Wealth is a good thing, if it is gained in balanced context, and used as a tool for service. The point made by Solomon relates to primary motive, not an indictment of wealth. One of the things that I may do, as I speed along on to the tenth decade of my life, is to use any excess of what I need from my earnings/savings to assist others, with first priority in the advancement of the commissions of Scripture. In the church where the controlling leadership is largely made up of pre-retirees, the aging seniors may make their feelings and influence partly known in the projects they are willing to support. Giving among elders is significantly higher in percentages of income than is found in the younger age groups. Nearly all Christian seniors I know are modest in their needs, and have enough income to live on in modest comfort. But there are other objectives as well. It is an easy way to touch grandchildren and contribute to value orientation. Elders do not have to give trinkets, but offer interest in love to persons, in modeling how to live and manage daily lives. Inheritances left to families add up to considerable wealth. Some could have been used earlier for God’s/mankind’s service. I am currently involved with life planning with great-grandchildren.
Scripture both implies and affirms that the Lord readily blesses his people with prosperity. He gave prosperity as an evidence of his pleasure with Abraham, Job and other patriarchs, and with Israel during those seasons when their spiritual integrity was high. Scripture also affirms and implies that when a people forget God, they risk negative context. On occasion, God speaks in natural events like illness and health, in weather like rain and drought, in economics like poverty and wealth, and the like. Nehemiah prayed for human success in meeting with the king, a pagan king. Solomon wrote proverbs on issues like family, work, wisdom, poverty, and the like. All these identified to some degree to life success, a matter related to God’s common grace.
During my adult life, the general accent has grown among students/parents to gain an education that will assure them a degree of wealth. They tend to focus on whatever will build a checking account and investment. They ought to be invested in some courses only to improve mind and soul. An education ought to be sought for the purpose of honing the personal gifts of humanity given of God. The results are to be used in service to family and community, with related values of serving God and oneself. The first purpose of an education is to make the student a better person. Secondarily, but importantly, it is to prepare him or her for a vocation. The education is both individual and corporate in the family. To this is added training that prepares one for vocation, and fair return for time investment in useful work. Taken together, the godly person may become wealthy, but that wealth is a by-product of higher purposes. This is the meaning of the proverb appearing at the top of this page, a proverb written by a rich man. The wisdom encapsulated in the few words may not have been as fully applied by Solomon as we might prefer. But, there is reason to believe that many of the rich are aware that they ought to be investing in others. Many men and women do, believing God has blessed them with wealth for divine purpose. God’s measure is secreted in percentages: how much for self, how much for others – including God. Therein is the evidence of the quality and extent of our values. Apparently God uses our stewardship as part of the evidence of obedience to his will. We are making our own heritage, life legacy, found in righteousness. It is interesting that God observed percentages as means to measure some values, as in the tithe. We can do the same for any of the features of our lives. One can find the balance, and permit remuneration care for itself. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020