Character Then Money
Foundation Statement: Money never takes
precedence of character
I.
LIE: We should just be
righteous and have a little-Psalm 37:16
A. It’s a comparison; rich
and wicked is not better than a little and righteous
1. It didn’t say it’s wicked
to be rich
2. It didn’t say that you
should have little and be righteous
B. TRUTH: It’s better to be
a righteous person of character with a little, than to have many riches and be
wicked. If money had place above
character then it’s out of its place.
II.
LIE: We should walk in
integrity and be poor-Proverbs 19:1(AMP)
A. It’s a comparison; poor
with integrity is better than perverseness with riches
1. It didn’t say be poor
with integrity; The fact of the matter is your integrity will make you rich
B. Don’t give money/riches
place over integrity
C. TRUTH: I never trade my
character for money; my consistent character will bring money into my
life. If money has place over integrity
then it’s out of its place.
III.
LIE: It’s better to have
a good name and loving favor and be poor, because if your rich you won’t have a
good name or loving favor-Proverbs 22:1
A. It’s a comparison not
options: a good name is to be chose rather than riches and loving favor rather
than silver and gold, but doesn’t mean you can’t have a good name, riches,
loving favor, and silver and gold
1. It didn’t say you should
have a good name and no riches; it said in priority a good name is to be chosen
above great riches; God made it so you could have the good name and the great
riches
2. It didn’t say have loving
favor and no silver and gold; it said loving favor is to be chosen above silver
and gold
B. TRUTH: I never compromise
my character or loving favor from God for riches, silver, and gold because
there’s no comparison between those.
If I chose a good name over riches and loving favor over silver and
gold, giving money it’s proper place, God will get all the rest to me.
IV.
LIE: If you walk
uprightly you’re going to be poor-Proverbs 28:6
A. It’s a comparison; poor
and upright is better than rich and perverse
1. It didn’t say be poor and
walk uprightly; it’s telling you don’t give up your character to be rich
B. TRUTH: If I walk upright
and in character God will make me rich.
Therefore I don’t have to give up my character to be rich, it’s my
character that’s going to make me rich.
V.
LIE: Just tell the truth
and be poor-Proverbs 19:22
A. It’s a comparison; being
poor is better than being a liar
1. It didn’t say be poor and
tell the truth; it said you’re better off being a poor person and telling the
truth than being a rich person who is a liar
B. Don’t give money place
over the truth
C. TRUTH: Money and riches
never takes place over me telling the truth; if it looks like telling the truth
is going to cost me money then I do that