Finances
John, Mike, and Jack were college buddies.
John was the wealthy one who had it all—the big house, fancy cars, and a successful business. He prided himself on his wealth. He would work long hours to make sure that he was always on top, and he never turned down an opportunity to make more money. He loved the rat-race and enjoyed the feeling of winning. He wasn’t home as much as he would like but took pride in the lifestyle he was providing for his wife and young kids. He loved his golf outings on the weekends with Mike, Jack, and another college buddy.
Mike and his wife were captivated by the luxurious lifestyle that their friends, like John and Emily, were living. They longed for the same things—the large house, the expensive cars, designer clothes, and exotic vacations. Despite their modest income, they began to accumulate a significant amount of debt to fund their lavish lifestyle. Mike was convinced that with hard work and determination, he could pay off their debts and achieve the life of his dreams.
Jack was more laid back. He was known as the kind of guy who would be as creative as possible to not have to do any real work. He had hobbies and loved to tinker but could never really find a job he enjoyed. He had recently been let go from his third job in two years and was content to let his wife provide for the family for the time being. They struggled to make ends meet and were constantly falling behind on their bills. Jack's wife constantly begged him to get a job and contribute to their household. He said he was keeping his ears open but hadn’t yet found that perfect fit.
Fortunately for the three of them, their fourth golf buddy, Justin, had recently been trained as a biblical counselor. They each agreed, separately, to start meeting with him.
Justin discovered fairly quickly that none of his three buddies had much of an idea what the Word of God had to say about money. They just hadn’t given much thought to it. None of the three were giving much to the work of the Lord and didn’t have a concept at all of what generous living looked like. They all three claimed to be Christians, and each of them attended church somewhat regularly.
As Justin and John started to meet, it became clear very quickly that John didn’t think he had a problem at all. He really just agreed to meet with Justin to spend more time hanging out with his friend.
Mike found himself trapped in a vicious cycle of debt. He was constantly struggling to make ends meet and pay off his bills. His relationship with his wife had recently began to suffer as they argued more frequently about their finances. Mike had recently become more and more consumed with his desire for wealth and material possessions, and his priorities became increasingly misguided.
It was easiest to find a time to meet with Jack as he had very little else going on. Despite his wife's pleas and the clear consequences of his inaction, Jack didn’t have a strong desire to change his ways. He spent his days in idleness, leaving his wife to bear the burden of their financial struggles. Jack's wife became increasingly frustrated and resentful, and their relationship suffered as a result. She was forced to take on extra shifts and work long hours just to make ends meet. The stress of their financial struggles began to take a toll on her health, and she was constantly exhausted and overwhelmed. There marriage was disintegrating quickly.
After gaining a good understanding of each man’s misguided thinking, Justin went to work preparing his lessons on how the Word of God speaks to these various struggles. He knew that each man needed to be transformed by the renewing of his mind. He knew that he must help each of his friends evaluate their condition in light of a holy God and to help them put off sin and put on Christ—to become more like Jesus in thought and action.
That next week, John and Justin went over the homework that Justin had assigned and discussed the following Scriptures (as well as others from the list below):
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth" (Matthew 6:19-21, 24).
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life (1 Timothy 6:10, 17-19).
"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter" (James 5:1-6).
"Lord, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; certainly every person at his best is a mere breath. Surely every person walks about as a phantom; surely they make an uproar for nothing; he amasses riches and does not know who will gather them" (Psalm 39:4-6).
"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep" (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12)
Mike and Justin did the same in their session:
"Do not be afraid when a person becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him. Though while he lives he congratulates himself, and though men praise you when you do well for yourself, he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light" (Psalm 49:16-20).
But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:6-11).
"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave" (Proverbs 22:7),
"For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’" (Luke 14:28-30).
"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17).
As did Jack and Justin:
"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied" (Proverbs 13:4).
"Through laziness, the roof caves in, and through idleness, the house leaks" (Ecclesiastes 10:18).
"The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor" (Proverbs 21:5).
"Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth" (Proverbs 10:4).
Ephesians 5:23-33—the role of the husband in marriage.
Over the next several weeks, the men continue to meet and study these and many other Scriptures. They prayed with each other, asking the Holy Spirit to do a work in each of their lives. Justin assigned homework each week as they talked about topics like: Who is God and who am I in relation to God? Who is Satan and what does his activity in our world look like? What is sin and what does it mean that we are sinners? What is the Gospel? What does repentance look like in the life of a Believer? What is our responsibility as Godly husbands, fathers, and leaders? What does it look like to serve—our families, the Church, our coworkers, our communities? What does the process of sanctification look like in each of our lives? How are we incorporating spiritual disciplines in our daily walks? What does it mean to not be ashamed of the Gospel and to be ambassadors for the King?
With John, Justin specifically focused on putting off: greed, selfishness, and the love of money and putting on: generosity, Christian leadership, and service.
With Mike, Justin specifically focused on putting off: greed, debt, and coveting and putting on generosity, self-control, and contentment.
With Jack, Justin specifically focused on putting off: slothfulness, irresponsibility, and abdication and putting on: hard work, responsibility, and dependability.
John was convicted by these lessons and began to reflect on his life. He now knew he had not been honoring the Lord with his wealth (Proverbs 3:9). He realized that he had been so focused on success that he had neglected his relationship with God and his relational and spiritual responsibility for his family. John realized that life is short and that he needed to keep his priorities in line. John repented of his sin and made important changes in his life. He began to prioritize his relationship with God and his family, and he started giving generously both his time and finances to Kingdom work. He now looked at his employees and his clients as a mission field to reach for the Gospel. John learned that true contentment and satisfaction come from serving God, not from pursuing wealth. With the help of Justin and John’s pastor, John was able to find an older man in his church to continue to walk alongside him for ongoing discipleship and accountability.
Mike was learning the hard way that the pursuit of wealth and material possessions can make you a slave to money. He realized that he needed to change his priorities and pursue godliness with contentment, as it says in 1 Timothy 6:6-11. He repented of his love of money and sought to honor God in his finances. Mike started bringing his wife with him to the last few counseling sessions. (Part of his ongoing homework was to teach her what he was learning.) Together, they committed to paying off their debts and living a more modest lifestyle, focusing on their relationship with God and each other instead of coveting others’ possessions. Mike and his wife were on their way to finding true contentment and satisfaction in serving God and living a life of simplicity and generosity. With the encouragement of Justin, they were able to partner with Steph, a Dave Ramsey certified financial coach, who was able to help them apply principles and provide accountability to successfully gain financial freedom. Mike and his wife were also able to find an older couple in their church to continue to walk alongside them for ongoing discipleship and accountability.
Jack, unfortunately, was a different story. He had a harder heart and was not open to the help and freedom that can come from submitting oneself to the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though he was initially the easiest one to set an appointment with, he was very inconsistent in keep his appointments, always with a different excuse. He never finished his homework assignments and showed little interest in Justin’s teaching. After really exploring the truths of the Gospel one week with Jack, Justin concluded Jack was likely not saved. A couple weeks later Jack let Justin know he wouldn’t be returning. Eventually, Jack's laziness and inaction led to the collapse of his marriage. His wife could no longer bear the burden of their financial struggles and left him. Justin continues to pray for Jack and will keep an open door if he is ever ready to pursue true repentance and transformation.
This story shows us the different ways we can fall into financial traps and how, we as biblical counselors, can help people find true and lasting freedom. We know that money can be both a tremendous blessing but more often than we’d like to admit, a curse. Money, in one way or another, is discussed over 800 times in the Bible, making it one of the most commonly discussed topics. We need to counsel our counselees that having money in and of itself is not wrong; it is our attitude and beliefs about money that is often wrong. If we are holding everything with an open hand, giving generously, and spending wisely, the love of money will not be an issue. Handling money well requires incredible wisdom, self-control, and godliness—and teaching/training—which is in part, our role. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
Questions to answer with our counselee
What is your view on money?
If married, do you and your spouse have the same view?
Would you say you spend your money wisely?
What is your view on debt?
How do you use debt in your life?
What is your view on investing/saving?
Do you know what the Bible says about money?
Are you willing to let me walk through with you the Bible’s teachings on finances?
Stories to consider
The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30)
A young man, described as rich in Matthew and Mark, and a ruler in Luke, comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, and the man says that he has already done so. Jesus then tells him that if he wants to be perfect, he should sell his possessions and give to the poor, and he will have treasure in heaven. The young man becomes sad and goes away, because he has great wealth and is unwilling to give it up.
In Matthew and Mark, Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven, and that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God, but what is impossible with man is possible with God.
Solomon
Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba and he inherited the throne of Israel from his father. According to the Bible, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered him anything he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom, and God granted him not only wisdom but also wealth and power beyond any king before him.
Solomon's reign was marked by prosperity and grandeur, but as he grew older, his pursuit of power and wealth began to consume him. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon reflects on the futility of his pursuits and the emptiness of life without God.
In Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Solomon describes his quest for pleasure and material possessions. He says, "I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.' And behold, it too was futility. I said of laughter, 'It is madness,' and of pleasure, 'What does it accomplish?' I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives."
Solomon also acknowledges the corrupting influence of power in Ecclesiastes 4:1-3, saying, "Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them. So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. But better off than both of them is the one who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun."
Ultimately, Solomon recognizes that his pursuit of power and wealth was in vain and that only a life lived in service to God has meaning. In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, he concludes, "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."
In spite of his great wisdom, Solomon allowed his pursuit of power and wealth to consume him, leading him down a path of emptiness and futility. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and the importance of prioritizing a life lived in service to God.
Verses for study
Finances
Mark 8:36: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul?
1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19: But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
1 Chronicles 29:11-13: “Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion, Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You.”
Proverbs 3:9-10: Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Did the Rich Young Ruler make a wise or a foolish choice? Do you think today he would make the same choice? It is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:18-30).
Riches are fleeting
James 1:9-11: Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; but the rich person is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.
James 5:1-6: Come now, you rich people, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have corroded, and their corrosion will serve as a testimony against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!
Proverbs 23:4-5: “Do not weary yourself to gain wealth; stop dwelling on it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.”
Proverbs 27:23-24: “Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.”
Ecclesiastes 5:15: “As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.”
Ecclesiastes 5:18: “eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.”
The love of money
Ecclesiastes 5:10-12: “One who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor one who loves abundance with its income. This too is futility.”
Co-signing
Proverbs 6:1-3: if you have become a guarantor for your neighbor, free yourself
Proverbs 11:15: One who is a guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it, but one who hates being a guarantor is secure.
Proverbs 17:18: “A person lacking in sense shakes hands and becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.”
Proverbs 20:16: “Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger; and for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.”
Proverbs 22:26-27: “Do not be among those who shake hands, among those who become guarantors for debts.”
The wealth of the Lord
Psalm 50:10-11: “For every animal of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills.”
Psalm 147:9: It is He who gives an animal its food, and feeds young ravens that cry.
Righteousness over riches
Luke 16:10-13: “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Proverbs 16:16: “How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.”
Proverbs 11:4: Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.
Proverbs 19:1: “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than a person who is perverse in speech and is a fool.”
Proverbs 20:15: “There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; but lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.”
Proverbs 28:11: “The rich person is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding sees through him.”
Proverbs 28:19-22: “one who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished. A person with an evil eye hurries after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”
Revelation 3:14-18: Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed.
Contentment; trust in the Lord
Philippians 4:12-13: I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:18-20: But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 13:5-8: Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
Generosity; do good; take care of the needy
2 Corinthians 8:1-9: their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 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 through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 9:6-12: Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously. Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
Proverbs 3:27-28: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”
Proverbs 11:24-31: “a generous person will be prosperous; one who trusts in his riches will fall”
Proverbs 19:6: “Many will seek the favor of a generous person, And every person is a friend to him who gives gifts.”
Proverbs 19:17: “One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed.”
Proverbs 21:13: “One who shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor Will also call out himself, and not be answered.”
Proverbs 22:9: “One who is generous will be blessed, because he gives some of his food to the poor.”
Proverbs 22:16: “One who oppresses the poor to make more for himself, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.”
Proverbs 28:27: “One who gives to the poor will never lack anything, but one who shuts his eyes will have many curses.”
Exodus 23:11—let land lie the seventh year to feed the needy
Deuteronomy 24:14-15—do not exploit the poor and needy
Proverbs 14:21: “One who despises his neighbor sins, But one who is gracious to the poor is blessed.”
Proverbs 14:31: “One who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But one who is gracious to the needy honors Him.”
Amos 8:4: “Hear this, you who trample the needy, to put an end to the humble of the land”
Matthew 25:40: “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’”
Giving
1 Corinthians 16:1-2: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do as well. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper, so that no collections need to be made when I come.
Hard work vs. ill-gotten gain
Proverbs 10:2 Ill-gotten gains do not benefit, but righteousness rescues from death.
Proverbs 13:11: “Wealth obtained from nothing dwindles, but one who gathers by labor increases it.”
Proverbs 19:22b: “And it is better to be a poor person than a liar.”
Proverbs 21:5-6: “The plans of the diligent certainly lead to advantage, but everyone who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty. The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.”
Work; rest
Genesis 1:28-30: dominion over plants and animals
Genesis 2:15: cultivate and tend the garden (pre-fall)
Genesis 2:1-3—God rested from His work
Diligence; laziness
Colossians 3:23: Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
Proverbs 6:4-11: “Go to the ant, you lazy one, observe its ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer, or ruler, prepares its food in the summer and gathers its provision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, you lazy one? When will you arise from your sleep? “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,” then your poverty will come in like a drifter, and your need like an armed man.”
Proverbs 10:3-5: “The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger; He will reject the craving of the wicked. Poor is one who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”
Proverbs 12:11: “One who works his land will have plenty of bread, but one who pursues worthless things lacks sense.”
Proverbs 12:24: “The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy hand will be put to forced labor.”
Proverbs 13:4: “The soul of the lazy one craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made prosperous.”
Proverbs 13:23: “Abundant food is in the uncultivated ground of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice.”
Proverbs 14:23: “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
Proverbs 15:6-7: “Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, but trouble is in the income of the wicked. The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not so.”
Proverbs 15:19: “The way of the lazy one is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.”
Proverbs 16:13-16: “A lazy one says, ‘There is a lion on the road! A lion is in the public square!’ As the door turns on its hinges, so does a lazy one on his bed. A lazy one buries his hand in the dish; he is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.”
Proverbs 19:15: “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and a lazy person will suffer hunger.”
Proverbs 19:24: “The lazy one buries his hand in the dish but will not even bring it back to his mouth.”
Proverbs 20:4: “The lazy one does not plow after the autumn, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing.”
Proverbs 20:13: “Do not love sleep, or you will become poor”
Proverbs 22:13: “The lazy one says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!”
Proverbs 22:29: “Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure people.”
Proverbs 24:30-34: “I passed by the field of a lazy one, and by the vineyard of a person lacking sense. ’A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,’ then your poverty will come like a drifter, and your need like an armed man.”
Proverbs 30:25: “The ants are not a strong people, but they prepare their food in the summer”
Ecclesiastes 11:6: “Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether one or the other will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.”
Wealth of the righteous
Proverbs 15:16-23: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure.”
Proverbs 16:8: “Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.”
Proverbs 8:21: To endow those who love me with wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.
Proverbs 13:21-22: “Adversity pursues sinners, but the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity. A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, and the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.”
Proverbs 13:25: “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the stomach of the wicked is in need.”
Deuteronomy 28:12, 44: promises to Israel if they follow the Lord
Rich verses poor
Proverbs 30:8b: “Give me neither poverty nor riches”
Proverbs 10:15: “The rich person’s wealth is his fortress, The ruin of the poor is their poverty.”
Proverbs 14:20: “The poor is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.”
Proverbs 19:4: “Wealth adds many friends, But a poor person is separated from his friend.”
Proverbs 22:7: “The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.”
Inheritance
Proverbs 13:22: "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous."
Proverbs 20:21: “An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.”
Wealthy men in the Old Testament
Abraham
Joseph
David
Nabal
Solomon
Job
Put off | Put on
"to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:22-24 ESV)
Put off: Satan; temptation; sin; slavery; false teachers; idols; selfishness; anger; gossip; foolishness; pride; blaming God; guilt and shame
Put on: God; repentance of my sin or forgiveness of another’s sin; Jesus; repentance unto salvation; Holy Spirit; sanctification; fruit; spiritual gifts; spiritual disciplines; identity in Christ; healthy emotions
Resources
“Gospel Treason” by Brad Bigney
