What Does the Bible Say About Wealth?
List by Ami Hendrickson
Abraham was very wealthy. So were Job, King David, and King Solomon. All enjoyed significant earthly riches and privilege — which they recognized came from God. The Bible makes over 200 references to “wealth,” “riches,” or “money,” including these verses:
Good character is better than great wealth
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
Riches come from God
1 Chronicles 29:12
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all! In your hand is power and might! It is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all!
Hoarding wealth is evil
Ecclesiastes 5:12-14
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep. There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.
The desire for wealth leads to temptation and destruction
1 Timothy 6:9-10
But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Pious poverty is preferable to miserable wealth
Proverbs 15:16
Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.
Honest income is preferable to wealth gained by fraud
Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
No amount of money can save my soul
Ezekiel 7:19
They will cast their silver in the streets, and their gold will be as an unclean thing. Their silver and their gold won’t be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath. They won’t satisfy their souls or fill their bellies; because it has been the stumbling block of their iniquity.
