Know well the condition of your flock,
and pay attention to your herds,
for wealth is not forever;
not even a crown lasts for all time.
When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered in,
lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;
there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants.
Proverbs 27:23-27
Observation: This proverb offers practical advice about the handling of finances, and that advice is simple ... pay attention to it and actively manage it. Flocks and the harvest of the field are the income, revenue, and assets of the day, and the wise person does not just passively accept 'wealth'. The wise harvests the field and ensures the next harvest begins healthy, he uses assets to both provide for his own needs, and invest in future growth. By doing these things, his household will have what it needs.
However, this picture of attentive management of wealth and income appears to promote self-sufficiency, which can seem contrary to faith and trust in God's blessing. Even today's other reading in Hebrews says to "keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, 'I will never leave you or abandon you.'" (v13:5). Hebrews goes on to remind us that the Lord is our provider and helper, and thus we should not fear (v6). These are verses in Hebrews, but are directly taken from the Old Testament in Deuteronomy and Psalms.
And this is the balance of believers when it comes to money. We know the love of money is bad. We know we 'cannot serve both God and money' ... that we must not make money a pursuit of our hearts, an idol in our lives. We have faith in God's blessings and provisions. We want to - and do - give money to both his house and his causes. We understand and comply with the tithe. And yet, God also says that the wise person ... cares about money, takes actions to increase their income, manages assets and makes new investments. Wealth is not forever, but when one has it they are to be active in securing, growing, banking, and using it.
The balance to be found is in understanding how the Lord provides blessing. Sometimes he provides us with blessings that seems to come through our own hard work, yet we must understand that the Lord's hand is upon that work. Sometimes he provides blessings through our giving that aids others, and we must understand this is completely part of his design in giving us commands about giving.
Application: My wife and I have spent a lot of time recently managing wealth. We have sold one house and bought another, while also spending on updates and maintenance to our primary home. This has required us to both pay attention to our budget, but also to consider assets we have and how they are invested and allocated. We have been very active in doing all these things.
But what I see when I do this activity is not my earnings, for I absolutely and sincerely know that I am not worthy to earn what I do. Over and over, I see the Lord's blessing. If my flocks increase, it is by his hand as the owner of every sheep on every hill. If my fields produce a good yield, it is by the water and sunshine he sent, and the rich ground he has given me.
I cannot hoard or find pride in what I know is not truly mine. The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it. May whatever I do have for this temporary time - for wealth is not forever - only reflect his blessing and his love, not toward me but toward others.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you this day for my daily bread. You have loved me far beyond what I have ever deserved. May I use your blessing for your glory, and as a steward of your blessing may my attention to the flocks and the fields produce for your kingdom. Amen.
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