What are the dangers of "haste to be rich" in Proverbs 28:20?

The Verse in Focus

“ A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 28:20)

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Key Words and Images

• Faithful man – one who is steady, trustworthy, loyal to God’s commands

• Abound with blessings – tangible and spiritual favor that accumulates over time

• Hastens to be rich – rushes, shortcuts, craves instant wealth

• Will not go unpunished – inevitable consequences from God and from life itself

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Dangers of Hastening After Riches

• Moral shortcuts

– Dishonesty, fraud, exploitation (Proverbs 13:11)

• Spiritual drift

– Love of money replacing love of God (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

• Restless discontent

– Pursuit never satisfies (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

• Broken relationships

– Greed breeds strife and isolation (Proverbs 15:27)

• Legal and social fallout

– “Will not go unpunished” includes earthly justice (Proverbs 11:21)

• Eternal loss

– “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul” (Mark 8:36)

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Supporting Scriptural Insights

• Proverbs 23:4-5 – Wealth sprouts wings and flies away

• Proverbs 21:6 – “A fortune earned by lying tongues is a fleeting vapor”

• Luke 12:15-21 – Parable of the rich fool, sudden judgment

• James 5:1-3 – Hoarded riches corrode and testify against the greedy

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Positive Contrast: The Faithful Life

• Steady diligence (Proverbs 12:11)

• Contentment in all seasons (Philippians 4:11-13)

• Generous stewardship (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

• Trust in God’s timing and provision (Matthew 6:33)

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Practical Application

• Budget and work with integrity rather than gambling or get-rich schemes

• Practice weekly gratitude for current provision

• Give firstfruits to God and the needy, loosening money’s grip

• Set long-term goals that honor Christ, rejecting impulsive ventures

• Surround yourself with counsel that values righteousness over profit

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Concluding Challenge

Choose faithfulness over frenzy. Let patient obedience invite God’s blessings, and refuse the rush that invites inevitable punishment.