The book of Proverbs has so much wisdom for our lives today.
Proverbs 23:4-5. Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. 5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle. NLT
Proverbs praises hard work but it has many warnings about making riches the highest priority or value in our life. It challenges the greed that always wants “more” and urges us to embrace contentment with what we already have. There is so much more to life than money.
Jesus himself picked this theme up in his own teaching.
Luke 12:15. Then Jesus said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” NLT
We live in a culture that is obsessed with “getting”. Consumerism rules the day and the entire advertising industry is focused on making us discontent with what we now have, telling us that if we buy something newer, bigger, faster, or cooler … life will be better for us. The wisdom of Proverbs and the teaching of Jesus exposes that as a LIE. There is much more to life than stuff!
One of the best ways to break the spirit of greed and consumerism today is to embrace the value of “giving” – become someone who is generous with their time, their encouragement, their service and their finances.
Not only does generous giving honour God and resource the ministry of the church, it helps us make a declaration that money is not our highest value – that greed will not win the day in our hearts and lives.
Prayer - Father, as we give faithfully to you and your work on earth, we are opening our hands, letting go of some of our stuff – in order to declare that money is not our God. You are. Free us from tight-fistedness from an obsession with “getting” more and more, and fill us with a heart of generosity that is passionate about “giving” more and more.