(Prov 28:8 CEV) If you make money by charging high interest rates, you will lose it all to someone who cares for the poor.
This morning we continue our “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God” series. Solomon was an astute businessman and a head of state who ran a nation with a multi-billion dollar surplus. As a businessman and Hebrew Solomon knew the rules when it came to interest. Under the Law of Moses a Hebrew was forbidden to charge interest to another Hebrew. He could, however, charge interest to a Gentile (a non-Jew), but when he did, it was at a reasonable interest rate (see Deut 23:19-20). But during Solomon’s day the Phoenicians developed a new system of credit. Credit was not a new concept, but to that point it was relatively fair. What the Phoenicians established was credit with unusually high interest (usury). This caused several people to be locked into bad deals and the unscrupulous lenders got rich from the high interest rates. It’s amazing that there is nothing new under the sun. What we currently face today, with the Credit Card industry, is nothing new.
Job said, “Evil people may have piles of money and may store away mounds of clothing. But the righteous will wear that clothing, and the innocent will divide that money. The wicked build houses as fragile as a spider’s web, as flimsy as a shelter made of branches. The wicked go to bed rich but wake to find that all their wealth is gone. Terror overwhelms them like a flood, and they are blown away in the storms of the night” (Job 27:16-20). Job knew a thing or two about living a life pleasing to God and managing finances. Job was the richest man in the land – both before he lost it all and after he received double for his trouble – and it is clear that he believed those who attain their riches the wrong way inevitably lose it all and that the riches would somehow wind up in the hands of the righteous.
Solomon was obviously of the same mind as Job. Back in chapter 13 Solomon said, “The wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” (v.22). Solomon believed in wealth transfer; that God had a way of ensuring that ill-gotten gain would wind up in the hands of people who would honor God by handling the finances righteously. In Ecclesiastes Solomon made this point very clear, saying, “God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness to a man who pleases him. But to a sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth. Then the sinner must hand it over to the one who pleases God” (2:26).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Lending money at unusually and unscrupulously high interest is not right in God’s sight.
2. Money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master.
3. God has a way of causing wealth to transfer from the wicked to the righteous.
4. It’s okay to have money, just as long as money does not have you. If you are open to it, and you are not susceptible to the deceitfulness of riches, then God can bless you with wealth so you can finance ministry and leave and inheritance for your children’s children.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for giving me insight concerning my finances. I want to honor You in all that I do. In my heart I just want to please You. I will never allow money to rule my heart and since it does not rule me, then I am free to use it as a tool for Your glory. You can see to it that I have more than enough to meet the needs of my family, and that I am in position to finance Your Kingdom plans and purposes. I am open Father, to wealth transfer, and whatever You bless to come into my hands, will be used for the up-building of Your Kingdom and to leave an inheritance for my children’s children. I am already a conduit of Your love, light, mercy, grace, and truth. I am also open to being a conduit of finances. You get it to me, and as You lead me, You will get it through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
