How can Proverbs 28:22 guide financial decisions in a Christian's life? Scripture snapshot “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him.” (Proverbs 28:22) Key principles from Proverbs 28:22 • Greed creates urgency that overrides wisdom. • A grasping heart misreads the future; apparent gain can end in hidden loss. • God links financial outcomes to moral choices: unrighteous pursuits invite eventual poverty. Practical financial applications • Slow down major money decisions – Sleep on big purchases. – Seek counsel (Proverbs 15:22). • Budget with generosity baked in – First‐fruits giving (Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8). – Support the poor to avert the very poverty the verse warns about (Proverbs 19:17). • Reject “get-rich-quick” schemes – Avoid debt‐driven ventures promising fast returns (Proverbs 21:5). – Verify every investment’s integrity; if it can’t stand in the light, walk away (Ephesians 5:11). • Cultivate contentment – Practice gratitude daily (1 Timothy 6:6-8). – Distinguish needs from wants before spending. • Measure wealth by faithfulness, not accumulation – Store treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). – View money as stewardship, not ownership (Psalm 24:1). Complementary Scriptures • Proverbs 13:11 — “Wealth gained by dishonesty will dwindle…” • Proverbs 23:4 — “Do not wear yourself out to get rich…” • Luke 12:15 — “Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” • Hebrews 13:5 — “Keep your lives free from the love of money…” Heart check • Is my pace toward wealth driven by fear or by faith? • Am I open-handed enough that poverty will not “await” me because I’m already investing in others? |
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