A Source of Timeless Financial Advice

One of the best sources of timeless financial advice and guidance is the book of Proverbs.

Although we should carefully read the entire book to discover its many gems of wisdom, the following are some of its nuggets regarding finances and wealth.

Proverbs 6:1-5 [1] My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
[2] Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
[3] Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
[4] Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
[5] Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

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Don't put yourself in a position to be liable for the financial obligations of others (see also 11:15).

Proverbs 6:6-11 [6] Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
[7] Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
[8] Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
[9] How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
[10] Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
[11] So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

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Don't be lazy. Work while you can and save for the future. Don't waste or make excuses (see also 10:4-5; 13:4; 18:9; 20:4; 22:13; 24:30-34; 26:13-16).

Proverbs 8:18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
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God doesn't intend that we should be poor.

Proverbs 11:1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
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God hates cheating and delights in honesty (see also 13:11; 20:10, 23).

Proverbs 11:1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
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Riches won't profit in times of disaster, but righteousness will (see also verse 28).

Proverbs 11:14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
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There is safety in seeking advice from many sources (see also 13:18; 15:22).

Proverbs 11:24-26 [24] There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
[25] The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
[26] He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

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God blesses the generous (see also 25:21-22).

Proverbs 12:11He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
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Make work a higher priority than play (see also 28:19).

Proverbs 15:16-17 [16] Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
[17] Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

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It is better to be content with little, while having the fear of God and family love, than to have prosperity with hatred, disharmony and godlessness (see also 16:8; 17:1; 19:1; 28:6).

Proverbs 15:27He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
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Don't be greedy or open to bribery.

Proverbs 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
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Gaining godly wisdom and understanding is more important than obtaining wealth.

Proverbs 18:10-11 [10] The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
[11] The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

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It is better to rely on God's power than money and material wealth.

Proverbs 19:17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
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od will repay and bless those who show regard for the poor (see also 28:27; 29:7).

Proverbs 20:17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
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Deceit doesn't pay.

Proverbs 21:5The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
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Diligence leads to prosperity, hastiness to poverty.

Proverbs 21:6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
See All... Obtaining wealth by lying leads to destruction.

Proverbs 21:17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
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Loving pleasure and overindulgence squanders assets and prevents one from building proper financial resources (see also verse 20).

Proverbs 22:1A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
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Having a good reputation and favor are more important than having money.

Proverbs 22:4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
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Riches and honor come through humility and fearing God.

Proverbs 22:7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
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Those who incur debt give others power over them—a warning we should seriously consider, especially when it comes to financing expensive items and running up credit-card and other debt.

Proverbs 23:4-5 [4] Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
[5] Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

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For the sake of your family and physical and spiritual well-being, don't focus so much on work that you neglect other important priorities in life.

Proverbs 27:23-27 [23] Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
[24] For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
[25] The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
[26] The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
[27] And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

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Although wealth is not enduring, keep diligent account of your assets and finances so you can wisely apportion what you have to supply the needs of your family. The principles of budgeting and financial planning are contained in these verses (see also verse 12).

Proverbs 28:8He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
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If wealth is acquired by exorbitant interest rates and extortion, it will eventually be given to those who pity the poor.

Proverbs 28:20A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
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Don't hasten after riches. (Although not specifically spelled out, this verse warns against lotteries and other forms of gambling as well as shady, questionable and unlawful endeavors. Punishment and poverty will likely come to those who get caught up in such activities.)

Proverbs 28:24Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
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Pay your debts, especially any you owe to your parents.

Proverbs 30:8-9 [8] Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
[9] Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

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Desire and seek proper, balanced economic objectives. Avoid extremes so you will neither forget God because of acquiring great wealth nor be tempted to steal because of dire need.