SOLOMON ON WEALTH 2

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding… Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor.” ~ Ecclesiastes 5:13&16

REFERENCE: 

Proverbs 3:13-16

Yesterday, we began to learn from Solomon, the wealthiest biblical figure with uncommon wisdom and wealth, the principles of gaining and keeping wealth. Some practices and mindsets can keep a person poor or rich. King Solomon has seen it all, and in his writings, he offers us wisdom tips to help our financial destiny. Let us again listen to Solomon on wealth:

a.     Reckless Spending (Proverbs 21:20): What keeps many from financial security is careless, thoughtless, impulsive spending. God often provides enough for our needs, but we soon get into a spend/buy mode and use the money on things we did not budget for. We are more spenders than savers or investors. Living like this is a sure ticket to living in perpetual lack.

b.     Funding Bad Habits (Proverbs 29:3): The man in this verse spends on prostitutes. You will be financially wrecked if you are bound to any bad habit. Bad habits become addictions and soon dictate what you do with your money; you no longer have a say. Alcohol, drugs, smoking, gambling, womanizing, betting, etc., are great potential wealth thieves.

c.     Dishonest Dealings (Proverbs 13:11): Being dishonest in business will get you money, but you will never know true riches. A business built on cheating, extortion, lies, unjust scales/ weighs, selling fake as original, etc., will gain wealth, but it will diminish. It seems that it will be difficult to pass it on to the next generation. A misfortune comes and wipes it away.

d.     Dogged Businesslike Attitude (Proverbs 11:16): The KJV uses ‘strong’ instead of ‘ruthless’ to describe men who retain riches. The positive connotation of this verse is, “If you want to be wealthy, you cannot be a ‘goody-two-shoes’ in business or trade.” You cannot be unmindful of the affairs of your business, always giving out freebies, being lax with your debtors, or being too lenient with your workers. Strength, seriousness, and strictness are needed to engage your staff, clients, suppliers, bankers, etc., in order to acquire and retain wealth.

How do you rate yourself considering these practical wisdom tips of Solomon on wealth? Can you relate to any of these principles, whether positive or negative? What will you do differently? Can you identify a habit or practice that makes financial security or freedom elude you? Until you are financially free, you are not free. Wisdom cries out to you today; heed her voice!

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS 

(Ensure you read each of the texts for the points above)

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PRAYER:

Lord, help me to be a good manager of the resources You give me. I refuse to be a mindless spender and squanderer of wealth/riches. I receive the discipline to break free from habits that drain me of money and the serious-mindedness that I need to run all my affairs professionally and in such a way that will bring profit to me and Your kingdom, in Jesus’ name.