Proverbs 23:1
“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:”
In this chapter, God is giving some very important financial advice to every person. He says, “When thou sittest to eat with a ruler…” God is saying that when you find yourself in an atmosphere that is above your financial bracket, there are some very important things you need to do to keep yourself from financial ruin.
First, you need to consider that you are not financially capable to have all that the “ruler” has. In other words, when you see the fancies and delicacies that the rich have, you need to consider that you are not capable of having them. God is teaching that if you are going to stay financially stable, then you need to keep your emotions in the world of reality. Don’t ever allow yourself to become emotionally attached to things that you cannot afford. Always remember the capabilities of your finances when you get around people who are above your financial bracket.
Second, don’t be given to appetite. Verse 2 says, “And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.” If you are going to be financially stable, then you must not be a person who buys on a whim. This is why God says, “…put a knife to thy throat…” Many people see what someone else has and they go out to purchase it only to realize they can’t afford it. Just because you have money in the bank doesn’t mean you can afford something. If it’s not in your budget, then don’t buy it. When you buy on a whim and find out later you couldn’t afford it, that is when it becomes “deceitful meat.” It will become something you will regret.
Third, don’t set your eyes on being rich. Verse 4 says, “Labour not to be rich…” Many people get so focused on being rich that they will do anything to get there. They fall in love with money, and they start doing things they normally would not do. That is why God says in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil…” Many people have hurt others just for the sake of having money. Christians are not to live their lives that way. When you love money, you will run over people and hurt them just for the sake of making an extra dollar. It may seem good at the moment when you make the money, but in the long run you will regret hurting those who are closest to you.
What is the answer? Is a Christian not supposed to be rich? The answer is found in Psalm 112:1 when God says, “…Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.” God then tells what the blessings of those who fear Him will be in verse 3 when He says, “Wealth and riches shall be in his house…” In other words, you just need to do right and let God worry about how much money you make.
It all comes down to this, take your eyes off possessions and money and set them on the LORD. Live your life fearing the LORD and delighting in His commandments, and He will be sure that you will have the finances you need. Does this mean you will be rich? No! It means that when you live with a fear of God and obey Him, you will always have the means to take care of your financial obligations. Certainly, God allows some to become wealthy, and there is nothing wrong with that, but your goal should be to live for the LORD and do right with your finances. Let God take care of how much money you make.