Several months ago, I came across this verse: 

Proverbs 23:4 (NKJV) Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! 

The NIV says it this way: 

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. 

This proverb was written by King Solomon, the wisest and richest man to ever live. It’s ironic that most people live their lives in direct opposition to this verse. We choose to reject the wisdom of God spoken through Solomon and instead rely on our own understanding. Why?...Because God’s wisdom appears to be foolishness to our natural minds. Most of us have been raised with this mindset, if you want to make more you’ll have to work more. The majority of people believe that this is the only way to increase in life which is why the majority of people in this world are more consumed with their work than anything else. This is why, in many homes, both spouses work, and their children are raised by strangers. This is why many people get part time jobs on top of their full-time jobs and end up working 60+ hours a week. This is why most people walk around exhausted, stressed, burdened, and tired with little to no relationship with their heavenly Father. Brothers and sisters, this is not the abundant life God will’s for us to live! Yet we continue to do the same things repeatedly while expecting different results. That’s the definition of insanity! 

I know that I’m speaking to some people here. You may have made Jesus Lord of your life but when it comes down to it, work always takes priority over your time with Him. I used to live my life this way...consumed with work and making more money. It got to the point that when I was off, I’d be thinking about how much money I could be making if I was at work. At the time we had four young kids and I was the sole provider of our home. I took the entire burden of providing for my family on myself and never once looked into God’s word to find out how to prosper God’s way. I was stressed, irritable, and tired, but I was putting in the hours! I was doing the work! I was bringing in more money, but the funny thing is, I wasn’t prospering. In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon calls this vanity. My relationship with God was suffering which affected every other area of my life. I thought I was glorifying God by my work ethic but in reality, I was glorifying self. I was completely relying on my own understanding and keeping God on the sidelines.  Anytime we walk carnally minded, according to the world’s wisdom, it will ALWAYS produce some form of death in our lives. People that overwork and live under a high level of stress usually end up over time with adverse medical conditions. Marriages are destroyed because people are desiring money rather than their wife or husband. Children go astray because parents are more consumed with finances than stewarding the gifts God has given them. The truth is many people stop having children due to the stress and financial burden of having to provide for them. Instead of trusting God as our source we trust in ourselves. This shouldn’t be!  I can understand non-believers living like this but not those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. 

God’s will is that we prosper and be in health according to 3 John 1:2. James says in chapter 1 verse 17 that every good and perfect gift comes from our heavenly Father. God doesn’t will for us to be in lack or impoverished. Notice, the verse above doesn’t say that riches are evil, nor does it say that working hard is evil. Look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, King Saul, King David, and King Solomon. All of them were extremely wealthy. Even at the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph were given many gifts including but not limited to gold, frankincense, and myrrh. If God took glory in us being impoverished than He definitely wouldn’t have put it on the hearts of the wise men to bring gifts to His Son’s birth. Work and money is a blessing from the Lord. God commanded the Israelites to work six days and to rest on the Sabbath. He has no issue with us working, in fact, if we do it unto the Lord it’s actually an act of worship. The issue at hand is our heart motivation behind gaining riches. Money is not the issue, it’s the condition of our heart. It’s leaning on our own understanding and attempting to prosper based on our own strength and ability rather than God’s. Don’t get me wrong, I want to prosper in every way.. spirit, soul, and body; but I want to do it God’s way. I’m fully convinced based on God’s word that He wills for us to ALWAYS have ALL sufficiency in ALL things SO THAT WE CAN ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK (2 Cor. 9:8). I believe that’s God’s heart for every believer yet very few actually see the fulfillment of this verse within their personal lives.  

At this point you might be asking, “If working more isn’t the answer to prospering financially then what is?”. Let’s look at God’s word to find out what He says. In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 Paul is writing to the believers in Corinth about a monetary donation the church was putting together for the Church in Macedonia.  In chapter 9 verses 6 through 11 Paul explains how to prosper using God’s economy. He says, 

(NKJV) 

Vs. 6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

Vs. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  

Vs. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 

Vs. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad; He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 

Vs. 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the Sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,  

Vs. 11 While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 

In 2 Corinthians 8:24 Paul says that our giving is actually a proof of our love for others and God. The road to prospering God’s way is by giving with the right heart attitude. Sowing cheerfully into the kingdom of God by faith. When was the last time you sowed into your church? Did you sow cheerfully, willingly, with joy or was it grudgingly out of conviction from the pastor? Did it feel like you were paying a debt, or did you give with excitement and anticipation? Does God see you as a giver? According to this verse God gives seed to the Sower. I’ve heard it said like this, “If you find that your lacking seed, then God doesn’t see you as a Sower”. God displayed His love toward us by giving, or you could say sowing, His Son Jesus Christ, the incorruptible seed, into this world. Jesus loved us so much that he willingly, joyfully, gave His life for you and me. The harvest of His gift is you and me!  

Choose today to renew your mind to prospering God’s way. I made that choice almost 5 years ago and it’s radically changed my family and I’s life. My wife and I and our six children are prospering more now than ever before because we are Sowers. Over the last 5 years my wife and I have sown more money into the Kingdom of God than in all of our previous years combined and you know what...God has been faithful to fulfill His word. Don’t lean on your own understanding and overwork to obtain riches. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, seek first His Kingdom, and purpose in your heart to be a valve that God can flow money through. IF HE CAN GET IT THROUGH YOU, HE’LL GET IT TO YOU! 

My challenge to each of you reading this: 

Begin sowing financially into the kingdom of God. Purpose in your heart every week to sow a portion of your income. I would recommend sowing where you’re being fed. Whether that's your church or a parachurch ministry. Regardless of which one it is make sure it’s good ground. Sow by faith with an expectation to receive more seed to sow. It might not be immediately, but God is faithful to fulfill His promises.