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What Does The Bible Say About Wealth? – Viral Believer
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What Does The Bible Say About Wealth?

Wealth and riches are topics that come up frequently in the Bible. God has a lot to say about money, possessions, greed, contentment, generosity, and how we are to view earthly wealth in light of eternity. As Christians, it’s important that we examine what scripture teaches so that we can gain wisdom and align our attitudes and actions with God’s will.

Key Takeaways:

  • Wealth itself is not condemned in the Bible, but the love of money and greed are strongly warned against.
  • God calls us to be content with what we have and not constantly strive for more possessions and wealth.
  • We are to be generous and share with those in need, not hoarding wealth for ourselves.
  • Our identity and security should be in Christ, not money.
  • God owns everything and we are just stewards of what He entrusts to us during our lives.
  • Instead of treasuring temporary earthly wealth, we are to store up eternal treasures in heaven.
  • Those who are rich have extra responsibilities to be humble, generous and concerned for others.

Earthly Wealth is Fleeting

The Bible reminds us that our lives on this earth, and whatever wealth we may accumulate, is temporary. The apostle John writes:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

James also warns about hoarding wealth in the last days:

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. (James 5:1-3)

Earthly wealth is uncertain and can disappear quickly. But storing up eternal treasure in heaven by living righteously is what lasts. As Jesus said:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

The Love of Money is a Root of All Kinds of Evil

While money itself is not condemned in Scripture, the obsessive love of money and greed for riches is strongly warned against:

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

Greed causes all kinds of sin and deception as people compromise to gain more wealth. The lure of money can lead people to abandon what they know is right. Those consumed with getting rich will end up ruining themselves spiritually. So Scripture exhorts us:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

We Cannot Serve Both God and Money

In Matthew 6:24, Jesus makes the stark statement that “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” This reminds us that our devotion and service should be directed towards the Lord, not pursuing riches. We have to choose who will be master over our lives. Joshua gave a similar warning to the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land regarding serving the Lord:

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

If we try to divide our allegiance between God and pursuing wealth, we will end up loving one and hating the other. That’s why Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven rather than earthly wealth.

God Owns Everything

A foundational principle of stewardship in the Bible is that God owns everything and we are just managers of what He entrusts to us during our lifetime:

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)

For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. (Psalm 50:10-11)

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:8)

Since God is the owner of all things, we are just stewards who will give an account of how we managed what He has given us. King David expressed this well in his prayer:

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. (1 Chronicles 29:14)

Everything we have is by God’s grace and providence. We should hold our wealth and possessions with an open hand, willing to part with anything God asks of us.

Do Not Worry About Material Needs

Rather than worrying about our material provisions, Jesus tells us to seek first God’s kingdom and trust that He will take care of our needs:

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:25-26)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33-34)

Worry and anxiety over provision shows a lack of faith. As Christians, we can be content knowing that God is faithful and will take care of our needs.

Beware of Pride and Arrogance

For those who are wealthy or attain riches, Scripture warns against pride and arrogance:

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. (Ezekiel 16:49)

The abundance of possessions and comforts can lead people to feel self-sufficient and forget their need for God. That’s why Paul exhorted Timothy:

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17)

Prosperity can be a blessing, but also a temptation if it leads us to be puffed up and feel we have no need of God or others. Those who have wealth must guard their hearts against pride.

Do Not Trust in Riches

Scripture repeatedly warns us not to trust in riches for security but only in the Lord Himself:

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. (Proverbs 11:28)

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. (Proverbs 18:11)

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. (Proverbs 21:31)

No matter how much earthly wealth we accumulate, it is nothing compared to the limitless power and provision of the Creator of the universe. Our security should come from our relationship with God, not our bank account balance.

Those Who Have Much are Required to Give Much

While Jesus did not condemn the wealthy, He did warn them strongly that to whom much is given, much will be required. Those who attain more resources and riches in this life have a greater responsibility to share generously:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)

The more excess wealth we have beyond our basic necessities, the greater our obligation to give and meet the needs of the poor and spread the Gospel. The richest king in the Bible, Solomon, amassed massive wealth but in the end realized it was all worthless compared to knowing and obeying God:

I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 2:18-23)

Wealth by itself is empty. It’s what we do with it that matters eternally. Will we hold it selfishly or share with those in need as Jesus instructed?

The Rich Should Not Oppress the Poor

A frequent warning in Scripture is against the rich oppressing the poor for their own gain. They are exhorted to deal justly:

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. (Proverbs 14:31)

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. (Proverbs 19:1)

Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; For the LORD will plead their case and take the life of those who rob them. (Proverbs 22:22-23)

The rich are not to abuse their power or exploit workers for unjust wages. God hears the cries of the poor and defends their cause. Believers should avoid business practices that take unfair advantage of people’s poverty.

Be Content and Generous

Rather than striving to get rich, Scripture encourages us to be content with what we have and focus on being generous to others:

But godliness with contentment is great gain…So if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. (1 Timothy 6:6,8-10)

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:18-19)

If God blesses us financially, we should respond with praise and thankfulness, being quick to share and meet the needs of others rather than living in indulgence. Our aim is to glorify God, not gratify the flesh.

Heavenly Treasures Versus Earthly Riches

Rather than living for temporary wealth, believers should store up eternal treasures by using resources to glorify God and advance His kingdom. Jesus could not be clearer on this:

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Paul echoes this in his instruction to Timothy:

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Where we invest our time and resources shows what has our heart. May our lives be marked by storing up riches in heaven, not chasing after fleeting wealth on earth.

Key Principles for the Wealthy

For those believers whom God blesses with abundance, here are some key principles from Scripture:

  • Be humble and acknowledge everything you have is by God’s grace, not your own efforts alone (Deuteronomy 8:18)
  • Be generous and willing to share, not looking out only for yourself (1 Timothy 6:18)
  • Be concerned for the poor and do not oppress your workers (Proverbs 14:31)
  • Do not trust in your wealth but keep your hope in God alone (Psalm 52:7)
  • Use your resources to advance God’s purposes, not selfish ambitions (Matthew 6:19-21)
  • Guard your heart against pride and arrogance (1 Timothy 6:17)
  • Remember you will give an account to God for how you managed what He entrusted to you (Matthew 25:14-30)

Conclusion

As we have seen, the Bible contains many warnings about the dangers of pursuing riches, as well as instructions for how to view wealth rightly with an eternal perspective. Loving money and possessions leads only to spiritual decay. Rather than putting our hope in uncertain riches, we are to build up eternal treasures by generously using what God has given us for His glory and to benefit others. We should avoid greed and be content with daily bread, trusting God to supply our needs.

For those blessed with abundance, wealth comes with great responsibility to be generous stewards who are humble and concerned for the poor and needy. Our true security is in Christ alone. This world and its riches are passing away. But storing up treasure in heaven through righteous living will reap eternal rewards that moth and rust cannot destroy. May we take to heart Scripture’s wisdom so that whether in plenty or in want, Christ will be our portion and greatest treasure.

Pastor Duke Taber
Pastor Duke Taber

Pastor Duke Taber

All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber.
Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.
Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world.
He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.