Wealth Without Sorrow

Solomon was one of the wealthiest men written about in scripture. When Solomon became King, God appeared to him in a dream and told him to make a request of him. Solomon requested wisdom and God honoured his request and added extra benefits along with the gift of wisdom. “I have also given you what you have not asked, both wealth and honor, so that there will not be anyone equal to you among the kings, for all your days” (1 Kings 3:13). Solomon was both wise and wealthy and wrote the book of proverbs to provide insight into his life.

What Solomon was conveying in Proverbs 10:22, is that God is the one who makes a person rich and this is not necessarily through hard labour. Other versions say, not through painful toil. We have often been taught that hard work leads to success or makes us rich. If that were the case then many people with extremely labour intensive jobs would be wealthy. The opposite often is the case and it appears that it is wisdom and strategy which generates wealth. Additionally, some people were born into inter-generational wealth and are taught money management strategies from their parents who had access to wealth.

James said in chapter 1:5, if a person lacks wisdom, then let him ask God who gives generously. Moses warned the Israelites to be careful not to think that their own power or strength had caused them to gain wealth. “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

A few points to consider from our scripture references today; it is not sinful to gain wealth and God can bless us with wealth without painful toil or sorrow; wisdom helps to produce wealth and if we ask God, he will give us the wisdom that we need to gain wealth.

A.P.-Y.