“Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?” (Proverbs 17:16 NIV)
The key verse I am giving reference here is part of one section of the chapter, which starts from Proverbs 17: 14-19. This speaks about interpersonal conflict. And in verse 18, it particularly sets a wise limit to a friendship, for example when one is asked to put up a pledge or security for a loan of the other. However, I will focus the discussion on verse 16, which fits to my assertion that “no, money is not the real problem.”
It is the majority’s notion when one is in financial trouble, money, or the lack of it, is the problem. Hence, the solution they could right away think of is to get money from whatever or whoever the source is.
If one thinks that getting extra income is the way to go, there is the danger of spending more time working and less time with social and spiritual life. Time with family, friends, and your loved ones may get less and less as one’s time will be spent more to earning money. Same thing with the time spent for your prayer and devotional time, notwithstanding the skipping of church services and fellowship with the brethren.
The worse thing one could resort to is to borrow money to pay another maturing loan. Applying a re-loan or some term it top-up loan from an existing one with a financial institution; approaching relatives and friends to borrow money; and resorting to approach loan sharks or usurers (commonly known by Filipinos as 5/6, where for every 5 borrowed the borrower pays 6) are some of the other common solutions one would resort to. This is a type of loan pyramiding.
Borrowing from a financial institution or from the usurers may require a surety. This is a big no-no for anyone. The Bible is clear enough to instruct anyone not to enter into as surety. As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the limit to a friendship is when one puts himself as pledge or surety to a loan of another.
If you are in a situation where you are financially challenged today, think deeply enough your real problem. Is it really money? Then as you realize that it is not, you can finally come up with a solution that is way better than those most people resort to, as aforesaid in the preceding paragraphs.
No, money is not the real problem. It is one’s attitude towards money and stewardship of the resources God has entrusted us. And attitude is to be developed starting with wisdom and understanding that one can learn from the Bible and their church.
Going back to the key verse, what use does money has in the hands of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom? Give a financially challenged person your money and his problem will not be solved. His current situation will not improve if a dole out is what you think could solve it.
Teaching him the ways of God as regards personal finance, surely his current situation will have the greater chance to improve.
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For those in the Dubai I invite you to attend a talk entitled “The Capital Offense — A Debt Sentence” on October 19, 2010 from 8PM to 10PM at the Holy Trinity Compound, Unity Hall 2. This talk will provide some Biblical perspective about personal finance. Central topic of discussion will be credit cards and loans, in which a detailed description of most, if not all information not known by everyone, such as, but not limited to how financial institutions and its cohorts (business establishments) sucked up every salaried employees income.
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