This devotional does not perfectly fit the subject of this series of devotionals, but I came across this passage in my daily devotions and thought it would be good to add.
Where should I place my Trust?
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
Trusting the Lord means understanding His Word (the Bible) and obeying the commands and principles found in the Bible. Trusting Him in this way at times seems counter intuitive (crazy). This is particularly true when it comes to our finances. As we will see, God expects us to give to Him the first part of what He has given to us–How crazy is that?
Can the acquisition of Wealth become too Important?
Proverbs 23:4–5 Do not weary your self to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
Like any other thing, when wealth becomes the main motivational factor of our lives, it becomes an idol–something good that becomes bad (evil) when placed too high in our list of priorities. We must worship the creator not the created.
About what should I boast?
Jeremiah 9:23–24 Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah reminds us not to boast of our wisdom, might or riches. Wisdom is a good thing as are riches and might. The point is that our our boast, our confidence should be the Lord. He is the One who ultimately protects us, not our wisdom or riches or might, but the Lord God Almighty who fights for us and protects us. He protects and provides for us.
Is Wealth Good or Bad?
Proverbs 3:16 Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
This Proverb is referring to wisdom when it uses the personal pronoun “her”. Notice that long life, riches and honor are the by-products of living according to wisdom. Therefore, we may safely say that riches are not a bad thing but a good gift from God to those who love and fear Him first and who seek to live in accordance with His instruction.
How much do I trust the Lord?
Proverbs 3:9–10 Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.
This is an admonition to give the first portion of our wealth back to God, who first gave it to us. Giving to God in this age means giving to churches and missionaries and ministries in order to make the gospel of Jesus Christ known. As I said above, this may seem counter intuitive, but it is clearly the way of God. What a wonderful way to show our trust in God by giving generously from what He has given to us to support Christian workers, Christian churches, and Christian ministries.
What does the Scripture say is true for those who give the first part of their income back to God?
Observations:
1. Everything begins with trust in God.
2. All good things come from trusting God.
3. Might, wisdom or riches must not become more important than knowing God, because that would deform them, making them into idols.
4. Might, riches and wisdom are good, wonderful as a by product of loving and pursuing God.
5. The priority of giving to God reflects our trust in God.
6. Proverbs 3:10 explains that those who faithfully give the first part of their income are rewarded with more riches.