Proverbs seems to promise wealth to all who are obedient to God and ply his wisdom.
Motivating a building project at your church? Preaching series in Nehemiah. Financial giving is dropping off? Pulpit thumping sermons from Malachi. And whatever the occasion, in and out of season, have Jeremiah 29:11 handy. Though said tongue-in-cheek, this is tragically how the Old Testament is often treated and taught, as little more than a collection of unrelated stories, poetry, and laws to prop up whatever we need it to. This is no different when it comes to the book of Proverbs, which seems to promise wealth to all who are obedient to God and ply his wisdom.
But in the seven short points below, adapted from Tremper Longman’s How to Read Proverbs, I hope to persuade you that things are more nuanced than that.
1. God Blesses the Wise With Wealth (Proverbs 3:9-10, 15-16; 10:22)
This is an unavoidable conclusion as you read the book of Proverbs. But we must remember that the genre of wisdom employs principles that are generally true rather than unconditional promises and strict formulas.
Wisdom employs principles that are generally true rather than unconditional promises.
Material gain will result from wisdom, for God rewards those who honour and obey him. Furthermore, wealth can make life’s challenges easier to navigate (Proverbs 10:15-16). Thus wealth is both a blessing of wisdom and one that when wisely put to use greatly assists us in living. Because God orders our universe, our actions have consequences; this is positively seen when wisdom results in material blessing.
2. Foolish Behaviour Leads to Poverty (Proverbs 10:4-5; 6:6-11)
This is vividly portrayed in the contrast between the hard worker and the sluggard (Proverbs 26:13-15). While laziness is the primary reason given for poverty in Proverbs, other follies are given: over-indulgence (Proverbs 21:17); oppression of the poor (Proverbs 22:16); even being frugal or stingy (Proverbs 11:24). This means that though folly or laziness might be the cause of poverty, it is not necessarily the cause (see point four, below).
How to Read Proverbs
Tremper Longman III
How to Read Proverbs
Tremper Longman III
In How to Read Proverbs Tremper Longman III provides a welcome guide to reading and studying, understanding and savouring the Proverbs for all their wisdom. Most important for Christian readers, we gain insight into how Christ is the climax and embodiment of wisdom.
God urges us to be productive not lazy.
In Proverbs, God urges us to be productive not lazy. Contrast with the previous point, God’s wisely ordered universe means that, generally speaking: if you are foolish and lazy, you will suffer want.
3. The Wealth of Fools Will Not Last (Proverbs 13:11; 21:6; 22:16; 23:4-5)
Proverbs raises the tension of the wealthy wicked or rich fools and righteous sufferers (so Psalm 73). This is an uncomfortable and confronting question that arises from a mere glance at our world. But Proverbs 11:18 reads, “Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.” Money is not as precious as right living for it cannot avert judgment (Proverb 11:4).
Money cannot avert judgment.
Despite God blessing the wise with wealth, it cannot be your security, nor should you conclude from your wealth that you are righteous. Sinners can be wealthy while the wise suffer. The ultimate difference between those two groups of people in Proverbs is not how much they have but who they serve; which God they worship.
4. Poverty Is Often the Result of Injustice and Oppression
Wisdom involves knowing when laziness is the cause of poverty as opposed to circumstances or injustice (Proverbs 13:23). Since God’s world isn’t mechanical and the human condition is complex, the poor person might be wiser than the wealthy (Proverbs 16:8). “The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both (Proverbs 22:2). Therefore, poverty is not necessarily the fruit of laziness or folly.
The Bible knows many righteous and godly people who suffered greatly.
The Bible knows many righteous and godly people who suffered greatly with persevering faith and integrity. Jesus comes to mind first. It is therefore a terribly reductionistic, not to mention far from biblical, assumption that poverty and suffering are the results of a lack of wisdom, or faith.
5. Those With Money Must Be Generous (Proverbs 29:7; 3:27-28)
This principle is surely not one many would need to be convinced of; while neither Old or New Testament people of God practised communism, they were expected to share the wealth God had entrusted to them.
Being generous in order to get something is selfishness.
There are rewards and blessings for being generous (Proverbs 29:14; 28:27; 11:24). This idea is picked up by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8-9. In both Old and New Testaments we must recognise that being generous in order to get something in return is not actually generosity; it is selfishness. Again, because Proverbs presents us with generally true cases: generosity is not a formula for gaining wealth. We do not seek blessings from God through generosity, rather we should seek to bless others generously, doing so wisely (Proverbs 6:1-5).
6. Wisdom Is Better Than Wealth (Proverbs 3:14-16)
Proverbs makes things relative using better-than forms (Proverbs 15:16, 17; 16:8, 16; 17:1; 22:1; 28:6). Repeatedly the book insists that wealth ranks far beneath godly fear of the Lord.
Wisdom may not necessarily bear the fruit of wealth but it should shape how we live.
Furthermore, Proverbs provides numerous characteristics that are more important than having wealth: peace (Proverbs 15:16; 17:1), loving relationships (Proverbs 15:17), honesty (Proverbs 16:8; 28:6), and a good reputation (Proverbs 22:1). These flow from wisdom (16:16), which is almost synonymous with reverent fear of the Lord (Proverbs 15:16) and godliness (16:8). So while wisdom may not necessarily bear the fruit of wealth it should shape how we live, to love others and trust God.
7. Wealth Has Limited Value (Proverbs 11:4)
Wisdom enacted in right living keeps us from dangerous situations (Proverbs 6:34; 2:11). But wealth can be troublesome (Proverbs 13:8), exposing the rich to scorn (Proverbs 19:10) and bringing false friends (Proverbs 14:20).
Wealth can be troublesome.
All of our points above, taken together with this final one, should warn us that it is foolish to: measure faith by wealth; to think that wisdom (and our relationship with God) is a means to wealth; and that we should pursue wealth above godliness, virtue and generosity. God has much greater things in store for us than those that can be stolen, rust and cannot last into eternity.
