Sermon Notes – November 1, 2023
Money, As Taught in Proverbs
Pastor Jeremy Mayol
1 Kings 3:5-14 (CSB)
5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?” 6 And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today. 7 “Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. 8 Your servant is among your people you have chosen, a people too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?” 10 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11 So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice, 12 I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. 13 In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. 14 If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”
Four Reminders to To Guide Your Resources:
1. Honor God.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (CSB)
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; 10 then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Proverbs 19:17 (CSB)
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will give a reward to the lender.
2. Work Hard.
Proverbs 6:6-11 (CSB)
6 Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. 7 Without leader, administrator, or ruler, 8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest. 9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, 11 and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.
Proverbs 10:4 (CSB)
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches.
Proverbs 12:24 (CSB)
The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor.
Proverbs 13:22 (CSB)
A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren…
Proverbs 14:23 (CSB)
There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 20:13 (CSB)
Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.
Proverbs 28:19 (CSB)
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
3. Be Smart.
Proverbs 6:1-5 (CSB)
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor or entered into an agreement with a stranger, 2 you have been snared by the words of your mouth — trapped by the words from your mouth. 3 Do this, then, my son, and free yourself, for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power: Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor. 4 Don’t give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. 5 Escape like a gazelle from a hunter, like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
Proverbs 11:15, 24 (CSB)
15 If someone puts up security for a stranger, he will suffer for it, but the one who hates such agreements is protected. 24 One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
Proverbs 13:7 (CSB)
One person pretends to be rich but has nothing; another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth.
Proverbs 13:8 (CSB)
Riches are a ransom for a person’s life, but a poor person hears no threat.
Proverbs 22:7 (CSB)
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.
4. Don’t Cheat.
Proverbs 11:1 (CSB)
Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord, but an accurate weight is his delight.
Proverbs 20:17 (CSB)
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.
Proverbs 22:1 (CSB)
A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.
Proverbs 28:6 (CSB)
Better the poor person who lives with integrity than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.
Proverbs 28:20, 22 (CSB)
20 A faithful person will have many blessings, but one in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished. 22 A greedy one is in a hurry for wealth; he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.