Wealth or Poverty. Diligence and Intentionality.

Wise diligence and intentionality create wealth and forge excellence in character. This principle of wealth management is found throughout the bible in many forms. One of the greatest examples of this is the excellent wife of Proverbs 31:10-31. Her diligence and wisdom are crucial to the increasing wealth of her family and community. These characteristics make her economically, functionally, and morally more precious than jewels (Proverbs 31:10). She intentionally seeks out wise ways to generate wealth and income, then invests in that process (Proverbs 31:16, Proverbs 31:24). This skill makes her like a merchant ship in regards to her family’s economics (Proverbs 31:14). She recognizes her material value, and strives to make it work for her (Proverbs 31:18). This diligence generates enough gain to bless her husband, as well as to tend to the poor (Proverbs 31:11, Proverbs 31:19-20). Her diligence and intentionality exalt her financial status, as well as her overall community influence (Proverbs 31:31).

Diligence and intentionality not only increase wealth, but they also provide protection for those inevitable times when wealth is tested. Consider the wisdom of Proverbs 27:23-27 NLT. The writer points out that wealth fluctuates, and good times fade. He argues that a wise person will pay attention to his wealth, and tend and care for the mechanisms that produce it so that when hard times come, he will have enough to continue feeding one’s family. The writer isn’t making the case for saving one’s wealth – though that is included in the principle. He is making the case that the wise man will be intentional in knowing what he has, how much he has, where he has it, what he is doing with it, and what it is worth. He is instructing us to care for the wealth we have so that it is always in the best condition we can manage, so that when we need it, it will function for us. He is arguing that we should be aware of our material wealth so that we can knowledgeably manage it.

Diligence and intentionality are not easy. They require hard work. By their nature, they are a form of labor. But they are absolutely crucial. Without them, you will find yourself in a state of lack (Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 24:30-34). And managing lack is more unpleasant work than managing wealth.