Financial Wisdom From the Wisest Man Who Ever Lived (Part 3)

Today, we are going to look at PART 3 in our new feature about the wisdom of Solomon with you regarding good money management. 

Over the coming weeks, we are going to look at several of the wealth management principles he shared. If you apply these money management principles, you will be successful. 

King Solomon had an encounter with God. We are told, “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.” (1 Kings 3:5)

But do you know what Solomon asked for?

He could have asked for anything, yet he asked God, “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong.” (1 Kings 3:9)

We are told that “The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom.” (1 Kings 3:10)

And God told Solomon, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kings 3:11-14)

God gave Solomon great wisdom and an understanding heart. God said that Solomon’s wisdom would be greater than anyone else who will ever live. Thank God, Solomon wrote down his wisdom!

God gave Solomon incredible insight to not only lead his people but also He also gave him perspective on how to live a good, long life, and gave him secret insights into wealth and success. 

The wisdom that God blessed Solomon with ensured that his people lived in peace, prosperity, and security. 

How do I know this? 

Well, we are told, “The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink.” (1 Kings 4:20)

And again, “During the lifetime of Solomon, all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety. And from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, each family had its own home and land.” (1 Kings 4:25)

Solomon’s wisdom brought “peace and security” and “each family had their own home and a land” where they could live, raise their families, and where they could provide for their loved ones.

When you look at the current status of our world, we sure can do with the wisdom of Solomon. 

I am so grateful that God got Solomon to write down his wisdom and include this in the Bible so that we can apply it to our lives. 

In PART 1, we looked at what King Solomon said about the importance of having… 

• a DREAM
• a VISION
• a PLAN, and 
• that you can TRUST GOD to help you

In PART 2, we looked at three powerful principles…

• Being GENEROUS,
• Getting your PRIORITIES in the right order, and 
• The importance of MAKING GOOD DECISIONS

Today, we will look at the dangers of being GREEDY and LAZY, and I also want to look at the importance of being HONEST and having a good WORK ETHIC. 

Honesty and Integrity

“The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.” (Proverbs 16:11)

“False weights and unequal measures — the Lord detests double standards of every kind. (Proverbs 20:10)

“The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.” (Proverbs 28:20)

Be a person of integrity who has strong moral principles. 

Be honest with your money management. 

Don’t steal. Don’t take shortcuts, and do not take advantage of people. 

God sees all, and he will bless you if you are honorable, fair, and have an upright character.

Don’t Be Greedy

Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty. (Proverbs 28:22)

“Dishonest money dwindles away.” (Proverbs 13:11a)

If an investment opportunity is too good to be true, it usually is. Make sure you only invest in reputable investment options. 

Don’t be greedy. So many trying to “get rich quick” have pierced themselves with much grief. 

Build wealth slowly over time. Work consistently and methodically. Stick to a long-term plan. 

Don’t Be Lazy

“Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.” (Proverbs 10:4)

A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. (Proverbs 6:10-11)

Be disciplined. Develop good habits.

Set up systems to help you follow through. According to King Solomon, lazy people are soon poor. Laziness also leads to poverty. On the flip side, hard work leads to success, and those who work hard will get rich. 

What is your work ethic like? 

Keep a Good Work Ethic

“A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.” (Proverbs 28:19)

“I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.” (Proverbs 24:30-31)

You cannot just daydream or be a big talker without action. You need to implement a strategy. 

If a farmer never planted seeds and didn’t look after his crops, he would fail and be left in poverty. Even if a farmer did look after his fields but didn’t harvest at the right time, his crop would be left in ruin. 

However, if a farmer works on his farm, plowing the land, uprooting the weeds, watering his crops, and harvesting at the right time, he will more than likely produce a good harvest.

“Hard work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty.” (Proverbs 10:23)

“Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” (Proverbs 13:4)

When it comes to building towards financial freedom, you need to work hard and work smart. Don’t be lazy. Be disciplined.

According to these scriptures, laziness and a poor work ethic lead to…

• Poverty
• Ruin
• A poor harvest 
• Lack

On the flip side, when you have a good work ethic and prepare well with diligence, working hard and smart, this will lead to…

• Profit
• Riches
• Prosperity
• Success

If you want to build towards financial freedom, you need a good work ethic. You need to be prepared to roll up your sleeves and work hard until you succeed.

You need to get working. Get disciplined. Be consistent. Don’t procrastinate. Be diligent. You need action. 

What action steps do you need to take?

If you apply this wisdom, you will set yourself up for a brighter future. 

Be honest. Be a person of integrity. Don’t be greedy. Don’t be lazy. You can set yourself up to prosper if you have a good work ethic.

Next week, we will continue in the series and look at a few money principles shared by the wisest man who ever lived.