MONEY

(Further reflection on “Protection”—Sunday 29-May-2022)—Bible verses are in NASB, ESV, NIV

Let's talk about money. It is the most desired thing on planet earth, humanly speaking. It is the symbol of success and power. It sure can build as well as destroy, depending on how its possessors use and be used by it. We know this, “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 griefs (1 Timothy 6:10).” We also know, “For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors (Ecclesiastes 7:12).” So there are two things at least in these two passages that we keep money wisely and in godly manner.

First, it is not money, but the love of it that is a root of sorts of evil. Second, money is a form of protection that the Lord grants through social/economical activities under the sun. Although money can bring protection in some ways, wisdom from the Lord God triumphs. It can preserve the lives of its possessors. In other words, the life of those who have wisdom are saved and spared from danger and death (which can be both physical/spiritual). As with natural or financial resources, money needs to be acquired through labor. So does the wisdom of God. In order to have God’s wisdom, we are called to acquire wisdom and understanding (cf. Proverbs 4:7). But how? By simply hearing, receiving, and living out God’s word wholeheartedly and obeying Him. The wisdom of God cannot be acquired casually. It needs to be sought out with all of our being and willingness to wholeheartedly obey and put His word into daily practice, which brings growth in relationship with Christ Jesus who is greater than the wisest king who ever lived, King Solomon (cf. 1 Kings 5:29-34; 10:23-24; Matthew 12:42). However, God’s wisdom that was deposited into Solomon’s life did not quite fully translate into godly character formation. And since he already had wealth and power which usually are insatiable, his love and undistracted devotion to the Lord was slowly diminishing due to his love for “foreign” (non-Israelites) women (the intent was to seek political powers through expanding allies "foreign" kings) and this violated God’s instruction (cf. 1 Kings 11:1-2). He no longer heeded God’s wisdom but began to be wise in His own eyes (measurements and definition), which is by definition, foolishness.

God’s wisdom, in Proverbs, was made available through a very clear guidance (instructions/warnings/discipline) in a conditional clause “if…then...” Although we are grateful to have freedom of choice, we must be very careful with the choice we make, because no one ever had freedom from consequences.

When it comes to money, how one views and uses it reflect one's wisdom in the Lord. If money is seen as a self-made success, then it's likely that money will be mainly an expression of self which eventually is going to be destructive. Now if money is viewed as God's resources or provision for His purpose and glory, then it needs to be stewarded or managed by the wisdom God had given to those who seek and treasure them more than gold/silver/money. We are told, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity (Ecclesiastes 5:10).” Jesus said to the man who asked Him to be a judge/arbitrator over his family financial disputes: “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions (Luke 12:15).”

Wisdom of the Lord warns us about the love money and gives us the perspective on wisdom and money as His protection. Nothing is wrong with wealth, but is is very foolish to love wealth. It is quite obvious that those who love wealth will not be satisfied and never find it enough. And those who love the Lord, who is the Giver of every good gifts (cf. James 1:17) will always find satisfaction and have enough and usually more than enough. For we know, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16:13).” Now Jesus warned His disciples about “thieves” who comes only to steal and kill and destroy, but Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly (cf. John 10:10). Thieves are anyone who claim or promise life or wealth outside Jesus, perhaps the equivalence of popular messages on self-made success, wealth, health, and spirituality without Christ. Now most Christians have no problem with saying ‘amen’ to the above passages, but very few dare to live them out wholeheartedly. Those who do, they walk with the Lord and serve Him faithfully in every aspect of their life and the byproduct is His protection and provision. And those who don’t, they struggle to barely having enough because of their resistance or ‘stiffneckedness’ to God’s calling to heed His word. It is also because they have ‘my way’ of definition on "enough"—wanting to be wise in their eyes and they cannot run away from consequences of the “If…then…” truth (Proverbs 2:1-22 and throughout the Book of Proverbs).

May the Lord bless those who heed His wisdom and be merciful to those who are struggling in hearing, receiving, and living out His word.

— Pastor Lap