Lasting Prosperity

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. (Proverbs 8:13-18)

Respecting God also means hating certain things. This does not mean hating people, but rather ways of doing things. Someone who truly respects God hates evil by hating four other things.

The first is pride. Pride stands as a barrier between us and the wisdom of God. It blinds us to our own shortcomings and makes us think we are above others.

Next is arrogancy. Being arrogant can lead us to believe that we are above correction and the consequences of our actions.

Third is the evil way. This refers to doing anything out of wrong motives and mindsets. It is accomplishing things from the flesh.

The fourth thing is the froward mouth. It spews forth lies, slander, and deceit, always causing harm to others and even speaks about God because of our attitude and doubt.

Instead of following the evil ways described above, believers are called to follow godly counsel, wisdom, understanding and what we can do with the strength God has given us for kingdom purposes.

God says with His wisdom, durable riches and righteousness can be ours to claim. But we should not seek wisdom merely for the sake of gaining more money. Instead, we need to pursue wisdom out of a genuine love for God and His Word. When our hearts are set on God and His ways, He leads us to prosperity in every area of our lives.

Practical Application

Do you see any of the four evils described in Proverbs 8:13-18 in your behavior or thoughts? That could be what is hindering God’s blessings from showing up in your life. Repent of any words of doubt, arrogance, pride, or hate that you have allowed to come out of your mouth and propose to agree with what God has said.

Proverbs 4:7; Proverbs 4:9

Lean Into Wisdom

Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. (Proverbs 23:12)

Getting knowledge will not do you much good if you don’t apply your heart to instruction. Instruction is the wisdom of how to apply the knowledge you receive. Many people have degrees and titles and can recite information like the back of their hand, but have never really applied the information they learned.

George Washington Carver, who learned many ways to use the peanut, was a man who knew how to lean into wisdom. He was not the first person to study the peanut. While others possessed knowledge about the peanut's properties, Carver's wisdom allowed him to unlock its full potential, leading to countless innovations and advancements.

You can get knowledge from books, from others who have learned, from your own observation, but true wisdom, the real application of instruction, comes from God Himself. Spending time in the Word and spending time in prayer is going to give you the wisdom you need for any area of life.

You can have a lot of knowledge and be a fool, or you can have a select amount of knowledge and receive God’s wisdom about it and find yourself to be wiser than those who profess to be experts on a subject. Apply your heart to God’s instruction. He can make even the foolish things of this world to confound those who claim themselves to be wise.

Practical Application

 Don't hoard the wisdom you gain from God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Instead, pray about opportunities to share it with others. When you pass on what you've learned, you empower others to grow and increase as well. Be generous with your wisdom.

James 1:21; Proverbs 2:2

The Love of Money

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

I have heard time and again people misquoting 1 Timothy 6:10. “Money is the root of all evil,” they say. That’s not what Paul said at all. He said the love of money is the root of all evil. Money, in itself, is neither good nor evil; it is the disposition of the heart toward it that determines how it will be used. Paul was not speaking against prosperity. He was cautioning us against having a love affair with wealth that sacrifices our relationship with God. When the pursuit of money becomes an all-consuming passion, it will always lead people away from faith and enslave them in a life of moral compromise. 

Think about the many ways that the love of money becomes a destructive power. Marriages fall apart because of money issues, people resent their friends and family based on money and money causes serious division among co-workers. I’ve seen siblings who once loved each other squabbling over inheritances and estates during a time when they should be grieving.

The desire for money above everything else causes moral decay among those who have positions of honor and power that are meant to protect and serve the people. In their quest for power and gain, they sacrifice integrity, neglect relationships, and walk away from God, all for the sake of the almighty dollar.

As believers, we are called to have a heart that treasures righteousness above riches, and wisdom above wealth. We need to strive to use our resources wisely, and steward them with integrity and generosity for the sake of God’s kingdom first.

Practical Application

Consider what truly matters to you beyond money. It could be your relationships, spiritual growth, or contributing to a cause God has placed on your heart. Once you realize this, take time to align your financial goals and spending habits with these values. When you make this change, you can ensure that the money you have serves as a tool for God’s kingdom and what He has placed in your heart instead of your personal goal.

Deuteronomy 16:19; Micah 3:11