CHAPTER 1
We Don't Need More Money; We Need Wisdom
Happy are those who find wisdom and those who gain understanding.
Her profit is better than silver, and her gain better than gold.
—Proverbs 3:13-14
A Wise and Discerning Mind
Do you remember the first time you were given money? Maybe you received a small weekly allowance; maybe you earned money for completing chores or getting good grades. What did you do with that money? Did you keep it, hoping that you'd soon be able to add to your total? Did you spend it right away on something you'd had your eye on? How did you decide what you'd do with your newly acquired wealth?
Now think back to the first time you made a decision that you regretted involving money. Perhaps you emptied your piggy bank for something you didn't really need. Perhaps you purchased an item that turned out to be flimsy and was broken or useless within a few weeks. Perhaps you received a crisp $20 bill as a gift, and instead of saving it or using it to buy something nice, you spent it on little things like candy and soda.
You may have heard the expression, "A fool and his money are soon parted." This saying, which originated in Dr. John Bridges' 1587 book, Defence of the Government of the Church of England in Ecclesiastical Matters, suggests a relationship between wisdom and financial well-being. It seems obvious that one who is wise will fare better financially than one who is foolish. But what, exactly, is wisdom? We often use wise as a synonym for smart, but wisdom is much more than knowledge or even intelligence. People who are wise are not only knowledgeable of what is right and true and just, but they also use good judgment and discernment.
The Bible has plenty to say about wisdom. The Old Testament contains a collection of wisdom literature including the books of Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Proverbs. Most of the writing in these books is attributed to King Solomon, the son of King David and one of the rulers during ancient Israel's golden age—although many of the Bible's wise sayings likely had been passed down among the Hebrew people for centuries before that. First Kings 3 tells us that shortly after Solomon assumed the throne, God appeared to him in a dream and said, "Ask whatever you wish, and I'll give it to you" (1 Kings 3:5). Instead of asking for a great army, expanded territory, or anything else that may have been useful for a young ruler wanting to establish himself, Solomon asked for wisdom: "Please give your servant a discerning mind in order to govern your people and to distinguish good from evil" (1 Kings 3:9). We too should strive to have a wise and discerning mind in all that we do.
Reverence, Humility, and, uh, Fear?
As a species, we human beings are pretty clever. We've created, discovered, and accomplished so many amazing things that it's easy for us to get a big head and forget the source of our knowledge and creativity. Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; / don't rely on your own intelligence." This is not to say that we shouldn't value our intelligence or that we shouldn't strive to be wise. Rather, it means that we need to keep things in perspective.
To help us keep things in perspective, Proverbs tells us that wisdom begins with "fear of the LORD" (Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10). The idea that God is someone we should fear may seem contrary to what we know about God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We know God as a companion, advocate, teacher, and friend. God isn't someone who should frighten us.
Actually, the word fear isn't a perfect translation of what the Bible is talking about. A word such as revere or respect may be more accurate. But it's important that we not lose the "bite" that comes with fear. Fear gets our attention; it shakes us up; it forces us to respond. Often in Scripture when human beings find themselves in God's presence, their first instinct is to be afraid. Frequently God's messengers open their messages to God's people by saying, "Do not be afraid." Something about God's presence causes people to tremble.
A healthy fear of God is not a fear that causes us to freak out; it is a fear that acknowledges the power, majesty, and magnitude of the God we serve. It is a fear that keeps us humble and reminds us that we are human, with limits and shortcomings. God, by contrast, is infinite, eternal, and all-knowing. As we strive to be wise with our money, or with anything else, we must look with hope toward the source of all wisdom.
Three Plain Little Rules
John Wesley, the influential eighteenth-century clergyman and theologian and the founder of Methodism, ministered during a turbulent time in England. The disparity between the wealthy and the poor was stark, and violence was rampant. Methodism began, not as a denomination or church, but as a revival movement. Wesley and the early Methodists were interested in transforming the Church of England and England as a whole. This included improving the financial situation of the country's poorest people and holding the richest accountable for how they used their wealth.
Wesley understood the power of money to corrupt and destroy, but he also recognized its power to do good. And he knew that money was a primary concern for the people he ministered to. Those who were of modest means had to manage their money carefully; those who were well off had to avoid being self-serving with their income. There were plenty of early Methodists who had gone from poverty to affluence and who had to learn how to handle their newfound riches.
To help the early Methodists use their money in ways that were wise, honored God, and were beneficial to God's people, Wesley introduced "three plain rules" for the use of money:
• Gain (earn) all you can.
• Save all you can.
• Give all you can.
Simple, right?
Though memorizing these three rules is easy, following them is more challenging. Wesley introduced these maxims in his sermon, "The Use of Money," but he referred to them in many other sermons. Each rule complements the teaching of Scripture and the witness of the church.
Throughout this study, you will consider these three rules as you reflect on your personal experience with money and as you study what the Bible has to say on the subject. Along the way, you'll learn a bit about managing your money wisely and for God's glory.
Session 1 Activities
Just One Wish
Supplies: A Bible
Imagine that an angel walks in on your group and, because you have been so devoted to learning and growing as a faithful Christian community, the angel grants each one of you one wish. What would you ask for?
Give everyone a few minutes to think of a wish, then have all the group members say what they would wish for. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each request. For instance, if someone wished for a large sum of money, how could he or she use that money for good? On the other hand, what might be some negative side effects of having lots of money?
After talking about everyone's wishes, read 1 Kings 3:4-14.
• What did Solomon request from God?
• How did God respond?
• What are the potential benefits of Solomon's wish?
• Are there any potential drawbacks or negative side effects to Solomon's request?
• What does this Scripture teach about the value of God's wisdom?
Read "A Wise and Discerning Mind" from the chapter above. Discuss:
• What is wisdom? How is it different from knowledge or intelligence?
Don't Rely on Your Own Intelligence
Supplies: A markerboard or large sheet of paper and markers
Each person in the group should come up with a list of five accomplishments in human history that they consider most impressive. These could be anything from landing on the moon to building the pyramids to founding nations where people have a say in government to accessing a library's worth of information through a device that fits into our pockets.
After everyone has come up with their ideas, ask the group members to read their lists aloud, then record all their ideas on a markerboard or large sheet of paper. As a group, come to an agreement on which five accomplishments are most impressive.
Human beings have done some pretty amazing things during our time on earth. We've acquired an impressive knowledge and understanding of our world and universe; and we've developed a host of technological wonders. Yet Proverbs tells us that, as human beings, we should not "rely on [our] own intelligence" (3:5).
Read the entirety of Proverbs 3:5-7. Discuss:
• These verses from Proverbs don't say anything negative about human intelligence, and yet we are cautioned not to rely on it. Why do you think that's so?
• How can relying on our own intelligence keep us from trusting fully in God?
• What might be the downside of trusting in our own intelligence when it comes to money?
Get Wise With Your Money
Supplies: A few note cards or card-sized pieces of paper for each person, two standard dice
Everyone should take four or five note cards or card-sized pieces of paper. On each card, group members should write one way that young people might use their money (for example, "Put the money in a savings account" or "Spend the money one dollar at a time in snack machines"). Gather the cards, shuffle them, and place the deck face down.
Select one person to start. That person should roll the dice. The total of the two dice, multiplied by ten, will represent how much money is available. (If the number is 8, that person has $80; if the number is 11, that person has $110; and so on.) The person will then draw a card saying how the money will be used. Next, the entire group will vote on whether using the money in this manner would be wise or foolish. If the group votes "wise," the player keeps the money; if the group votes "foolish," the player loses the money. Keep track, on a whiteboard or sheet of paper, of how much money each person acquires or loses.
After everyone has had a turn, discuss what made the "wise" uses of money wise and what made the "foolish" uses of money foolish. Talk about whether members of the group have had personal experiences with money similar to those on the cards. If so, do they agree with the group's wise-or-foolish judgment?
Play a few rounds, stopping after each to debrief. When you're done, declare a winner. (Be sure to remind the group that winning and losing in this particular game is a product of luck—the card shuffle—and the votes of the other players.) Then discuss:
• How do you determine whether a use of money is wise or foolish?
Read each of the following Scriptures. After each Scripture is read, discuss what it says about our attitude and approach toward money.
• Matthew 25:14-30 (parable of the talents, or valuable coins)
• Luke 12:13-21 (parable of the rich fool)
• Philippians 4:12-13
Money Rules
Supplies: A markerboard or large sheet of paper
As a group, brainstorm some rules for making wise use of money. These rules might involve how we earn money, how we should spend money, or how much money we should save or give away.
After brainstorming, try to pare down your list to five or fewer rules. Then read "Three Plain Little Rules" from the chapter above.
• What were John Wesley's three rules for the use of money?
• How do his rules compare with yours?
In future sessions, we will look at each of Wesley's rules in detail. Until then, make a goal, based on one of your group's rules or one of Wesley's, for how you will use your money. Be specific about your goal and be sure to select a goal that can be met in the coming week. For instance, if you will be getting an allowance or a paycheck in the coming week, you could make a goal involving what portion of that money you could save or give; if you have a habit of buying little things that you don't really need, you could make a goal of going one week without making unnecessary purchases.
Pair off. Tell your goal to your partner. During the week, check in with each other about whether you have successfully kept your goal or are making progress toward your goal.
Close your time together in prayer, asking God for the wisdom to trust in God—and not to rely on your own intelligence—especially when it comes to how you use your money.
CHAPTER 2
Earn All You Can
Laziness brings poverty; hard work makes one rich.
—Proverbs 10:4
Surprise!
Have you ever been surprised by something that a preacher said, either in a sermon or in conversation? Perhaps you learned that your 52-year-old pastor enjoyed listening to hip hop; or that she spent several years as a detective before entering the ministry. Or a pastor may have introduced you to a new interpretation of a Scripture that you thought had one clear and obvious meaning. Or maybe you found out for the first time that faithful Christians disagree on a hot- button issue that you had assumed was one-sided. As God's people, we need things to surprise us and challenge our understandings from time to time. Otherwise our faith becomes stale, and we take God's wisdom for granted.
John Wesley likely surprised plenty of people when he preached his sermon on the use of money. Many in his audience would have grown up learning about the dangers of money. Wealth can tempt us and warp our priorities. It can do considerable harm to those who are vulnerable. Jesus lifted up the poor widow who donated all of her savings to the temple treasury; he challenged a rich man to sell his possessions and give away the money he made; he taught that we can't serve God and wealth. Wesley himself was known for being frugal. Those listening to him preach probably would have expected him to present a negative view of money and would have been taken aback when he named his first rule for money: "Gain [earn] all you can." They may have been shocked to hear him go on to say that money is "an excellent gift of God."
You may have heard that the Bible says, "Money is the root of all evil." But it doesn't say that—not exactly, anyway. In his First Letter to Timothy, Paul writes, "People ... trying to get rich fall into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful passions that plunge people into ruin and destruction. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
In other words, money, in and of itself, is not evil; but our attitude toward money can be. It's fine to make money, but making money should never be our top priority. It should never control us; we should control it. John Wesley understood that, with the correct attitude and perspective, money could be a tremendous asset.
Work Hard, Gain Money
Wesley's first plain rule for the use of money is "Gain [earn] all you can." Let's look at the full text of his statement: "Gain all you can by honest industry. Use all possible diligence in your calling." We see this same emphasis on working hard throughout the Bible's wisdom literature. Ecclesiastes 3:13, for instance, says, "Moreover, this is the gift of God: that all people should ... enjoy the results of their hard work."
The Book of Proverbs frequently contrasts the results of hard work with the results of laziness. Proverbs 14:23 tells us, "There is profit in hard work, / but mere talk leads to poverty," and Proverbs 13:4 points out, "The lazy have strong desires but receive nothing; / the appetite of the diligent is satisfied."
We know that wisdom comes from God. Proverbs 6:6-9 tells us that we can see this divine wisdom at work in the example of the ant:
Go to the ant, you lazy person;
observe its ways and grow wise
The ant has no commander, officer, or ruler.
Even so, it gets its food in summer;
gathers its provisions at harvest.
How long, lazy person, will you lie down?
When will you rise from your sleep?
Wesley's first rule mentions one's "calling." We are not to work hard for the sake of working hard but to fulfill the purpose that God has set before us. Often in the church, we use calling when talking about how clergy and other church leaders are "called" to serve God as a profession. But every follower of Christ has a calling, even if that calling doesn't involve going into ordained ministry or working fulltime in the church.
Some Christians are called to be teachers or lawyers or healthcare professionals. Some are called to run businesses. Some are called to do work that is unheralded and overlooked but nonetheless necessary for society to function. Our calling isn't a matter of salary. In fact, many Christians do unpaid work to support family members who are wage earners. Rather, God calls us to do work that honors God and benefits humankind.
When we are diligent in doing the work that God calls us to do, we will earn money, or our families will earn money; and, as John Wesley teaches us, earning money is a good thing. Acquiring money by honest means will give us even more opportunities to do God's good work.
Hard Work Has Limits
One common TV and movie situation is characters who are so consumed by their work that they have no time left for loved ones. These workaholics earn money by "honest industry," yet they often are portrayed in a negative light. They often are shown as the villains because their priorities are out of whack.
