Proverbs 10: The Acid Test Pt. 3

Finances as an Acid Test of Character

All right, we're studying the book of Proverbs. We've been doing that for, oh, I guess two, three years now, working our way through the book. And today's lesson is called the acid test. What we're doing is we're working our way systematically through the book of Proverbs.

And we're pausing at each theme, because we're in the section where there's a multiple of themes in one chapter. So when we come to one particular theme, we're then using that as a stepping stone to continue with everything in that topic.

This morning, we're continuing the topic of finances. We began several months ago using these verses, Proverbs 10, 15, and 16. The rich man's wealth is his fortress. The ruin of the poor is their poverty.

The wages of the righteous is life. The income of the wicked, punishment. And we use that as a stepping stone. And we're going to continue with that today. So I want to begin with this little story. It says, one Sunday morning, when the ushers were about to take the offering, Dr. John brought us, I don't know if anybody's ever heard of him, the pastor of a church.

He left the pulpit when the ushers came forward. And he followed the ushers around, and he watched every penny, nickel, dime, quarter, every dollar that went into the offering plate. The reaction of the congregation was mixed.

Some were very angry and expressed that anger. Others seemed confused. Others seemed to be ashamed. Others just sat in amazement, not really believing what had just happened. But all were quite surprised.

When he returned to the pulpit, this is what he had said. He said, my people, if you take it to heart that I have seen your offerings this day, and know just what sacrifices you have made and what sacrifices you have not made, remember that the Son of God, your Savior, goes about the aisles with every usher and sees with his sleepless eye every cent put into the collection by his people.

I am not endorsing his methodology. In fact, we make a point that the eldership of this church not be involved in the collection of the offering, the counting of it. So we have no idea how much people give or don't give, because we don't want that to factor into how we perform our function as elders.

But the point is well taken, that the Bible addresses the subject of tithes, offerings, and it is something that each believer should be aware of. So this morning what we're doing is we're concluding a three-part series on a biblical view of money, wealth, and poverty.

Now, we've already seen that our view of money tells us something about the character of a person, and we've seen that in both of the last two breakfasts that we've had. And in one sense, we said that you could say that our use of money, or not even just our use of money, but our view of finances and wealth is an acid test of our character, because it really does get to the bottom line.

In our first study, the title of it was If I Were a Rich Man, and we learned the following principles. Firstly, we saw that wealth, or money, is not inherently evil, as some would put forth. Second point we looked at was that it's morally good to work for financial success.

We also learned that there are some things that are more important than money. For example, righteousness, reputation, seeking wisdom, seeking the kingdom of God first. Fourth point that we learned in that first message was don't romanticize either poverty or wealth, and we'll pick up a little bit more on that even this morning.

Probably the most important point is that greed is always sin. In our second study, we titled it You Can't Take It With You, and we learned these following points. Righteousness sometimes, according to the word, is financially rewarded.

Second thing we learned was the financial end does not justify the means. Third point was poverty is not the worst thing that can happen to you. If you do find yourself with limited finances, it's not the worst thing in the world.

We also learned that riches are not trustworthy for this life, nor the next. So this morning, we're going to continue. Actually, we're going to conclude our study. And the first point we're going to make is money is a tool to advance God's kingdom.

Money as a Tool to Advance God's Kingdom

That's an important point for all believers if we're going to have a biblical worldview concerning money. So let's just look at the topic of money in particular. From the earliest times, there have been some kind of medium for the exchange of goods and services.

Could be the barter system, livestock or produce, but whatever you're using, it is a medium of exchange. Obviously, it developed in precious metals and gemstones. And ultimately, societies established a currency.

I'm not going to be discussing the currency that we use, the legitimacy of it or the illegitimacy of it. That's not the point that we're going to be looking at this morning. We're concerned mostly here with our personal finances and our personal view of money and how that works.

But God sanctions the use of money, and we see that throughout the scripture. The Bible makes it very clear that God provides for his people pardon me for small g there, provides for his people so that they may accomplish his purpose on earth.

That's an important point. God provides for his people so that we may accomplish his purpose on earth. Notice the topic heading, money is a tool to advance God's kingdom. Jesus gave his disciples the greatest commission ever given to any group of individuals in the history of the world.

He told them he was going to use them to make disciples of all the nations. He promised them that they would be successful in the commission that he gave them, Matthew 16, 18. And he promises all through the scripture, both Old and New Testaments, to provide everything that is necessary to accomplish this mission.

And that would include the finances to go through it. Of course, the primary tools that he gives us to accomplish this task are his word and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. That's got to be primary.

But since we live in a material world, he has also promised to supply all of our physical needs as well. Paul writes to the church in Philippi, but I have received everything in full and have an abundance.

I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma and acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. He's talking about finances there. And my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Now again, it's above money, but it's including money that is necessary. Remember, money is a tool to advance the kingdom of God. We have a major problem, though. Sinful man forgets the goal and focuses on the tools, and that is wealth.

I have an example that I want to use here. I worked with a man on the police department who loved tools. And he knew that I was somewhat of a semi-carpenter in my day. And he says, have I ever showed you my tool collection?

I said, no. So he took me to his house. We went into his basement. And he had legitimately every tool that you can possibly think of that Home Depot sold, not just one, but as many as five of each tool.

He had five routers still in boxes. I said, Mike, I don't see that. Which router are you using? Oh, he said, I've never used one. I said, do you know how to use it? He says, no, I don't even know what they're for.

He had, without question, tens of thousands of dollars worth of tools, most of them still in the boxes. So I asked him, I says, what are you doing? You're not a carpenter. You're not a woodworker. What are you doing with them?

He says, I just love tools. Unfortunately, he lost sight of the fact that the tools were meant to be used to build something. And he had no goal or objective in sight just to have tools. Sadly, many Christians are just like my friend.

They spend their lives chasing after money. They mass large amounts of things, and they lose sight of the objective. For yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. That gives us a great example and motivation on how we should view money. Remember, money is the tool to advance God's kingdom. I want to continue by looking at what are the biblical priorities in finances.

Biblical Priorities in Finances

Well, firstly, the tithe. Now, this is not going to be a lesson on tithing, but you can't talk about finances without talking about the tithe. Proverbs 3, 9 and 10, honor the Lord from your wealth, from the first of all your produce.

So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. Now, again, this is not a study on the principle of tithing, but you can't talk about having a biblical view of money without talking about at least mentioning tithing.

Remember, this is a study on a biblical view of money, wealth, and finances. And we need to bring all of our thoughts underneath the biblical worldview. One of the things that we teach here in this church is to have a biblical view of all of the world.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him. That means there's no area of our lives which is not under the lordship of Christ and that the Bible does not address.

A lot of people treat, quote, religion or Christianity like Time Magazine. You ever, anybody read Time Magazine? Time Magazine has various sections. They have a national section, you know, with national news, international, local news, and have a section for arts.

They have a section for science. Oh, and then they have a section for religion, okay? And a lot of people treat Christianity just like that. Oh, it's just one little slice of my life. No, Christianity overreaches, and the biblical worldview tells us how we are to approach every aspect of life.

In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he'll direct your paths. Tithing comes under the heading of money, wealth, and finances and under the lordship of Christ. So if you're looking for guidance on how to use your money wisely, there's no better place to look than the Book of Proverbs.

And just a lot of people, one of the objections that elders hear a lot is, well, tithing is not mentioned in the New Testament. It's only an old covenant thing. Well, it is mentioned in the Law of Moses, but it's mentioned before.

Remember, Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek. So the principle of tithing precedes the old covenant law. Tithing is God's plan for funding his work in the church. One of the things that you will not see in this church is a thermometer with a gauge of how much money we need.

We leave that up to the individual. We don't do fundraisings. You're not gonna see a GoFundMe page for Hope Reform Baptist Church or anything like that. Those of us who are committed to membership, it's up to us to finance the operation of the church.

And that's the way we do it. That's why you will never hear an appeal for money from the pulpit or anything like that. We merely report, we publish the budget, you know what we need, and then it's up to the individual membership.

So, but tithing is also a means of blessing for the people of God. Tithing is an act of obedience and faith. In fact, I remember when I was a new pastor sitting in with my previous pastor, and somebody, a man came in for counseling, and he says, you know, Pastor, I can't afford to tithe.

And he looked right at me and he says, you can't afford not to. I just thought that was profound. Tithe, this gives you a biblical perspective on tithing. Malachi 3, will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me, but you say, how are we robbing you?

In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. And test me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

Second principle, first is tithing. We put that to the side. Biblical priorities is taking care of your household. First Timothy 5, eight, but if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

There's a priority. So when we're starting to look about making our budgets for the year and things like that, we're obligated to take care of our own household. 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.

Notice how much the Bible has to say about finances. It never condenses. Some people misapply that verse. It says, you know, money is the root. The love of money is the root of all evil. Not money itself.

There's nothing wrong with having money and even having a lot of it. It's what we do with it. It's our view towards it. So the second priority is providing for your own household. Third one is to take care of the household of faith.

First Timothy is one of those pastoral epistles. It was written specifically to a young pastor by the apostle Paul, telling him how to handle things in the household of faith. And it contains teaching for the whole church as well, but specific instructions for pastors.

And in First Timothy five, which is too long to read it this morning, Timothy gives, Paul gives Timothy specific instructions for taking care, how to take care of widows and orphans, which is our obligation.

And I have to tell you, this is one of these areas where as a pastor and as pastors, that we are so grateful for this congregation because there has never come up a need, not only within the household of faith, but even within the community that this church has not failed, has failed to meet.

And we always maintain a very healthy balance in our benevolent fund. So my, you know, it's our job to rebuke you if you're not doing something right, but it's also our job to commend you when you are doing something right.

And this congregation is in fact a very, very generous congregation. I'm only saying that once. I don't want you to get big heads. Then taking care of the needy in general. Proverbs 11, 24, 25. There is one who scatters yet increases all the more.

And there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. The generous man will prosper. And he who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 19, 17. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord.

That's an interesting concept. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord and he will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 28, 27. He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

Remember, biblical view of finances. Couple of principles. The character of a man is reflected in his handling his finances. Are you selfless or self-denying? Selfish or self-denying? That's the question.

Is it me first or others are more important? Remember, that's what we're taught from the Sermon on the Mount is putting others first. Sometimes we forget that that includes our finances. Here's a good question.

Why do I want to raise more money in general? So I can buy more stuff? Or so I have enough to share with others? The Apostle Paul, in the book of Ephesians, where he's admonishing to put off the old man and put on the new.

He says, let him who stole steal no more, but rather let him labor with his hands. And then he finishes that by saying, why does he want to labor with his hands? So that he makes enough, not only for himself, but that he can share with others.

This raise will enable me to spread the gospel more effectively. Is that the way we think? It's the way we should be thinking. Next point is from the scriptures, we're always admonished to handle your finances wisely.

We're taught to handle our finances in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and which reflects the general teaching of scripture. The whole book of Proverbs is geared to make one wise. Remember, wisdom for life.

That's the title of our whole series on Proverbs. And remember what our definition of wisdom is. It's the ability to handle life with skill. It's taking the doctrine that we learn and how do we implement that into practice?

Book of Proverbs. So the first principle under handling finance wisely, don't be naive, understand the marketplace. We live in a material world. Money is one of the necessities of life. If you're gonna go out and make money, understand the marketplace.

Don't be naive. Proverbs 13, seven. There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth. Understand that you're gonna come across these people in the marketplace.

Don't be taken in. Proverbs, it gets very practical. He says, look at what it says in 20, 14. Bad, bad, says the buyer, but when he goes away, he boasts. How true is that? Remember, Proverbs is not condemning, it was not condoning this behavior.

Proverbs is merely telling you this is the way it is in the marketplace.

Beware.

There is gold in an abundance of jewels, but the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing. And here, Proverbs gets very practical. Take his garment when it becomes a charity for a stranger and for foreigners, hold him in pledge.

In other words, if you're gonna deal with somebody who's being foolish in their finances, better make sure you can handle yours. Manage your resources well. Proverbs 27, 23 to 27. Know well the condition of your flocks.

Pay attention to your herds. For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. When the grass disappears, new grass is seen, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in. The lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will bring the price of field.

And there will be goats milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and sustenance for your maidens. Just look at that for a second. And the reason I included that in here, obviously he's talking to an agrarian society, but he's saying know your environment.

Know the marketplace that you're in. And the same admonitions would be for us. How you make your money, albeit it must be an honest way, but know the field that you're in. Know how you're dealing. Plan for the future.

Planning for the future is not a lack of faith. It's actually a part of your faith is planning for the future. And here he tells the goat herders exactly what they must do. Avoid borrowing and lending.

The Bible, let me say this. Again, this is one of those portions of scripture that is often misconstrued and we're told, I know I was told when I was a young man in church, it's a sin to borrow or lend money.

Bible doesn't say that. It says avoid borrowing and lending.

Why?

Because each one has its pitfalls, being a borrower or being a lender. Each one has a pitfall. The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives. Some of the best advice that I've heard, especially, and we'll get to it in a minute, where we see that there are guidelines that the Bible puts down for lending, especially to the household of faith.

Again, the Bible doesn't forbid borrowing or lending. In fact, the scripture gives guidelines for lenders. Now look at this. Now this is not a general admonition that you can't charge interest if you lend money, but it's to the household of faith.

Look what it says. If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him, you shall not charge him interest. If you ever take your neighbor's coat as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, for that is his only covering.

It is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about when he cries out to me, I will hear him, for I am gracious. What do you think about that? I'm going to open it up at this point.

What do you think about that admonition? How would that apply to the church today? Yeah, there's a couple of principles involved. Notice it says, if you lend money to my people, right? Firstly, it's different from within the household of faith.

Why do you think he makes this, why does he make such a difference between the household of faith and the general public? Yeah, because there needs to be unity within the household of faith. You can't take advantage of a person, or there's an opportunity for seeds of discord to be sown within the body if he can't make payments, et cetera.

So, that's one of the reasons. I mean, there's some legal reasons too, but periodically we have somebody in the church who falls short and they need a little money, and they come and they say, you know, can the church help me out?

Can the church loan me some money?

Nope.

If you have a legitimate need, we'll give you money.

All right?

But we're not in the business of making loans. Yeah, and John is right. When, if somebody comes looking for help from the Benevolent Fund, we always do a little investigation and find out why are they in that need, and is there something that they're not doing with their finances that they should be doing?

Again, what is the goal? The goal is to advance the kingdom, and we're not gonna become, you know, money lenders. Still underhandling your finances wisely. Got a list of things. I actually stole this from Greg Bonson, so, but he doesn't care.

He's in heaven. These are avoidable causes of poverty. Laziness. Proverbs 6, verse 9 to 11. "'How long will you lie down, O sluggard? "'When will you arise from your sleep? "'A little sleep, a little slumber, "'a little folding of the hands to rest, "'and your poverty will come in like a vagabond, "'and your need like an armed man.'".

Laziness, obviously, is one cause, and it's avoidable. "'In all labor there is profit, "'but mere talk leads only to poverty.'". You notice you can put a modern spin, and we could change this to more modern language, and it just fits our society to a T.

You ever meet somebody who's, he's gonna talk, he's telling you how he's gonna make a million dollars, and 10 years later, he's still looking to make his first buck, let alone a million. He's still talking.

An inordinate love of pleasure. There's nothing wrong with pleasure. I notice it's an inordinate love of pleasure. Proverbs 21, 17, "'He who loves pleasure "'will become a poor man. "'He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.'".

And again, this is an inordinate. This is not a prohibition of drinking wine. Proverbs 23, 21, "'For the heavy drinker "'and the glutton will come to poverty, "'and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.'".

Proverbs 28, 19, "'He who tilts his land "'will have plenty of food, "'but he who follows empty pursuits "'will have poverty in plenty.'". So lovers of pleasure. Carelessness and haste, and that would include get-rich-quick schemes.

And apparently we know that millionaires are not immune to the falling prey, to get-rich-quick schemes. I mean, Bernie Madoff has proved that, and how many other people come along with glib tongues, and people just don't follow the proper principles of taking care of their finances, and they fall prey to all kinds of get-rich-quick schemes.

Proverbs 10, "'Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, "'but the hand of the diligent makes rich.'". 21, 5, "'The plans of the diligent "'lead surely to advantage, "'but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.'".

Proverbs 28, 20, "'A faithful man will abound in blessings, "'but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.'". In other words, God takes care of it. Being unteachable, another cause of poverty.

"'The ransom of a man's life is his riches, "'but the poor hears no rebuke.'". You ever try to explain something to an unteachable person? There's always a but. Oh yeah, I understand what you're saying, but, you know.

Proverbs 13, 18, "'Poverty and shame will come to him "'who neglects discipline, "'but he who regards reproof will be honored.'". And then the final word. Just consider the amount of teaching on wealth and finances in the Bible.

If you go down and list every verse or every portion, it's overwhelming. And it's interesting how often Christians wanna separate their handling of money from the biblical principles, when it's the Bible who overwhelmingly teaches us how to handle our finances.

And that tells us how we handle our money is important to God, just by the sheer number of verses. It reveals our inner character. And then there's one final word on the subject, from the lips of Jesus.

Remember in Matthew 6, in the Sermon on the Mount, after demonstrating that God takes care of even the animals, remember not a sparrow falls to earth, that God is not aware of it, how much more he loves his people, et cetera.

After he gives all that admonition, he says this, do not worry then, what will we eat? What will we drink? Or what will we wear for clothing? That's his summation. And then, but verse 32 is very, very important.

For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, for your heavenly father knows that you need all these things. Notice what he's saying. If you're seeking the material necessities, and I'm talking necessities.

That's what Jesus is referring to. If you're seeking the necessities as your priority, you're thinking like a pagan, because that's what he says. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Now again, he's not talking about wealth, he's talking about the necessities of life. Don't worry. If you're seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness first, God will see that you have the necessities of life.

So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Final thoughts or questions? Well, I think it just falls under the same admonition. You need to be cautious in what you're doing.

If it's a legitimate banking or that type of institution, it seems to me that we would want them to be Christian. In fact, we actually did that. We used the Christian credit union. And one of the selling points for us was that all the money that we're depositing into that credit union is going only to Christian organizations.

So I think that's legitimate. This is, I think what Exodus is referring to more is like an individual. It's more talking about as an individual, if you're gonna lend money within the household of faith, which I would say would be more like within your church, that just be careful.

That would be my take on it. Good question. Okay.