Are You Looking For Money?

The Bible tells us, “The hand of the diligent maketh rich; but the slothful (lazy) become poor” (Prov. 10:4 KJV).

The author of the book of Proverbs in the Bible is King Solomon. He succeeded his father King David when he was only twenty years old. Upon his installation as new King, the Bible records:

^“5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” ⁶ Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. ⁷ “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” ¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning (understanding KJV) heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³ Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. ¹⁴ And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kings 3:5-14)

Solomon did not ask for wealth or money but for WISDOM. When one has wisdom from God, the money and wealth will follow just like night follows day.

Money is anything of value. Your time is money. Your knowledge is money. Your skills, your God-given special gifts or talents are money. Money is not only the money we are carrying with us in our wallet or something we deposited in the bank. Money is anything we possess that solves a problem for someone. Money is everywhere and anywhere you can use your God-given talent. So, find out what is my talent or God-given gift? Pursue and develop this gift or talent, and you will prosper, or you will have the money you need!

The disciple Peter was a fisherman. The Roman government was collecting taxes. He had no money in his pocket. When he told the Lord Jesus about the problem, what did Jesus tell him? Being a fisherman, the Lord Jesus told him.

⁵ Lest we should offend them (the Roman government), go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shall find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee” (Matt. 17:27).

Notice that the Lord Jesus used the talent of Peter as fisherman. He did not tell Peter to earn first a degree in college. He told Peter to perform what he already knew, and the tax money was produced!

Today, I needed money to pay an obligation and something urgent and important I wanted to buy but I had no sufficient amount in my wallet. It was already beyond banking hours. Moreover, the check I just deposited will be made good after three days yet, and, moreover, there is a requirement of a “remaining balance” in a bank account so it will not be closed.

Suddenly, a long time client visited me. Their family had a financial problem with a local bank. I was requested to prepare a special letter-request. I gladly obliged. Before leaving, the client left with me without my asking to be paid an amount more than sufficient for my immediate needs. God provides and He is truly good all the time!

Why did the client suddenly appear to request me to write that very important special letter-request? Because by previous experience the client knows that I have a writing talent.

Notice, I used my God-given writing talent in earning the money I needed. Indeed, God provides. And why did the client come to me to solve the problem? Because by previous experience, the client knows my talent in writing. “Experience is the best teacher.”

Then comes my nephew-driver with smile asking for money to buy gasoline for his motorcycle. I was about to ask where did he spend his salary, but my lips were refrained by the Holy Spirit. Solomon said, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue” (Prov. 17:28 NIV). Anyway, I gave him P500.00. His smile was literally from ear to ear. He even remarked, “Uncle, are you giving me all this amount?” I just nodded, signifying my assent. And I remembered my extremely efficient Secretary for 25 years who rendered overtime to finish the special letter. She asked permission with a smile to leave if there was no more work to be done. My heart was moved to give her P500.00 also for her overtime. She thanked me with a winsome smile. The joy in my heart is beyond description in words. Praise God. As I write this portion of this article, I am smiling by myself with inexplicable joy.

Don’t look for money. Look for wisdom coming from God. This wisdom will give you a “large and understanding (or (discerning) heart” like King Solomon. Where can we find this wisdom? From the Bible, particularly the book of Song of Solomon, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the book of Job as well as the book of Joshua. And, of course, the whole Bible (both Old and New Testament).

But it is not enough to know the Bible. We must act or do what it says with all diligence. I have yet to see a lazy man who became prosperous and successful in life. Joshua 1:8 says:

“8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

If we do what the Word of God says, then the money that we need will just come our way like the water from the spring.