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Wisdom From Proverbs:
Our Proper Attitude Toward Our Possessions
1. Don't make material wealth your main goal in life.
Proverbs 23:4-5:
"Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle"
The Cat's In the Cradle
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say 'I'm gonna be like you, Dad'
'You know I'm gonna be like you'
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
'When you coming home, Dad?' 'I don't know when'
But we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach to throw, I said, not today
I got a lot to do, he said that's okay
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed
It said, I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him.
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
'When you coming home, Dad?' 'I don't know when'
But we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then
Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
'When you coming home, son?' 'I don't know when'
But we'll get together, Dad
You know we'll have a good time then
I've long since retired and my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, I'd like to see you if you don't mind
He said, I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me.
Chapin/CCLI#516524
2. Be satisfied with "just enough"--with whatever God gives you.
Proverbs 30:1-3:
"The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh--an oracle:
This man declared to Ithiel,
to Ithiel and Ucal:
'I am the most ignorant of men;
I do not have a man's understanding.
I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One."
Proverbs 30:7-9:
"Two things I ask of you, O LORD,
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God."
1 Timothy 6:7-8:
"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take
nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will
be content with that."
3. Beware of ill-gotten possessions.
Proverbs 10:2:
"Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,
but righteousness delivers from death."
Proverbs 20:17:
"Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel."
Proverbs 21:6:
"A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare."
Proverbs 28:8:
"He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest
amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor."
4. Beware of quick riches; don't try to strike it rich all at once.
Proverbs 28:19:
"He who works his land will have abundant food,
but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty."
Proverbs 13:11b:
". . . he who gathers money little by little makes it grow."
5. Don't trust in your wealth or material possessions.
Proverbs 11:4:
"Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death."
NLT: "Riches won't help on the day of judgment,
but right living is a safeguard against death."
Proverbs 11:28:
"Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf."
NLT: "Trust in your money and down you go!
But the godly flourish like leaves in spring."
Proverbs 18:11:
"The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
they imagine it an unscalable wall."
1 Timothy 6:17-19:
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be
arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain,
but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with
everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good,
to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to
share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves
as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may
take hold of the life that is truly life."
6. Prize the righteous life with its fruit more than material riches.
Proverbs 15:16:
"Better a little with the fear of the LORD
than great wealth with turmoil."
Proverbs 16:16:
"How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver!"
Proverbs 28:6:
"Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
than a rich man whose ways are perverse."
NLT: "It is better to be poor and honest than rich and crooked."
Mark 8:36:
"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"
7. Honor the LORD with your possessions, and He will provide for your needs.
Proverbs 3:9-10:
Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine."
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