What does the Book of Proverbs say about money?

The opening proverbs are concerning treasures, earthly substance. What an important sentence, "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing!" Throughout these proverbs there are the warnings concerning getting riches, or as it is expressed in a modern phrase "getting rich quick" (28:20), and the dangers connected with it.

These grave warnings of Wisdom are especially needed at the present time in England and America, when the undisguised and the unrestrained pursuit of riches has become more and more recognized as the legitimate end of life, so that few people feel any shame in admitting that this is their aim; and the clear unimpassioned statements of the result, which always follows on the unhallowed passion receive daily confirmation from the occasional revelations of our domestic, our commercial and our criminal life. He that is greedy of gain, we are told, troubleth his own house. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed. A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he that maketh haste to be rich (and consequently cannot by any possibility be faithful) shall not be unpunished. He that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches, and knoweth not that want shall come upon him. "Weary not thyself," therefore, it is said, "to be rich;" which, though it may be the dictate of thine own wisdom, is really unmixed folly, burdened with a load of calamity for the unfortunate seeker, for his house, and for all those who are in any way dependent upon him (Expositor's Bible).

There are also warnings against being slack, which maketh poor, while the hand of the diligent, he that is up and doing, maketh rich. We find promises and assurance for the godly like these: "Righteousness delivereth from death ... the Lord will not suffer the righteous, the soul of the righteous to famish ... blessings are upon the head of the just ... the memory of the just is blessed."

"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing" (v. 2). People may amass great riches by sinful means, so that others will praise them for their wealth, but they are only heaping up riches to be a witness against them in the day of judgment. On the other hand, righteousness delivers from the shame of death and judgment. The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to ever want (v. 3), though He may allow him to be greatly reduced as to have to depend on God's mercy. But the wicked cannot even depend on this, for they have no desire to trust God.

It is evident that one who is slack, having no diligence in working, cannot expect anything but poverty. On the contrary, the tendency of diligence is to make one rich (v. 4). Also, one who gathers in summer, when conditions for labor are favorable, is wise. Of course, harvest time is time for diligent labor, and if one sleeps when he ought to work, he will cause shame in his own family (v. 5).

Precarious indeed is confidence in riches, as we are next told; for they certainly make for themselves wings and flee away as an eagle toward heaven. No wonder then that he that trusts in them shall fall. On the other hand, righteousness endures, whatever comes from without; so the wise man can say that the righteous shall flourish as the branch or green leaf. He, as David sang, is like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in season, and with leaf also that withers not. "Your bones," said the prophet, "shall flourish like the tender grass." For the Christian, this is through abiding in Christ.

'Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.' The warning of the Lord Jesus however-which was first of all directed to His disciples-does not refer to the wished-for blessing of God. It is referring to something totally different, that is to the greedy striving for wealth and earthly security. About this we read already in Proverbs 23:4-5: 'Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.'

"Weary not thyself to become rich; cease from thine own intelligence. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon what is not? For indeed it makes itself wings, and it flies away, as an eagle toward the heavens.

While work, in its place, is generally commendable, yet there are those who overwork themselves in order to be materially wealthy (v. 4). This may be very dangerous, and one should have personal understanding sufficient to lead him to cease from selfish aspirations. Setting our eyes on greater things than we have will in the end issue in disappointment (v. 5). "For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." On the other hand, it is possible that riches will increase without overwork. In such a case, "If riches increase, do not set your heart on them." (Ps. 62:10).

But he prays also that God would supply him with necessities, but allow him neither poverty nor riches. Agur has spoken of his ignorance, but certainly this prayer is far wiser than what generally characterizes men. He knows the serious dangers of wealth, wherein men too often trust, and in doing so, show little regard for the God who has blessed them. Even Solomon, with all his wisdom, proved to be unequal to the trust committed to him in the way of riches and honor. He used it to allow his own heart to he led astray.

Sometimes in Old Testament days riches were the evidence of God’s blessing, as in the case of Job, but it was not always so, for righteous men might have little of this world’s substance, and wicked men might have riches (Ps. 37:16). Then, as now, a wise man if poor might be lightly esteemed (Ecc. 9:15), yea “hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich has many friends” (Prov. 14:20). Whether in Old Testament times, or now, Wisdom’s word to men is “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness” (Prov. 8:18). Only the riches that come from God, spiritual riches, and durable; material riches can so easily take wings, and if not taken from us in life, death takes us from them. How very blessed it is for us if we secure the divine riches that endure.

"The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own esteem" (v. 11). But how often a rich man finds that, in spite of his feeling secure, his riches give him no true satisfaction. Jay Gould, an American millionaire, is reported to have said not long before he died, "I suppose I am the most miserable devil on earth." For a short time, a rich man's wealth may seem to him like a high wall of protection. This is merely his own estimation, which can rapidly change!