Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. – Proverbs 30:8-9
Proverbs warns us about four temptations that will come with money.
- The temptation to control
The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it (11:26). God has blessed this merchant with a good crop, but he holds it back to drive up the price. To only consider the bottom line, and not to weigh the common good, will be cursed. To subordinate your own interest to the good of others will be blessed. - The temptation to cheat
Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD (20:23). A merchant pours grain on the scales with a weight that says 10 pounds. But it’s actually 8 pounds. The customer gets shortchanged. There are so many ways this can happen. What’s hidden in the small print. The added costs that are not mentioned. Money will tempt you to cheat. - The temptation to credit yourself
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out (28:11). A distinctive temptation that money brings is to credit it to ourselves. “Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth” (Deut. 8:18). - The temptation to deny the Lord
Give me neither poverty nor riches… lest I be full and deny you” (Prov. 30:8-9). This is the only prayer in Proverbs, and it is a prayer of wisdom. “All I want is to have what I need.” Notice why: If I am too poor, I may be tempted to steal. But if I prosper, I will be tempted to say, “I really don’t need God.” That is the temptation that success will bring you.
Of these four temptations, which are you most vulnerable to?
