Wealth in the Light of the Bible
It is a fact that money, possessions and wealth are man's
primary goal in this life. In my opinion, to some extend this is
healthy as it secures a decent life for a person and his/her
dependents. However, when the desire for wealth becomes an
obsession, it could have negative effects on one's life. Let us
see what the Bible tells us on this subject.
"If I have put my trust in gold, or said to pure gold, 'You are
my security', if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the
fortune my hands had gained, (...) then this also would be an
iniquity to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God
on high." (Job 31: 24-25, 28)
In the above verses we have one of a series of Job's rhetorical
questions, as an oath of innocence before God. Job, who had been
a very rich man, protests that he was not guilty of greed; he
denies that he rejoiced over his great wealth or placed his
security upon his fortune. He admits that greed is an iniquity
to be judged, for it means that one has been unfaithful to God
on high.
Taking pride in one's wealth and placing one's trust in riches
is a form of idolatry. It hardens one's heart and alienates a
person from God, who is the only source of lasting joy and real
security. Admittedly, it is difficult for man to have wealth and
not put his/her hopes and confidence in it. That's why Jesus
said that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God. Yet, wealth per se is not evil since God himself wants us
to have abundant life. It is man's attitude towards it that
makes riches a blessing or a cursing for someone.
"Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of
his house increases, for he will take nothing with him when he
dies, his splendor will not descend with him. (...) A man who
has riches without understanding is like the beasts that
perish." (Psa. 49: 16-17, 20)
Don't be astounded seeing a man grow rich, says David.
Unfortunately, in our culture people tend to idolize rich men
and women, and even bow down before them. They consider the rich
as superstars, never mind if they obtained their wealth by
inheritance or even through dishonest means. Today, it is money
that primarily measures a man's worth. TV, newspapers and
magazines verify this every day.
David reminds us that, when a person dies, he/she takes nothing
into the grave. All his/her wealth will be left behind and
others will spend it, usually unwisely, to their own detriment.
Don't we all know this? Yet, we tend to forget it... But a wise
rich person will never be a slave to his/her riches. On the
contrary, money will be his/her servant - a tool for the benefit
not just of one's own family but also of others less fortunate.
"Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness
delivers from death." (Prov. 11: 4) When the day of "wrath"
comes, i.e. the day of trial and temptation that comes to every
person, then riches profit little. In such cases righteousness
can deliver one from peril, says the proverb. The rich person's
wealth cannot save one when, e.g., facing a so-called
"incurable" disease. However, a righteous man stands more
chances to be delivered from danger, through faith in God.
"One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another
withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." (Prov. 11: 24) Wealth
must change hands. It is like a seed. The more one scatters it,
the more will increase. Being generous will make a man grow
richer, but being stingy is likely to result in one's poverty.
"He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family;
but he who hates bribes will live." (Prov. 15: 27) Unjust gain,
dishonest deals that bring quick money, secret bribes and other
dark financial schemes, sooner or later, will bring trouble to
one's family. We cannot feel at ease when we know that we have
earned money through illegal or immoral means. Our conscience,
even if we are trying to silence it, will constantly remind us
of our corrupt deeds. Thus we will find it difficult to enjoy
inner peace, even if our schemes were never uncovered.
"Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness
delivers from death." (Prov. 10: 2) Once again, king Solomon
reminds us that treasures gained through wicked methods do not
benefit. Usually, such gains are followed by trouble. One way or
another, their possessor will be harmed. Only righteousness and
faith in God can deliver one from deadly dangers.
"Wealth gotten by vanity dwindles away; but he who gathers by
labor will increase it." (Prov. 13:11) Wealth obtained through
all kinds of illegal schemes will be scattered. As easily and
quickly as it has been gathered just as quickly it will waste
away. On the contrary, those who gather little by little through
honest labor will prosper.
"Better the little that the righteous has than the abundance of
many wicked." (Psa. 37: 16) The righteous person can enjoy the
little he/she has more than the wicked enjoy their abundance. A
good person derives fulfillment mainly through his/her
relationship with God and a clear conscience. But the rich and
wicked people cannot gain true and lasting happiness from their
material wealth alone.
"Better a little with righteousness than great revenues with
injustice." (Prov. 16: 8) King Solomon repeats his father's
axiom as quoted previously. It is better for people to have a
small income earned with honest ways than to have great revenues
earned by fraud and oppression of others. The former, if of
course they are content with their earnings and are not grudgers
or envious of the rich, will enjoy the little they have more
than the latter, who cannot find peace in their heart.
"Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his
upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbor serve him for
nothing, and does not give him his wages." (Jer. 22: 13)
It appears that exploitation has been a rotten human "sport"
from times immemorial. Jeremiah pronounces woes against such
people who make their neighbors work for nothing. Such callous
exploitation of people was contrary to the Law that Jehovah gave
to Moses (Lev. 19:13, Deut. 24: 14). In personal deals with
others, one should comply with the principles of economic
fairness and justice, trying to promote such principles in
society. Otherwise the woes of those who suffer injustice and
exploitation by them will, sooner or later, have negative
effects on the exploiters and their families.
"Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man
who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone,
they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a
fool." (Jer. 17:11)
Those who use unjust means to become wealthy may succeed to
prosper for a time. But later, halfway through their life, the
'bills' for their injustice will be handed over to them and they
will prove to be fools. The unwritten law of retribution is
always at work and is not a respecter of persons.
"A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a
deadly snare." (Prov. 21:6) The wealth of those who are lying in
order to make a fortune, bearing false witness, signing
fraudulent contracts etc., will be like smoke that rapidly
vanishes away. Such wealth will be a deadly snare for them,
undermining their peace of mind and their health.
"The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no sorrow
to it." (Prov. 10: 22) Here is a very encouraging proverb. The
blessing of the Lord will bring wealth to those who gather
little by little through honest labor! The blessed person will
enjoy his/her wealth without vexation of spirit, using it
wisely, so that he/she may always be able to help others in
need.
"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show
restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone;
(...)" (Prov. 23: 4-5a). King Solomon warns people against being
exhausted by overwork while pursuing riches. Covetousness may
result in toiling and tormenting oneself. One must have the
wisdom to recognize one's limitations and show restraint.
Besides, riches are very uncertain things. Sometimes they
disappear at a glance.
"Riches do not endure for ever, and a crown is not secure for
all generations." (Prov. 27: 24) Neither riches nor glory are
permanent. Even if one manages to hold them for life, one will
leave them behind at the day of one's death.
"Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily
bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say,
'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so
dishonor the name of my God." (Prov. 30: 8b-9)
We should be happy to earn our daily bread so that we may not
dishonor God's name by resorting to stealing. At the same time
we should not crave for riches, as they cause vanity and
conceit, alienating one from God. Both extremes, i.e. poverty
and abundance, are stumbling blocks for the spiritual growth of
man, which should be one's priority in life.
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God." (Matt. 19: 24)
It is extremely difficult for a rich person to enter the
spiritual kingdom of God, which is within. The rich person's
mind and heart are firmly set on one's riches, thus obstructing
the truth and the light of God from reaching one's soul and fill
one's heart with real joy and peace.
"Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or
much; but the abundance of the rich man will not let him sleep."
(Ecc. 5: 12) A laborer with a clear conscience, whether with
full or half-full stomach, enjoys a sweet and peaceful sleep. On
the contrary, the abundance of the rich will cause them to lose
their sleep. Fear of thieves, blackmailers, kidnappers and the
like, perhaps a guilty conscience, usually torture many rich
people.
"He who loves money will never be satisfied with money; nor he
who loves wealth will ever be satisfied with his income. This
too is vanity." (Ecc. 5: 10) According to Ecclesiastes, if we
set our heart on money and possessions, we will never be
satisfied, as we will never feel that we have enough.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and
where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also." (Matt. 6: 19-20)
In the above account, Jesus exhorts his followers not to store
up material wealth but to gather spiritual treasures instead.
The latter are treasures that neither moth nor rust can consume,
while thieves cannot touch them.
"And he said to them, 'Take heed, and beware of all
covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance
of his possessions.' And he told them a parable, saying, 'The
land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to
himself, "What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my
crops?" And he said, "I will do this: I will pull down my barns,
and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and
my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods
laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink and be
merry." But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul is
required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will
they be?" So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not
rich toward God'." (Luke 12: 15-21)
This is one of the most remarkable parables of Jesus. It
implies that the greedy man hardly thinks of death!
"For we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we
cannot carry anything out of it. And if we have food and
clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire
to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many
senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and
destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it
is through this craving that some have wandered away from the
faith and pierced their hearts with many sorrows." (1 Tim.6:
7-10)
Having food and clothing may not be enough for the average
person of contemporary culture. However the craving for riches
is a snare that diverts a person from faith in God and plunges
one into destruction. The passion for money is indeed the root
of every evil and entails many sorrows for man.
"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the
misery that is coming upon you. (...) You have hoarded wealth
for the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed
your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the
cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord
Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.
You have fattened yourselves as in the day of slaughter. (...)"
(Jam. 5: 1-6)
James is quite tough towards the rich, foretelling that misery
is coming upon them. Apparently he believes that every rich
person has amassed their wealth by injustice and exploitation of
the poor! It is true, however, that the cries of the robbed
laborers reach God's heart and the exploiters will be called to
"pay" for their injustice, sooner or later.
The Bible contains many more accounts on riches and wealth, but
I think what I have quoted here is enough to give us a general
idea about the possible implications of wealth on one's
spiritual growth.