Proverbs 23:4-5 – Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
Solomon mocks lazy people and warns them to expect poverty and family shame. But there is a contrary error, working too much to get rich. Work drudges make three errors: overwork itself, their goal of wealth, and ignoring the reality that riches can disappear with a snap of God’s fingers.
Overwork! Rest is one of God’s blessings. “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep (Psalm 127:2).” Sleep is wonderful, a gift of God. Tired bodies revive, dreams integrate the day’s events into our minds, and sleep puts us in the hands of God, Who never sleeps. What do those who toil to acquire wealth get in the way of sleep? Not enough! They become strangers to their families, sorely tempted to work even on God’s day of rest, turning themselves into slaves. (See Deuteronomy 5:15, where God reminds Israel that they were once slaves in Egypt, so now they should give their servants rest on the Sabbath.)
Getting rich is a stupid life goal! Sometimes, of course, circumstances require people to work without rest, as when caring for a sick family member, or at harvest time, but to choose to do so year round in order to get rich? Stupid! Why? Riches are not what life is about: “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15).” The love of riches is a snare, tempting people to all sorts of sin (I Timothy 6:9). You can’t take it with you. We came naked into the world, and so we will leave (Job 1:21, Ecclesiastes 5:15, I Timothy 6:7). And we can’t even be confident about how our wealth will be handled after we die (Ecclesiastes 2:19). Getting rich may be the American Dream, but it is not the Christian hope.
Remember how many people lost their savings in the Great Depression? Only the naïve think it cannot happen again. So Solomon advises us to have the sense to say, “Enough already.” Wealth disappears, often suddenly! Riches can fly away, like an eagle to the sky. As Jesus put it, “Do not lay up treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal (Matthew 6:19).” Do your work, and if you have food, clothes, and a place to live, be contented (I Timothy 6:8). The slave to a 24/7 job, first to arrive and last to leave, may get promoted, but he is more foolish than wise. Just when he thinks he is set, he may lose his job, get cancer, or watch the stock market and housing prices crash. Then again, war may take it all. So “be discerning enough to desist” and just go to bed.
Does the prospect of impacting the world excite you? Do you want a career that allows you to use your God-given talents to make a difference in your life, your community, and the world around you? If so, you should learn more about Geneva’s biblical studies program.
For more information, contact us at 855-979-5563 or web@geneva.edu. Get ready to make your mark on this world.
Dr. Bill Edgar, former chair of the Geneva College Board of Trustees, former Geneva College President and longtime pastor in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA)
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Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
May 1, 2019
Faithful Doubt: Habakkuk, written by pastor Travis Scott, explores the short prophetic book of Habakkuk, in a practical and meaningful way through the lens of a doubter. Travis approaches the passage of scripture from an honest and humble perspective, recalling difficulties experienced as a husband, father, and pastor.
Dr. J. Ligon Duncan of Reformed Theological Seminary delivered the spring 2021 Commencement address at Geneva College on May 10, 2021. Here is an excerpt of that message, entitled, "Every Good Work," from 2 Timothy 3. This excerpt first appeared in the Summer 2021 edition of Geneva Magazine.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
As busy as college students are, it can be profoundly beneficial for them to seek out and engage in a routine Bible study. Diving deeper into their faith, exploring what the world’s challenges mean to them, and creating a Christian-based path forward can give any college student the direction he or she needs to achieve their best life. Still, it’s not always easy to make that decision—instead of a night with friends or yet another study session for a high-level math class, go to Bible study instead.
Handing our cares and worries over to God gives us peace which keeps us from falling into doubt, as stated in Philippians. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
What should someone with wealth do? Solomon writes, “Pay attention to it and know its condition.” He uses the example of sheep and goats. Wise parents blessed with wealth will teach their children how to work to maintain it. Wise children will accept the burdens of responsibility that go with family wealth, always remembering that riches do not last forever.
The Book of Proverbs has no use for the gullible, viewing them as willful fools. Even when everyone else can see a hateful, deceitful person for what he is, the gullible choose to believe gracious words.
At Easter, a good question to ask is, "How are people saved?" This should be a question that Christians can easily answer, and indeed most can. However, sometimes Christians are less knowledgeable about the doctrine of justification and its important distinctions than perhaps they should be.
How should leaders deal with difficult situations in difficult times? Geneva College’s John Gallo and Jenna Bieber provide a guidebook for leaders. "Lessons from Cain and Abel to Guide Leaders Through Turbulent Times" walks readers through the account of Cain and Abel to teach leaders the importance of justice, mercy, harmony and equality.
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