“13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out and not be answered.
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.
”
Throughout the Proverbs Solomon continually encourages diligent work and asserts those who are wise and hardworking will do well financially. In this chapter he speaks to the heart aspects of wealth.
What is the purpose of money and how do we steward it properly to do what is right, what is just and what is fair?
I’m sure we have all struggled with the dilemma of giving to those who are poor when we believe their poverty is the result of their own poor decisions or their sloth. We want to be wise stewards of the resources God has blessed us with and not encourage or feed bad habits. But is that our responsibility? Or do we simply give without sparing?
Is our giving for those who receive it or is it for us?
Here’s what Jesus has to say: “Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14).
I keep re-reading verse 25 of this Proverb and it has taken a long time for this to sink in, maybe because it’s 4:15am, but it is the craving that is the death of the sluggard. In my self-righteousness I kept focussing on the word sluggard. The issue Solomon is speaking to here as he instructs on wealth is the inner battle between craving and generosity not the external issue of diligence verses sloth.
Verse 26 then makes the direct comparison which provides us with our wise instruction; are we craving for more or are we giving without sparing?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What are the biggest internal battles you face with giving to the poor? What does wise stewardship look like practically? Share your thoughts below.