The desire to get richer for selfish reasons will only lead to an impoverished life. The best reason to make more money is so that you can give it away.
At the end of our lives, God will know how much we spent, saved, and sacrificed.
Proverbs 11:23-31
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
26 The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
31 If the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
- The value of one’s ambition is determined by the motive (11:23).
- The willing finds wealth, but the withholding finds want (11:24).
- You strengthen yourself when you strengthen another (11:25).
- Positive business practices should be a blessing to all involved (11:26).
- Expect to reap whatever you sow (11:27).
- No amount of wealth is secure enough to trust in it (11:28).
- Don’t make choices for which your family has to pay the consequences (11:29).
- The most significant investments we can make will have eternal implications (11:30).
- Each of us will be repaid based on how we lived our lives and how we spent our money (11:31).
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce (Prov. 3:9).
- Make more money so that you can invest in more ministry.
- How could you further honor God with your generosity?
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.