The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 (ESV)
Our verse of the week this week is Proverbs 21:5. This verse is about abundance and poverty.
As wealth is stored, so is wisdom. The benefit to saving money over time is the accumulation of wisdom that comes with it. When a person comes into a windfall of cash they do not have the advantage of accumulating wisdom with the cash. There is a reason why people who get rich quick, often end up broke and bankrupt. When wealth is stored little by little we effectively learn to manage and steward the resources that God has put at our disposal.
I am sure that many a prayer has been lifted up for greater wealth. But maybe a good reason why God has not prospered us more is because we have not been faithful with what he has already given us. Have we shown ourselves faithful to be entrusted with more? Are we giving generously? Are we saving wisely? Are we choosing simple lifestyles that enable us to be responsive to God’s leading?
There is a phrase I heard some time ago that has stuck with me. The phrase is: “Live simply, so that others can simply live.” In 2016, many of our lives are far from simple. The picture of success that is put before us is a life filled with even more complexity. We are encouraged to build more barns and bigger barns. But Bigger barns mean bigger problems.
When we are so caught up in the complex problems of our lives we hardly take notice of the “God” things all around us. We are less responsive to his gentle nudging to serve and miss recognizing his presence.
The wisdom of God is not adding more to our lives. The wisdom of God is simplicity. Being rich has nothing to do with more money. As God increases the wealth in your storehouse, how can you continue to live simply?
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