“A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.” – Proverbs 28:11
Perhaps you’ve marveled about that classmate who was crazy smart—how is it possible that he could ace a test without studying, but is now struggling to make ends meet? It works the other way too. There are some phenomenally wealthy people who are the last ones you want giving advice.
There is correlation between wealth and wisdom (Prov 21:20), but it’s loose. Too often, we stand dumbstruck in the presence of wealth, as if that person had ascended to a higher realm. Without question, the ability to make or maintain a fortune is a skill. It requires either business savvy, focused hard work, good timing, charisma, management expertise, understanding of investments, or some combination of those. None of those skills, however, equip you to give counsel about things like lifestyle, career plans, or relationships.
It’s the same as the famous actress who believes she’s qualified to weigh in on a political issue. Someone who is rich or famous may be well informed and discerning about foreign diplomacy, but odds are they know as much as you. Rich people usually have achieved a level of success (sometimes it’s inherited). This success shows itself in clear, objective ways. It’s easy, then, in their minds and others, for demonstrated success in one realm to bleed over into expected success in all realms. That’s where trouble begins.
The pathways towards maximal money-making and maximal wisdom are separate trajectories. There is a correlation, as wise people tend to not blow their savings on the lottery, but you are better off discounting one when evaluating the other. If you want financial advice, look to wealthy people (maybe), but if you want wisdom, look to wise people. Solomon showed that wisdom is the more reliable predictor of the other, but that’s not an absolute.
The gospel brings down the proud and raises the humble. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10). You can’t transfer credits. No matter who you are and what you’ve done, you have to be willing to start over in the school of Jesus.
Jesus and this proverb make it clear which goal you should aim for. The protection of money is as thick as the paper it’s made of. Following Jesus and meditating on his words begins loading your toolchest with all sorts of devices for all kinds of problems and projects, whereas building your net worth is like getting a top-of-the-line drill. That’s a really good tool, but it’s not enough.
As a Christian, if you’ve been soaking in God’s Word and presence, you are more than prepared for any moment. You are more than a match for any foe. You have a wealth of resources for living well and a depth of understanding that allows you to see further, because your eyes are fixed on what is invisible (2 Cor 4:18). We should build generational wealth by prioritizing the gold of knowing Jesus; everything else is an add-on.
Bonus article: Does the Bible really commend using a bribe?
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