Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings with the purpose of teaching us how and why we should live obediently to God’s Law. Proverbs has much to say about money and riches. Jesus talked frequently about wealth, including the admonition that “no one can serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6) You can imagine Jesus sitting around a fire at night and using Proverbs to teach His disciples that money is not the most important thing in life.
Peace in the home is more satisfying than a life of affluence.
Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. (17:1)
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. (31:10)
Two of the world’s richest men, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, were not able to stay happily married in spite of their vast riches. Their wealth has not spared them the heartache and pain of separating from the person who pledged to love them forever. No amount of money makes up for stress and hostility within one’s family. Too often married people ignore Biblical teachings on marriage because they think there isn’t much they can do to change their spouse or their circumstances. But by God’s grace, we can become more godly spouses when we follow God’s Word and honor our spouses as “far more precious than jewels”. It’s also important that we don’t allow our spouses to devalue our worth because we are also made in the image of God. Likewise, single people often ignore Biblical teachings on marriage because they are not married. But single people may one day face the decisions of whether or not to marry, and who to marry. Long before their wedding day arrives, single people should know their God-given worth and the value of a godly spouse, so they are making a wise decision on their big day.
Integrity, honor, and favor are better than riches.
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold. (22:1)
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. (28:6)
How often are we tempted to sell our good name and integrity to ‘save a few bucks?’ We may lie about our child’s age to get a discount. We may hide inconvenient truths about a car or home we are selling. We may share Netflix account information or a membership card. These seemingly small matters of integrity reveal what really matters to us when we think no one is watching and the risk of getting caught is low. Lying, stealing and coveting are three of God’s Ten Commandments, so we should not take these sins lightly. But even in this life, once people know we cannot be trusted in small and obvious ways, they will not likely trust us with anything more valuable. If we learn that people will ‘cheat in our favor’, then we know that they are more likely to ‘cheat against us’ too. If you know that someone is both wealthy and dishonest, which is the first, most important characteristic of that person you remember? Think of Bernie Madoff, Vladimir Putin, Michael Milken, Robert Mugabe, or Charles Ponzi. It may take a lifetime to build one’s integrity and a good name, but these can be lost in an instant of wickedness or carelessness.