Message Notes

YAG RETREAT 2006
Theme: Money Matters
Venue: Changi Village Hotel
Date: 11-13 May 2006         
Session #5

4. Wisdom                                                                         Proverbs 3:13-18; 4:7-9

 “Riches and honour are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness”                                   Proverbs 8:18

“That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries”                                          Proverbs 8:21

a) Wisdom is Key

b) Accrual of blessings through wisdom

i) Material blessings

ii) Non-material blessings

c) Pursuit of wisdom and incorruptible riches                       Luke 12:32-34

5. Diligence

“He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich”                              Proverbs 10:4

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty”         Proverbs 21:5

“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And attend to your herds;
For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.”                     Proverbs 27:23-24

“…Diligence is man’s precious possession”                       Proverbs 12:27b

“…The soul of the diligent shall be made rich”                   Proverbs 13:4

“Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labour will increase”                       Proverbs 13:11

a) There are no short cuts to obtaining wealth

b) Diligence is the safest way to obtain wealth

6. Financial success – not the domain of men                     Proverbs 31
Women have similar potentials!

a) Personal Innate skills (skillful hands)

“She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands”                       Proverbs 31:13

“She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle”                              Proverbs 31:19

“She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple”                      Proverbs 31:22

“She makes fine linen garments and sells them
And supplies sashes for the merchants”                   Proverbs 31:24

b) Developed skills

“She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard”                  Proverbs 31:16

“She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamps does not go out by night”                  Proverbs 31:18

i) Learned skills

ii) Diversification

c) High praise

“Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates”        Proverbs 31:31

d) Analysis of her success

“She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms”                                      Proverbs 31:17

“Strength and honour are her clothing…”               Proverbs 31:25a

“A woman who fears the LORD…”                         Proverbs 31:30b

i) Strength

ii) Honour

iii) Reverence

7. Enjoying the fruits of one’s labour

“For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight…” Ecclesiastes 2:26

“I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labour – it is the gift of God”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

a) Rejoicing

b) Doing good

c) Eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of labour

d) No guilt feelings – “It is the gift of God”