​​​​​​Introduction

Some time ago I wrote a paper on ‘The Trials of Job’ which was kicked off by consideration of the wealth of some of the OT patriarchs and comparing that to my own relative level of comfort in today’s world in the West. It became clear very quickly to me that material wealth was not of itself a bar to salvation so long as it is subordinated to one’s love of the truth and faith in Jesus Christ. What follows is an extensive review of scriptures related to money and material wealth to justify or otherwise that view.
 

The Love of Money

First off, Paul wrote to the Hebrew congregation words that would certainly justify my position on the subject of material wealth in that one’s life should not be about acquiring riches just for its own sake. One should be satisfied with what one has in the knowledge that Christ’s saving grace is all that anyone should need, presumably subject to being able to make ends meet:

5 [Set your] way of life without money-loving, being satisfied with present things; for He has said, "Not at all will I leave you, not at all will I forsake you," never! [Deut. 31:6] (Hebrews 13 GLT)

The deception provided by riches is included with all the other items in the world that can get in the way of a man’s finding Christ:

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (Mark 4 KJV)

Put another way, our fear of Jehovah will stand us in better stead than great wealth:

16 Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith. (Proverbs 15 ASV)

And similarly:

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof. (Proverbs 1 ASV)

Then we have a comprehensive statement on the whole topic from Paul in his first letter to Timothy:

7 for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out;
8 but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.
9 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1 Timothy 6 ASV)

I think if one were to pick a single scriptural reference on the love of money those verses, from Paul’s letter to Timothy, would be it. It reminds us that we arrive in this world with nothing material and that we will leave it in like manner. So, any material gain is as fleeting as our mortal lives on this Earth. It supports the notion that we should have enough wealth to at least feed and clothe ourselves and put a roof over our heads.

Also included is the well-known scripture reminding us that the love of money is the root of all evil. We can see that very clearly in today’s world, where corporate and personal greed is causing all manner of serious issues. Typical high-profile examples are the Boeing 737 Max air crash disasters (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/07/21/boeing-safety-crisis-737-max-aviation-industry/), Volkswagen’s lying to the US Motor authorities about their cars’ emissions (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/volkswagen-ag-agrees-plead-guilty-and-pay-43-billion-criminal-and-civil-penalties-six) and let us not forget the British Post Office Horizon scandal (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/24/post-office-bonus-culture-led-to-abhorrent-behaviour/). All these were carried out with the single objective of saving cost and making more money both corporately and at senior executive level in profit-taking or clinging on to high-paying positions. And this bought at the cost to others of this corporate and private greed: hundreds of deaths, millions of motorists duped into driving seriously polluting diesel vehicles putting our planet at further risk of climate change and the erroneous prosecution of hundreds of innocent postmasters. This is a sickening litany that is awaiting God's justice and I truly hope no quarter will be given to the guilty parties! 

We are clearly told to put the spiritually important things of life before the material:

31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6 ASV)

And then in highly graphic terms:

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8 KJV)

In similar vein, we have this parable from the Gospel of Luke warning of the dangers of material greed and reminding us that a man’s life is not measured, by God, by the extent of our physical wealth. We are again reminded that wealth cannot be taken to the grave and therefore our riches should be those we store up with God:

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12 ASV)

This is put in even stronger terms in Paul’s letter to the congregation at Ephesus. He describes a covetous man as an idolater who treats money like his god. This heart condition will certainly exclude him from God’s Kingdom:

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5 KJV)

And those in the service of God, in particular, should not make material profit from the overlooking of their flocks:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (1 Peter 5 KJV)

In like manner Matthew tells us that the world and its material riches can prevent God’s Word reaching any of us:

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13 KJV)

Then we have what is probably one of the more famous stories from the Gospels, in which a young man is distraught at the thought of his having to give up all his many worldly possessions to follow Christ. While Jesus’ words sound somewhat harsh, I think here we are all being given a warning that riches can deflect men from right-thinking if it takes centre stage in our lives:

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19 KJV)

Similarly, the Jewish believers effectively formed a commune in which each gave to their fellow men as was the need. This looks somewhat like the kibbutz regime in modern Israel:

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. (Acts 2 ASV)

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any [of them] that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid [them] down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. (Acts 4 KJV)

And then a scripture, aimed at those who are innately greedy of material wealth, reminding them that they will lose out on God’s ultimate reward:

22 A man [with] an evil eye hastens after wealth, but [he] does not know that poverty will come on him. (Proverbs 28 GLT)

Those be of a generous heart, who provide material wealth to those less well-off than themselves, will receive that wealth back in good measure:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6 KJV)

Luke tells us to be generous of heart to those less well-off than ourselves and that to earn wages by force or corruption will not sit well for you come judgement day. All earnings must be honestly sought:

10 And the crowd asked him, saying, What then shall we do?
11 And answering, he said to them, The one that has two tunics, let him give to him that has not. And the one that has food, let him do the same.
12 And tax collectors also came to be baptized. And they said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?
13 And he said to them, Continue to do no more than that commanded to you.
14 And also ones serving as soldiers asked him, saying, And we, what shall we do? And he said to them, Do not shake violently anyone nor accuse falsely, and be satisfied with your wages. (Luke 3 GLT)

And in all things, we need to be content with our lot in life, be it full or empty, according to Paul's letter to the congregation at Philippi:

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Philippians 4 KJV)
 

God’s Wealth

True riches come from God, not worldly possessions, and God’s riches have no downside:

22 The blessing of Jehovah -- it maketh rich, And He addeth no grief with it. (Proverbs 10 YLT)

20 [There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. (Proverbs 21 KJV)

We are also reminded, however, that God makes the materially poor as well as the rich in this world but that the poor will be raised up to their proper state in life in the Kingdom of God:

7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. (1 Samuel 2 KJV)

However, if one remembers to thank God for his material wealth then God will provide increase both material and spiritual:

18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day. (Deuteronomy 8 KJV)

11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. (Deuteronomy 28 KJV)

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. (Proverbs 3 KJV)

And when it comes to God’s Day of reckoning, worldly possessions will count as nothing in comparison to a man’s righteous behaviour in this life:

4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. (Proverbs 11 KJV)

Matthew confirms to us that wealth can become a false god if we put it before our service to Jehovah. The service to mammon is today’s main form of idolatry:

24 No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6 ASV)

A message repeated by Luke:

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16 KJV)

Similarly, we should not hang on to wealth that we owe to others in the form of taxes or debt:

6 For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. (Romans 13 ASV)

And those others, arguably, include God for whom tithes are collected for His temple’s storehouse. But God will reward the payer of those tithes in ways that worldly tax collectors would not be able or willing to provide:

2 Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. (1 Corinthians 16 ASV)

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. (Malachi 3 KJV)

17 every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God which he hath given thee. (Deuteronomy 16 ASV)

Paul confirms to the congregation at Philippi that, through Jesus Christ, He will provide all the riches they would need:

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4 KJV)

The Gospels go so far as to tell us to sell up and give our money away to the needy. A bit of a big ask for most of us, I think, but we are also told to secure our riches in Heaven through a good heart condition:

33 Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12 ASV)

Solomon compares the benefits  both of material and spiritual wealth. While both are beneficial, it is the latter that provide life in the Kingdom of God:

12 For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it. (Ecclesiastes 7 KJV)

Nonetheless it is for man to labour for his well-being or to be given riches as his material inheritance in life by the grace of God. Either way, man should enjoy the material things in life, no matter how they have been (legally) acquired, so long as the ownership of his material possessions do not take over as his main pre-occupation in life:

18 Behold [that] which I have seen: [it is] good and comely [for one] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it [is] his portion.
19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this [is] the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 5 KJV)

Simon, a baptised ex-sorcerer in Samaria, thought he could buy the gifts of the Holy Spirit with filthy lucre. He was quickly put in his place by Peter who made the point that if one considers that to be an appropriate transaction then one’s heart is not right with God. One’s heart must be in the right condition with God to receive His gifts:

18 Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. (Acts 8 ASV)

But David seems to have a somewhat surprising comment to make on God’s gifts. While he rejoices in God’s spiritual wisdom, he does not appear to put that above material riches but on a par. Perhaps we should not entirely denigrate the benefits of worldly possessions?

14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all riches. (Psalms 119 KJV)

I suppose that it is most appropriate to close this section on God’s wealth with that most famous parable of the talents. But, although this tale is literally about the investment or otherwise of money, is that what this is all about? I think not. It is really about the God-given talent that we all have been given in this life and our willingness to use those talents to our best abilities in the service of God be it in preaching the Gospel or providing good works for one’s fellow man:

14 For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.
16 Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.
17 In like manner he also that [received] the two gained other two.
18 But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.
20 And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 And he also that [received] the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;
25 and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.
26 But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;
27 thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.
28 Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.
30 And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25 ASV)
 

Earnings

The means by which one gathers wealth is also seen as important. Here the wise King Solomon tells us that ill-gotten gains have less value compared with that from good honest labour:

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase. (Proverbs 13 ASV)

Both Solomon and David are highly critical of riches gained through illegal means and state that they represent the road to eventual ruin:

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue [is] a vapor driven by those who seek death. (Proverbs 21 GLT)

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes shall live. (Proverbs 15 GLT)

10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart [upon them]. (Psalms 62 KJV)

Wealth should not be taken from one’s neighbour illegally and, if wages are due to an honest labourer, then they should be paid in a timely manner:

13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob [him]: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. (Leviticus 19 KJV)

And more wise words from Solomon in a scripture that contains many messages associated with the gaining of wealth. Firstly, we are told that wealth cannot bring us true happiness, be it in the form of precious metals or income-bearing investments. This is Vanity. Also, any increasing value of investments, over and above what is needed for basic living requirements, have little benefit to the owner other than seeing their increase. The man who has to labour for his earnings sleeps soundly whereas the man satiated with his riches will likely not enjoy a good night’s sleep; he has not earned that! Riches are open to loss by many different means which can mean a rich man’s losses can reduce his material inheritance to his offspring. The passing on of his wisdom to his son, however, would not be reduced thus. Lastly, we have the original statement from which we earlier saw repeated in 1 Timothy 6:7 near the beginning of this paper:

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.
11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding [of them] with his eyes?
12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:
14 and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
16 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind? (Ecclesiastes 5 ASV)

The loss of material riches is expanded upon further in the Gospel of Mattthew, where we are reminded that treasures in heaven are everlasting:

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6 KJV)

This message is repeated in James' letter:

1 Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days. (James 5 ASV)

Again we are advised not to strive for worldly riches since they are as transient as this mortal life:

4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For [riches] certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23 KJV)

We should strive for spiritual wealth over the material:

16 How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! (Proverbs 16 KJV)

23 And whatever you may do, work from the soul as to the Lord and not to men, (Colossians 3 GLT)

In his own short-sighted conceit, a rich man may set far more store by his wealth than is really due:

11 The rich man’s wealth [is] his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. (Proverbs 18 KJV)

Far better to strive for God’s wealth than mans’:

28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf. (Proverbs 11 ASV)

The same message is carried in John’s first letter, albeit without riches being explicitly stated but clearly included in the ‘things in the world’:

15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2 KJV)

We are also reminded that ill-gotten gains will count for nothing in terms of salvation compared with a righteous heart:

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. (Proverbs 10 KJV)

However, we are nonetheless warned against lazy working so as to prevent our becoming poor. We all have a responsibility to gain the riches we need to keep the wolf from the door:

4 He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich. (Proverbs 10 ASV)

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no chief, Overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest. (Proverbs 6 ASV)

Again the honest worker is preferred to the idle talker, the wisdom of the wise ones (in God’s definition of wisdom) represents their wealth:

23 In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips [tends] only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise [is] their riches [of wisdom]; the foolishness of fools [is] folly. (Proverbs 14 GLT)

Going a step further we find we have a God-given responsibility to provide for those relatives that fall within our own household or any other close dependents:

8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (1 Timothy 5 KJV)
 

The Rich and The Poor

More wise words from Solomon pointing out that, in this world, the rich effectively rule over the poor in that riches provide the means of power over those less well endowed. Similarly, a lender has power over his borrower:

7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22 KJV)

Unfortunately we often see, in today’s Godless world, that the rich and powerful oppress the poor to keep them down-trodden, whilst handing out favours to their elitist buddies. They will get their just deserts come judgement day:

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches, and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want. (Proverbs 22 KJV)

The rich are free to lend money to the poor as a favour but not as today’s bankers conduct their business:

25 If thou lend money to any of my people with thee that is poor, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor; neither shall ye lay upon him interest. (Exodus 22 ASV)

Solomon has a rather cryptic comment to make on the subject of usury. I believe the following verse is telling us that, one way or another, the interest payments on an unjust loan will eventually find their way into the hands of a more generous donor who will provide for the poor from this sum. The original lender’s wealth will not end up in his own hands, perhaps through his own death:

8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. (Proverbs 28 KJV)

However, riches should not prevent right-minded ones from finding salvation if they do good works by placing more importance on their spiritual worth:

17 Charge the rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to set hope on the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, the [One] offering to us richly all things for enjoyment;
18 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to share, generous,
19 treasuring away for themselves a good foundation for the coming [age], that they may lay hold on everlasting life. (1 Timothy 6 GLT)

And to support those less fortunate than ourselves:

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. (Proverbs 22 KJV)

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. (Matthew 5 KJV)

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20 KJV)

But in doing so we should provide humbly and privately without making a big show of our charitable giving. God will know what we do and He is the only one that matters:

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6 KJV)

However, to provide a surety for a loan, even to a needy one, is foolhardy if you are not able to repay that person’s debt should that be required. So do not provide financial help with good intention if you cannot afford to cover the financial risk:

26 Do not be one of those who strike the palm, those who are sureties for loans.
27 If you have nothing to repay, why should he take away your bed from under you? (Proverbs 22 GLT)

In that sense what we reap depends on what we willingly sow. God will ensure we will always have enough to sustain us:

6 But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work: (2 Corinthians 9 KJV)

We are also told that to give charity out of one’s own poverty brings a greater blessing than giving out of plenty:

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living. (Mark 12 KJV)

1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. (Luke 21 KJV)

Proverbs tells us that our good name is more important than our material worth and that, in Hades, the rich and the poor in this life are equal in worth since we are all God’s children:

1 A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [And] loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all. (Proverbs 22 ASV)

Moreover, we are told that a poor but righteous man is in much better shape than a rich but wicked one in the eyes of God:

16 A little that a righteous man hath [is] better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. (Psalms 37 KJV)

And then we have it all in one succinct verse that a good heart is worth more than worldly riches:

8 Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice. (Proverbs 16 ASV)

And on a somewhat different tack, Agur tells us that to be either unduly rich or poor is not good as either material condition can lead to spiritual compromise:

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is needful for me:
9 Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who is Jehovah? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God. (Proverbs 30 ASV)
 

Budgeting

Well, I did not expect scripture to be telling us how to manage our finances but here is Luke telling us to budget our outgoings appropriately. Clearly it is unwise for us to over-reach ourselves which, arguably, is a form of covetousness which causes one to live beyond our means:

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish [it], all that behold [it] begin to mock him, (Luke 14 KJV)

In like manner the unworthy will borrow to fund their profligate lifestyle without being able or intending to repay that debt, whereas the righteous one has enough funds kept by to be charitable:

21 The wicked borrows and never repays, but the righteous is gracious and giving. (Psalms 37 GLT)

More from Solomon’s wisdom tells us that a diligent mind will lead to bounteous possessions whereas a hasty one, always shooting from the hip, will lead to poverty. Our wealth is determined by the way we go about decision-making in our lives and is therefore largely within our own control.

5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty, but [those of] every hasty one only to poverty. (Proverbs 21 GLT)
 

Conclusion

Well, as I had expected, we have found numerous biblical references to money and wealth in one form or another. Consequently this is an important topic to Jehovah God. I think it is also probably worth pointing out that much of this scriptural material has come from the hand of King Solomon, one of the richest monarchs of all time. Food for thought that being rich is not in itself a bar to salvation. It is more one’s attitude and behaviour towards acquiring physical wealth and its balance with one’s spiritual riches which is the key to one’s place in the Kingdom. AMEN. 

Date of Publication: 29th July 2024 

Money

Jewish Lords' Witness