would randomly open GOD’S Word and blindly point to a verse and do what the verse stated. He did this and the verse was “and he went and hanged himself.” The man did not like that so he made another attempt and his finger landed on a verse that stated “what thou must do, do quickly.”

We laugh at such random ways we attempt to get direction from GOD. Build the right relationship with HIM by getting to know HIM through faith in JESUS. JESUS came to show us how to have the right relationship with GOD. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you build the right relationship with GOD through faith in CHRIST.

What does this have to do with the wise use of our resources? Seek first the kingdom of GOD. Being in right relationship with GOD means that all that we have falls under HIS authority and since wisdom comes from GOD, GOD’S wisdom flows through us as we walk with HIM.

Let’s read Proverbs 30:7-9: (These words were written by Agur. What was he saying and how does it apply to us today? We need to keep in mind that Agur was talking to GOD.)

7 Two things I ask of You (GOD); don't deny them to me before I die:

Agur was making his request known to GOD. This is what we all need to do. Verbalize our request. The only timetable he put on his request was that GOD respond before he died. Such a request can come from a heart that realizes that often we have to grow Spiritually before we can understand or comprehend some Spiritual things.

So what were the two things he asked of GOD?

8 Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. (1) Give me neither poverty nor (2) wealth; feed me with the food I need.

We all live in this world and in doing so we all have both Spiritual and physical needs. GOD provides for those needs but the world can deceive us into believing that our plight in life reveals our relationship to GOD. This deceit can result in us concluding that GOD has punished us when we are in poverty or rewarded us when we prosper. Agur knew that these conclusions were deceitful and would lead us to the wrong conclusion regarding GOD in our lives.

Therefore, he asked GOD to not allow such thinking to mislead him. As a result, he asked GOD not to give him poverty or wealth because he did not want to run the chance of falling into the trap of associating GOD with either condition. Poverty and wealth are deceitful. If he was not poor or wealthy he was free to discover the truth regarding GOD and HIS role in his life as they walked together. His desire was to walk with GOD and to trust HIM to provide him the things that GOD wanted him to have to meet all of his needs both physical and Spiritual.

This is, in essence, what JESUS stated in the model prayer we studied a few weeks ago as recorded in Matthew 6:11:

11 Give us today our daily bread.

This is both physical and Spiritual food. GOD knows that we have to have physical food to sustain us as humans. JESUS got hungry as recorded in Matthew 21:18:

18 Early in the morning, as He was returning to the city, He was hungry.

But we need Spiritual food as well as JESUS stated in Matthew 5:6:

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.

Wealth is a lie because it implies that we don’t need GOD and Poverty is a lie because it implies that GOD does not care.

Let’s read our next verse - Proverbs 30:9:

9 Otherwise, I might have too much and deny You, saying, "Who is the Lord?" or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God.

Agur gives his reasons why he did not want wealth or poverty. If he had plenty he might become self-sufficient and not seek GOD in his life and realize his dependence upon HIM. By the same rational, if he was poor, he might steal to meet his needs and in doing so it would dishonor GOD.

This statement focuses upon the desire of Agur’s heart to know GOD and to be a positive witness for HIM to others. Agur wanted balance in his life by not having too little or too much but to depend upon GOD and to seek HIM in his life not encumbered by poverty or plenty.

What is the desire of our hearts? Do we blame GOD because we do not have riches? Do we not acknowledge GOD in our lives because we are self-sufficient? Or do we go through the motions of worshipping GOD because we are afraid that GOD will take away our wealth or health? Keep in mind that GOD knows our hearts and our intents.

Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness. HIS righteousness is imputed to those the instant they place their faith in JESUS THE CHRIST. Righteousness is a gift from GOD as the Apostle Paul recorded in Second Corinthians 5:21:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we (All who place their faith in JESUS) might become the righteousness of God in Him.

So what does this have to do with having the proper perspective regarding our money? JESUS stated it best in Matthew 6:21:

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:33:

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Ground zero is our relationship with GOD. Is it personal and real or obscure and unsure? If your relationship with GOD is obscure and unsure, I urge you to tell HIM and ask HIM to reveal truth to you. But you need to read HIS Word and be alert to the truth as HE reveals it. Don’t ask and then park your brain but be vigilant to seek what HE reveals. It is an awesome journey. Blessings!!!