Thoughts on the topic of money from the book of wisdom
The book of Proverbs has much to say about the topic of money. Very much! So many verses that I have created categories that will help me focus on particular topics related to money, such as worth of money, value of money, effect of money, greed for money and money and the Lord.
Let’s dive into the wisdom of Proverbs for a few moments.
Worth less than the Fear of the Lord
In our first post on the topic of money, I had an extended introduction on the intangible assets such as instruction, knowledge, understanding and wisdom that is compared with money in the proverbs, along with a short discussion on each of these intangible assets. I also tried to define the difference between worth and value in the first post. If there is interest in this topic, please see Proverbial Thoughts on Money / Instruction.
Otherwise, our topic in this post is money in relation to the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.
Our key passage is Proverbs 15:16 when we are to consider money in relation to the fear of the Lord. As our passage clearly defines the comparison, the accumulation of great treasure is worth less than the fear of the Lord.
Now, Proverbs 15:16 is specific in this description, yet multiple other passages speak of the same “worth less” characteristic of treasure when compared with the things of God. At the risk of inundating my reader with verses that describe the relative worth of money/treasure when compared with the fear of God and it’s resulting life, I provide the following from the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 3:14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
Proverbs 8:11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
Proverbs 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
Proverbs 12:9 Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.
Proverbs 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
Proverbs 16:16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.
Proverbs 19:1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 28:6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
As my reader peruses the previous verses, it is evident that the fear of the Lord, with its resulting lifestyle, is of greater worth than any description of earthly treasure that may be acquired.
And yet, Proverbs does not shy away from providing guidance to the believer on how to attain treasure that is lasting and that is rightly related to the fear of the Lord
Proverbs 22:4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.
Riches
To maintain a faith that positions the Lord as the center of our lives, fearing the Lord, is to ultimately attain to true riches, with the addition of honor and life. My assumption is that these riches are of the same physical make up as that which the one who seeks them as primary importance are. No difference in the treasure, but the author is speaking of the way of attainment. That is through self will, or the fear of the Lord. Something to think about!
Honor
Remember that as the Proverbs were written, they were written in a culture that elevated honor above all else. To be an honorable man or woman was the highest of compliments, and a status that was to be reached for for all. Under a consistent desire to fear the Lord, the believer will acquire this intangible quality of character.
Life
The passage also speaks of life and this has to be understood in relation to the life of God in the believer. It is not simply the extension of physical years that would be the benefit, though this is implied, it is the quality of life that may be included here as the reward for living under the fear of the Lord.
The proverbs consistently describe riches as being worth less than the fear of the Lord.
In summary, money is worth less than
- instruction
- knowledge
- wisdom
- righteousness
- humility
- relationships
- fear of the Lord
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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
Considering the Bible 
One response to “Proverbial Thoughts on Money/Fear of the Lord”
The wisdom that comes with understanding that God is the Source of all is the only thing that makes all else of value. I believe that we can only know how to use money, as we appreciate it’s Maker and His divine purpose for its usage.
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