Money Matters – What Matters?

Firstly, the “Jabez Prayer”

“Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NASB)

Why was Jabez’ prayer answered? Is God unfair to answer his prayer and not others who make similar petitions?

Not at all. Please consider the ‘answer’ found in the preceding verse (quoted below) to ‘understand’ this:

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” (1 Chronicles 4:9, NASB)

Please note the word “more honorable” (the “condition”) in verse above. That is, God granted his request because “he (Jabez) was more honorable”.

So, may we receive it rightly if we are more honorable too.

Let us also be careful of the “riches” which comes by Satan through ‘wrong principles & practices against God’s Way’ and be wise enough to be able to know which is which to avoid being deceived:

“Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire.” (Psalm 52:7, NASB)

“How boastful you are about the valleys! Your valley is flowing away, O backsliding daughter Who trusts in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come against me?” (Jeremiah 49:4, NASB)

“Do not trust in oppression And do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.” (Psalm 62:10, NASB)

A more vital question is, ‘why do we want to be rich’?

An approved rich man is one who becomes rich through “interest” too who then “gives generously” to the “poor” too in verse below:

“He who increases his wealth by interest and usury Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.” (Proverbs 28:8, NASB)

The “desire (or ‘want’) to be rich” for ‘pleasure’ (‘self-indulgence’) is a ‘trap/snare’ especially in the ‘afterlife’ (‘day of slaughter’) as verses below describe:

“If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:8 – 9, NASB)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25, NASB)

“You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.” (James 5:5, NASB)

Conclusion

“The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him.” (Proverbs 28:11, NASB)

Some choose the ‘middle ground’:

“Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8 – 9, NASB)

Example: Never forget God when we become rich:

“But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked– You are grown fat, thick, and sleek– Then he forsook God who made him, And scorned the Rock of his salvation.” (Deuteronomy 32:15, NASB)

“As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, And being satisfied, their heart became proud; Therefore they forgot Me.” (Hosea 13:6, NASB)

“And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:22, NASB)

Wealth should come through ‘relaxed labor’ and not by ‘forced hardwork toward it’ as the verse below implies:

“Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it.” (Proverbs 23:4, NASB)

Loving money is not allowed:

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10, KJV)

P/S:

There’s a ‘perfect (complete) way’ of faith without possessions or money too (as some saints have practiced):

“Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete [perfect], go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.” (Matthew 19:21 – 22, NASB)

How about ‘poor believers’. Are they ‘lesser’ or in a ‘curse’?

No! Not at all! (it’s the opposite if ‘they are poor believers’ especially due to ‘unfair salaries’, ‘low pay’, ‘racial & other discrimination’ & ‘other exploitation too’ which they have faced despite their ‘high quality & honest work’, God knows):

“Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” (James 5:4, NASB)

“And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He [Lord Jesus Christ] began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20, NASB)

“Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5, NASB)

A Warning against the rich who oppress their workers or others:

“But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?” (James 2:6, NASB)

“Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness And his upper rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay And does not give him his wages,” (Jeremiah 22:13, NASB)

“For the rich men of the city are full of violence, Her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.” (Micah 6:12, NASB)

“You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.” (Leviticus 19:13, NASB)

“He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.” (Proverbs 22:16, NASB)

“He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.” (Proverbs 14:31, NASB)

“Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.” (Isaiah 1:23, NASB)

Who is a good family man?

One who provided for his ‘children’s children’ instead of the ‘children providing for him’. (if people taught & followed this biblical truth in verses below, there will be no poverty on earth through this proper-God approved family planning):

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” (Proverbs 13:22, NASB)

“House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:14, KJV)

What’s a point of having a family in poverty when we didn’t obey His family planning condition and then blame God for it?

“The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the LORD” (Proverbs 19:3, NASB)

Yes, “foolishness” is ‘anything which we do contrary to His Holy Word’:

“People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:3, NASB)

Regardless, “wisdom, knowledge & joy” is better than all these ‘gathering’ (of work & wealth) —-> in verse below —> which is granted only to those who are “Good in His sight”:

“For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:26, NASB)

Indeed, these “poor believers” are particularly highlighted in verses below & thus being a ‘poor believer is NEVER a curse’ (please note the words “destitute”, “sheepskins”, “afflicted”, “ill-treated” —–> no sign of any ‘earthly prosperity’ —-> but God’s Word ‘highly’ regards them in this infamous Hall of Fame of Faith chapter, Hebrews 11):

“…they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

(men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.” (Hebrews 11:part of 37, 38, NASB)

Yes:

“but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,” (1 Corinthians 1:27 – 28, NASB)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, KJV)