An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. Proverbs 20:21
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11
A man who attended a church in London was hired for a prestigious job, and his salary quadrupled overnight. He told his friends about this with great joy, but within a year he had left his wife and abandoned the faith. The money went to his head and it ruined him.
Parents with money should give weight to these proverbs. What would be the effect in the lives of your children if suddenly they inherited a large amount of money? Money is a blessing, but those who are wise will think about the capacity of a person to handle the responsibility that comes with it.
How else is wealth gained hastily? The lotteries thrive on the promise of instant wealth. You see a flashing billboard, inciting you to dream about multiple millions. But whenever someone wins the lottery, it comes with a massive responsibility that he or she may not be able to handle.
The same of course applies to lawsuits, which in our culture have become another way to gain wealth hastily. Instead, these proverbs commend the value of money that is saved little by little. “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it” (Prov. 13:11). Begin to save, and as your money grows, your wisdom can grow with it.
Do you play the lottery, bet on sports, or go to the casino? You may want to examine your motives. Is it because of your desire for instant wealth? Be careful that such a desire does not bring you to ruin.
