Prosperity that Pleases God

Robert Wurtz II

Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice (Proverbs 16:8).

Proverbs 16:8 expresses a profound Biblical principle found throughout the Book of Proverbs and the Bible, emphasizing the value of God’s approval in obtaining material wealth. The Hebrew word for justice describes a legal decision given by God to be followed by the people (Isa 58:2; Zep 2:3; Mal 2:17). In other words, it’s better to have a little wealth and God be pleased with how you obtained it than have vast amounts of money and God be angry at you for how you acquired it.

A Simple Analysis

The verse contrasts two states: having “a little” (implying modest means) versus “great revenues” (indicating substantial wealth). The key distinction lies in how the money, land, or resources were attained—through righteousness or through unbiblical means. The world has a “dog eat dog” outlook that looks out for its own interests without regard for the impact their actions have on others. The expression is generally used to refer to fierce competition in which people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed. The world says, “in this business, it’s always dog eat dog,” but this outlook is an abomination and anathema in the kingdom of God. As Spirit Filled Believers, it should not once be named among us.

The Outlook of the Righteous

Those who are truly saved, and not pretenders, operate in love: not the love of money, but love for God and their fellow man. The time would fail to list all the examples in the Old Testament and the New Testament teaching us that we cannot serve both God and Mammon, which is the personification of riches. But this never stops relentlessly greedy characters from attempting it. When John the Baptist was giving out instructions regarding what people needed to do to, “bring fourth fruits worthy of repentance“ you will notice almost all of them were related to your possessions.

Justice in the context of Proverbs 16:8 refers to moral integrity, ethical behavior, and adherence to God’s laws. It encompasses honesty, fairness, and equity. The verse suggests that living righteously, even with limited resources, pleases God and is the objective of the righteous. Sadly, in modern times there is a twisted theology that suggests that the more we accumulate the more God is pleased by us. Many have this corrupt understanding of stewardship. Understand the stewardship is not accumulating as much as you possibly can so God will be impressed with your bank balance, stewardship is doing with your resources what God would do if he were you.

“Great revenues without justice” implies wealth that is acquired through dishonest or unethical means. This could include fraud, exploitation, or manipulation. The verse effectively warns that such wealth is a curse and not a blessing. Keep in mind that just because some means of acquiring wealth or resources may be “legal“ it could very easily be unbiblical and it could also greatly anger God if you follow through with it. It behooves us to take Proverbs 16:8 seriously. James, what some have called, “the book of Proverbs in the New Testament,” speaks of the accumulation of wealth and denounces ill-gotten gain saying it will eat your flesh as it were fire (James 5:1-5).

Proverbs: A Book of Wisdom

The Book of Proverbs frequently addresses themes of wisdom, righteousness, and the consequences of one’s actions. It promotes the idea that a life based on God’s word leads to His approval and ultimately leads to true prosperity, peace, and favor with God and man. God doesn’t bless sin and compromise. The first question that must be asked before any transaction is made is, “is this biblical?” The question next should be, “will God be pleased with this action?” If you can’t say yes to both of those with a clear conscience you had best think twice before you act.

Proverbs 16:8 jars our sensibilities in case we have allowed greed or some other evil motivation to cloud our judgment. The Bible speaks of the deceitfulness of sin. Greed makes a person callous. How do you think the rich man walked by Lazarus every day of his life, though the dear man had sores on his body? He ended up in hell because he allowed his greed to dull his conscience (Luke 16:19-31). He didn’t care about anybody or anything, but the proverbial “almighty dollar.” Proverbs 16:8 on the other hand, exhorts individuals to prioritize integrity and God’s will above the almighty dollar. The pursuit of wealth in itself is sin as we should be pursuing God, but to what measure we do acquire it we should not compromise Biblical values or the spirit of the law. Ask yourself, “is God pleased?”

Sadly, greed blinds a person to believe that true success is financial status and not God’s approval. Whether they say it or not, they believe that gain is godliness, and we are joined to withdraw from such people (1 Timothy 6:5). For Christians, greed usually cloaks itself in spiritual-sounding words like, “stewardship” or “doing God’s business,” but if Proverbs 16:8 means anything, God is more concerned about HOW we obtain increase and wealth than how much we actually end up with. It’s a lot better to be broke, busted, and disgusted, and have peace of mind and a clear conscience than to have a ginormous bank balance, knowing that God is angry with you. Obtaining wealth in an underhanded way is wickedness, and God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11).

A True Pentecost

You would think that people who were full of the Holy Spirit would be immune to greedy practices. Think again. The people in Corinth were carnal, meaning that they behaved like people who never received the Holy Spirit. Sound familiar? All the while they were operating in the gifts of the Spirit as if they were the epitome of the modern day Pentecostal and Charismatic movement. I often tell people that I am so Pentecostal you could cut me and I would bleed Pentecost. Yet, I am not among those who have idolized a mere moment in history, tirelessly striving to preserve a “snapshot” of Christianity as it once was. Such a view diminishes Christianity, and especially Pentecostalism, to a transient trend, akin to fashion styles of the 70s, 80s, or 90s. True Pentecostalism transcends time, unbound by the confines of any particular era, whether the early 1900s or the 1950s. True Pentacostalism, unlike Corinthianism, focuses on brotherly love as Paul reminded them in 1 Corinthians 13:1f. It doesn’t break into rival factions and make war like we see today. Greed is usually at the bottom of all these conflicts(1 Timothy 6:10).

Few things are more troubling than a greedy Pentecostal. Behold, one of the first signs that the Holy Ghost had descended in Acts chapter 2 was that the multitude sold their possessions and held all things in common (Acts 4:32-37). Verily, those who had never repented cast aside the greed that had ensnared their lives until that day. The disciples forsook their businesses and renounced their wealth. Yea, even Paul declared he had counted all as loss for the sake of Christ.

Proverbs 16:8, Pentecostal, or Pretendacostal?

Proverbs 16:8 seems to have completely fallen out of favor in modern times. We need to ask ourselves, “Is God pleased with what is going on?” Not the god of mammon, God Almighty. Greedy and repulsive behaviors abound, stumbling sinners and angering the saints to such a level that if it were possible even the very elect would depart from the faith. As Paul put it, “you have not so learned Christ.” You didn’t learn this from the Holy Spirit. You didn’t learn this from the anointing that you allegedly received when you received the baptism. It teaches you all things, but it does not teach you to behave in a greedy manner.

Today we’re satisfied to be called, “Pentecostal” if we just do a little talking in tongues and put on nice clothes to wear to church. If you ask me, it’s more pretend-acostal than Pentecostal. Where is Proverbs 16:8? It’s time to either put up or shut up. It’s time to either be Pentecostal in the Book of Acts sense of the word or tear the sign out of the front yard of the church. A cursory reading of the Acts shows people that loved one another in the genuine sense of the words. They had such a spirit of generosity that it makes even the greatest of givers blush. They would’ve never ripped people off, taking what they want by force or committing fornication like temple prostitutes like they did in the book of first Corinthians in what was more like Hophni and Phineas than Pentecostal or Spiritual (1Samuel 2:16).

We need a book of Acts revival, but not one of outward appearances, or an outdated mode of expressing Christianity from a bygone era. Leave it in the past where it belongs. I’m not advocating immodesty or any such thing, but understand that it’s OK to take down the doilies. What we need is a revival in the Book of Acts sense of the word in which the Holy Spirit comes into people and not only empowers them for service but transforms them into the very person of Jesus Christ. A person that is concerned more about putting on Christ than putting on some kind of special uniform to go to church (1 Peter 3:3, Romans 13:14, Galatians 3:26). We need the Jesus Christ that died on the cross and shed his blood to come into us and give us His mind and attitude (Ephesians 4:21). When that truly happens, Proverbs 16:8 will make sense and our attitude towards possessions will once again please God rather than reflecting this “dog eat dog” world that we live in.