The Power of Money ~ Bob Caldwell

The Power of Money Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. Our relationship with money is one of the surest ways to reveal or to discover our true character. Here in Proverbs 21 through 23, this is made abundantly clear. To start out, there must be an unswerving commitment to the wisdom that a "good name" is of much greater value than material gain (22:1). There are countless forms of deception that will be avoided by a person who seeks to be known by his actions as an honest, generous, and fair person whenever money is involved. Living out a relationship with money in a way that honestly produces a "good name" makes one worthy of being called a child of God, one who imitates his Father in Heaven. For such a person, there is no treasure worth having if it requires "a lying tongue" to get it (21:6). A man who has earned a good name will not take advantage of another person's poverty or ignorance on a financial matter (22:22). The man who has a right relationship with the good and the bad that comes from money is careful to not overwork to gain more and more wealth (23:4). This is the person who works hard enough to supply the needs of his family, but not so much that he has no time to meet their emotional and spiritual needs. The wise man does not love pleasure so much that he lives beyond his means and therefore finds himself losing everything. In like fashion, a wise man will not seek to enter into contracts to have what he has no way to pay for (22:26-27). A man with a good name is one who is generous in his giving and finds no fellowship or friendship with those who have acquired wealth through miserly means (22:6-8). Instead, he is faithful to God in his financial dealings and has earned his money honestly by hard work. Such a man will find himself trusted by those in great power (22:29). Money has the power to either make you a man of honor or a man who is a curse. How you get your money and how you use it will become one of the most formative forces in shaping the person you will become.
Proverbs 21:1-23:35 1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. 3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin. 5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. 6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. 7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them, Because they refuse to do justice. 8 The way of a guilty man is perverse; But as for the pure, his work is right. 9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. 10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. 11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. 12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. 13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath. 15 It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. 16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead. 17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich. 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright. 19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman. 20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it. 21 He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness, and honor. 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold. 23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles. 24 A proud and haughty man—"Scoffer" is his name; He acts with arrogant pride. 25 The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor. 26 He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he brings it with wicked intent! 28 A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly. 29 A wicked man hardens his face, But as for the upright, he establishes his way. 30 There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD. Proverbs 22 1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all. 3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished. 4 By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail. 9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor. 10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease. 11 He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend. 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless. 13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!" 14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; He who is abhorred by the LORD will fall there. 15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him. 16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. Sayings of the Wise 17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; 18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, 19 So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you. 20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, 21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you? 22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, 25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul. 26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you? 28 Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set. 29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men. Proverbs 23 1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you; 2 And put a knife to your throat If you are a man given to appetite. 3 Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food. 4 Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! 5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven. 6 Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you. 8 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, And waste your pleasant words. 9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10 Do not remove the ancient landmark, Nor enter the fields of the fatherless; 11 For their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause against you. 12 Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to words of knowledge. 13 Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. 14 You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell. 15 My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself; 16 Yes, my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak right things. Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; 18 For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off. 19 Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way. 20 Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; 21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. 22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him. 25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice. 26 My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways. 27 For a harlot is a deep pit, And a seductress is a narrow well. 28 She also lies in wait as for a victim, And increases the unfaithful among men. 29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. 34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: "They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?"
Proverbs 21:1-23:35 v. 1 He turns it wherever he wishes – This figure of speech refers to the eastern method of irrigation where several canals were dug from a stream or river. These irrigation canals were then directed wherever the farmer needed them to go. v. 4 haughty – proud and arrogant v. 9 contentious – one who causes regular arguments or strife v. 11 the simple is made wise – Regular people learn and become wise by watching God punish the scoffer who mocks God. v. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination – Worship from the wicked is repulsive to God. The wicked worship God while clothed in hypocrisy. It is an outrage to God that one could bring a sacrifice to Him while plotting an evil act. Proverbs 22 v. 1 A good name – conveys the idea of reputation or character v. 3 A prudent man – A prudent man is wise or judicious in governing practical affairs. A prudent man is also careful in providing for the future. v. 5 Thorns and snares – Trouble awaits a perverse person because of the path they choose to travel. Staying on the path God set out will help a person avoid the thorns and snares. v. 15 Foolishness – Can also be described as poor behavior or the love of mischief. This behavior is natural to the self-willed child. The "rod of correction" is meant to break a child of their self-will. It is for that child's good. v. 22 Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate – The gate refers to the place where court was held. Solomon is warning against exploiting the poor before a judge. v. 28 Do not remove the ancient land marks – An ancient landmark was a boundary stone marking the property line of a family's property. Proverbs 23 v. 1 put a knife to your throat – practicing restraint v. 3 delicacies – a delicacy is a choice food that tends to be more costly and rare than regular foods v. 10 the fields of the fatherless – Israelite law forbid anyone from taking advantage of the poor and powerless, such as widows and orphans (Ex. 22:22; Deut. 27:19). The fields of the fatherless would only have a widow or child to keep watch over the land. It would have been easy for others to take land from the fatherless. v. 20 winebibber – A winebibber was one who drinks too much wine. v. 21 glutton – A glutton was a person who eats excessively. Gluttony is more then just overeating, it is often associated with drunkenness and is a term used to describe a life given to excess. v. 27 a harlot is a deep pit – The situation was liable to trap the person involved in it. v. 30 mixed wine – a mixture of wine and other ingredients such as honey or pepper to create a type of spiced wine
"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold." –Provberbs 22:1 We see, Lord, that the true riches of this life are not found in money or material possessions. Those things come and go, God, for You give them and You take them away. Help us to remember that we are more than what we do or what we own. Keep us from the pursuit of materialism and the love of money, Lord.
Care Ministry The Care Ministry continues to get requests. There are some who have been filled very quickly and some that continue to be worked on. Praise the Lord we have had some new volunteers sign up and another person who will be working with Elsa to call the volunteers. The Lord is good and we just continue to pray for God's guidance. Prayer Points that the Core Group that does the follow up will continue this fall that those who are requesting help will be blessed that the volunteers can encourage those who make requests to get involved in a Core Group