Did you know that the Bible gives principles that millions of people have used to get rich without hard work? The book of Proverbs explains the wisdom of God's law in very practical ways. It addresses the topic of money more often than any other book. According to Proverbs, three of the "get rich quick" strategies are: lying, injustice, and robbery! Of course, the author of Proverbs also strongly warns against these things. Here's what I'm referring to:
"A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare" (Proverbs 21:6). Notice that the verse affirms that you can make a fortune through lying, but it also warns that it will not last and that it brings dangers that are not worth it.
Or, "Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice" (Proverbs 16:8). Again, you can make much gain through injustice, but it is better to be just and gain only a little.
In the opening chapter a group of thieves invite a young man to kill someone and take their possessions. They promise to "get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder." However, Proverbs tells us that in reality they "lie in wait for their own blood," and that "all who go after ill-gotten gain" do not come out ahead (Proverbs 1:13, 18-19). You can get rich this way, but it isn't worth it.
So, is there a good way to wealth? Proverbs 13:11 says, "Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow." In other words, work hard and save and invest wisely.
Although Proverbs say a lot more about how to gain wealth, it says much more about how to think about wealth. For instance, we are to desire "neither poverty nor riches" (Proverbs 30:8). Many people claim some secret path to great riches hidden in the Bible, but the Bible says we should avoid wanting too much wealth. There is a fine line between wisdom that sets money aside for a rainy day and a pursuit of wealth for the sake of enjoying the pleasures of this world. Riches may lead our hearts away from God, who is the real treasure for us to seek (Proverbs 30:9). And God is not the only thing more important than riches. For instance, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1). Or, "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies" (Proverbs 31:10).
We also need to keep in mind that the wise use of money is no guarantee of wealth. Calamity may strike anyone, and God may allow it to happen to the righteous because of a greater good than financial security. Also, we are living in an age in which the preaching of the gospel to the nations is our primary focus, and persecution and financial loss can come as a result of opposition to the gospel. "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf" (Proverbs 11:28).
And yet, there is wisdom in working towards wealth in moderation. "The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor" (Proverbs 10:15). I think this means we should have enough sense to save up money so that we do not have to go into debt to pay for a sudden emergency.
Proverbs gives lots of additional advice about money:
1. Spend you money on things with eternal value: "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops" (Proverbs 3:9).
2. Stay out of debt:: "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7).
3. Don't spend more than a sensible budget will allow: "He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich" (Proverbs 21:17)
4. Be generous with your money: "A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him" (Proverbs 28:22).
5. And more!
We can trust the Bible when it comes to money. It does not give us an easy path to great riches, but it does give principles that set us up for true success in how we manage our money and resources.
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