Ruling Over Wealth

Article from Morningstar Ministries written by Rick Joyner

For the last three weeks we have been addressing one of the more popular Scriptures of our time, Proverbs 13:22, “…the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” This is a true promise that is corroborated by many other biblical prophecies. It will come to pass for those who are prepared for it, and should be part of our preparation for these times.

In Proverbs 8:18 wisdom personified says, ”Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.” It is apparent from the Scriptures that the pursuit of wisdom, not wealth, is the path to true, enduring wealth. It is also clear that wealth received before wisdom is a curse, not a blessing.

A good example of this is from the reports on how winning the lottery changed the lives of those who won. It seems that most not only lose their winnings after a short period of time, but they end up in even worse poverty than before, becoming bitter, without friends, and without the jobs that they used to have. There may be some who are better off because of winning the lottery, but I am yet to hear a story of any single lottery winner whose life is better off just five years after their “great fortune.”

For these it seems that Proverbs 23:4-5 is especially appropriate: “Do not weary yourself 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.” As Proverbs 28:22 confirms, “A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth, and does not know that want will come upon him.” The apostle Paul gives the most poignant exhortations concerning this in I Timothy 6:3-10:

If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.

For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.

Yet, as Proverbs 8:18 that was previously quoted states, there is an enduring wealth that comes from the pursuit of wisdom. Proverbs 15:6 also declares, “Much wealth is in the house of the righteous.” It seems that we have a paradox here, but there is really no conflict in the teaching of Scripture concerning wealth. The key seems to be that those who pursue wealth are not likely to keep it long after they gain it and will also gather troubles with it. However, those who pursue wisdom and righteousness can be trusted with wealth and it will be a blessing to them.

Read entire article on Morningstar Ministries.