Do not wear yourself out to get rich
Proverbs 23:4-5 - Work should not become an idol
Image generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI) using the DALL·E model.
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”
Proverbs 23:4-5 NIV
We’re back to Proverbs for the first time in a few weeks. Right off the bat this proverb seemed a bit different, mainly because Solomon usually rebukes laziness. Here he seems to be saying “Hey, take it easy. Don’t overdo it!” Well, he’s doing this for a very good reason, and that is to say that work — and the wealth that accumulates from it — should not become an idol.
Do you know a workaholic? Perhaps it is you! Do you spend way too much time focused on your career aspirations rather than spending time with family or friends? Is making more money to acquire more things or experiences the reason you work overtime, bring work home, and take on more tasks that you really have no way of doing well? Are you exhausted — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — by your pursuit of wealth?
The Bible contains many admonitions against loving money. Think of the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 6:10 — “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” In ancient Israel when today’s proverb was written, wealth was seen as a blessing from God… but you were expected use that wealth to help those less fortunate than yourself, to assist the community in prospering rather than hoarding belongings for oneself.
Solomon is advising his readers to show restraint (“not trust your own cleverness”) in working strictly to get rich. It’s more important to prioritize the eternal goals in life over short-term material gains. Think of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Restraining yourself from the mindless pursuit of wealth makes you more reliant on God’s provision and timing, seeking His solutions rather than relying solely on wearing yourself out for what — in the eternal scheme of things — has no worth.
The second verse here provides a wonderful metaphor of riches being here one day and gone the next. History provides countless examples of natural disasters, financial crashes, social upheavals, and hyperinflation that turn even the wealthiest person into a penniless wretch in the wink of an eye. We should never live for the riches that come from overwork, because they’re too susceptible to outside changes and too temporary to make them the sole focus of our lives.
American professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Bruce Waltke, quoted in the Enduring Word commentary on this verse, says this of the metaphorical eagle flying off to the sky:
“The addition adds to the metaphor of the swift and powerful eagle that he outstrips all attempts to capture him. Riches will certainly disappear, and once gone, they are gone forever.”1
Solomon’s storied wisdom shines in this proverb. He might not be the best example, as he really never worked that hard yet had incredible wealth. But he saw, and documented in these verses, that in the long run the relentless pursuit of wealth isn’t worth the cost of losing one’s health or soul.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, keep me from looking to the disappearing riches of this world and instead focus my eyes on the treasure being kept for me in heaven. I pray that You continue to provide for my needs as You have in the past, and that my faith in You vanquishes all worries about tomorrow. I trust in Your Word and know that You have promised to fulfill my needs according to Your riches and glory. I thank You in the name of Jesus, AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Commentary quotations from Enduring Word are used with the written permission of the author
BibleHub was accessed on August 3, 2025 for commentary on Proverbs 23:4-5
Waltke, Bruce K. "The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15-31" (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament) (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2005)