Wisdom in the Acquisition and Use of Money (2)

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d. But by Diligent Employment

This is stated in the following proverbs – "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute." (Proverbs 12:24) "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." (Proverbs 13:4) There is a stark comparison between the loafer or sluggard who refuses to work even though he can, and the diligent worker. The loafer ends up having nothing, while the diligent worker prospers. Loafers are not those who are unable to find employment, but those who make no effort to seek for gainful employment.

Some refuse to work because they regard it only as a necessary evil. The Bible teaches that man was made to work and to find fulfilment in his work. When God made the first man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, man began to work by taking care of the garden. Therefore work already existed before the Fall. The Fall of man only made his work more difficult.
Those who refuse to work when they are able to do so must not be allowed to live off the earnings of others. When the apostle Paul discovered this problem among the Christians in Thessalonica, he wrote to them, "if any would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The exception of course is those who want to work but are unable to, because of illness or a home quarantine order.

On the other extreme are those who engage in certain kinds of business where the sky is the limit for one's income, and the temptation to drive themselves onward to make more gains is hard to resist. They get so caught up in it that it takes over their whole life and their spiritual life goes downhill. While the Bible tells us to be diligent workers, this does not mean that we should then become workaholics. Work is only a means to an end, and not an end in itself. God should always come first in your life before anything else. You should work with God's help, and seek to please Him in your work. Therefore do not allow your work to damage your spiritual health or to make you neglect your responsibilities to your family. If you allow your work to take up all the time you should be spending at home with your loved ones, you will have to answer to God for failing in your parental and marital duties.

3. Spend Wisely, not Wastefully

Do not regard your money as your own to spend, but rather as a stewardship entrusted to you by God. God wants you to be a faithful steward, not a wasteful steward. "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster." (Proverbs 18:9) Those who waste deserve the same condemnation as those who refuse to work.

"There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up." (Proverbs 21:20) In order not to be foolish, spend your money wisely. Do not buy things impulsively but take time to consider whether the need is proportional to the cost. When in doubt on whether to spend or not, compare prices and consult others. Be as conservative as you can in your spending, without stinging on necessities.

4. Save Sufficiently for Anticipated Needs

It is good to set aside funds for a rainy day. When Joseph was the prime minister of Egypt, God gave him the wisdom to save all the excess produce of the land during the 7 years of plenty, so that there would be enough provisions during the 7 years of famine. This lesson can be learned from the ant – "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."(Proverbs 6:6, also 30:25) It is therefore wise to save and make sufficient (but not excessive) provisions for the future both for yourself and your loved ones.

5. Serve God and Others Generously

"Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." (Proverbs 3:9, 10) Are you honouring the Lord with your substance and with the firstfruits of all your increase?
How about giving to help those who are in need? "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse." (Proverbs 28:27) "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will He pay him again." (Proverbs 19:17) I have found this to be true on more than one occasion – that when I gave for some need in the Lord's work, I would unexpectedly receive back the same amount not long after that from another source! The Lord is no debtor.

May the Lord enable you to apply these 5 principles from the book of Proverbs to manage your own finances, and thereby become a wise and faithful steward.

Adopted from Life BPC Weekly, 29 April 2007.
Written by Rev. Charles Seet.