Money lessons from the book of Proverbs, Part 5: How much is enough?

5. How much is enough?

Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! (Proverbs 23:4 NKJV)

Overworking to be rich is an indication of a lack of wisdom. People who lack understanding overwork to be rich (Prov 23 v 4). What then is the problem with overworking? Firstly, overworking will cause other aspects of your life to suffer. For instance, you might be making lots of money while your marriage, your family and other relationships are sacrificed. Pursuing money at the expense of these vital relationship is lack of understanding.

Secondly, success is not only monetary. True prosperity is succeeding in your finances, family, health, social, and spiritual life. It is about achieving a balance. It is about working on all these aspects of your life. Most of the time, people who overwork to be rich, do that at the expense of their health also. People spend their health to get wealth, then spend their wealth to get health. The bible correctly admonishes us, '...Because of your own understanding, cease!'

True biblical prosperity goes well beyond accumulation of money. 3 John 1 v 2 says, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” This type of prosperity includes all things and every area of your life. It is not just a singular pursuit of money, but an all round desire to see God glorified in every sphere of your life. God's will is that you prosper in all things. 

1. Prosperity in all things

The Lord is interested in every sphere of your life. That is why you need to surrender every aspect of your life to Him. Many Christians are happy to have Jesus as Savior but not as Lord. We must make Jesus Lord of every aspect of our lives. Jesus desires absolute submission from us. It is either He is Lord of all, or not Lord at all.

Surrender your life, time, resources, money, relationships, everything to Jesus. His desire is that you prosper in all things. He says in John 15 v 8, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples." When you are fruitful, He prunes you to bear much fruit. When you read the parable of talents (Mat 25 v 14-30), the Lord was much happy with the servants who multiplied what they were given. Prosperity, increase, growth and fruitfulness glorifies God. The Lord delights in the prosperity of his servants (Psalm 35 v 27b).

2. Prosperity in your health

I would like to think about health as the condition of your body. Your body is important for your existence and proper functioning on earth. Without your body you won't exist over here. If your body is in a bad condition, you won't even make money. If your body is sick, you cannot even fulfill the great commission. When the Lord Christ had to come to earth to redeem us through His death, He needed a body. (“Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. Hebrews 10 v 5 NKJV.)

Your body is very important. Give it enough sleep and rest, be well hydrated, eat good food and have enough exercise. Those who take care of their bodies will do more on the earth. 

3. Prosperity in your soul

The Lord Christ asked this question, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8 v 36 NKJV). Riches without salvation is not prosperity. If you are not born again, you MUST be born again (John 3 v 7). If you are born again, you MUST "Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God." (Mat 3 v 8 NLT). You must continue to grow spiritually bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5 v 22 - 23). You must continue to be Christ-like in your character and conduct (Eph 4 v 24). The Bible warns in Luke 12 v 15: “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Achieving true prosperity 

True and biblical prosperity includes health of body, health of soul and health of a bank account. These should be achieved in equal proportion without sacrificing one to achieve another. You cannot sacrifice your health or your family at the pursuit of money. Equally, you cannot sacrifice your relationship with God to advance in your career. You must earn an honest living. 

The Bible is clear with regard to instructions for hard work (2 Thes 3 v 10). Here the admonishing is against unwise, unbalanced pursuit of material wealth, especially at the expense of other aspects of your life. You need to achieve a balance. To do that you must answer this question, 'how much is enough?'

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