23 Bible Verses About Wealth
Explore biblical insights on wealth, its purpose, potential pitfalls, and how to find contentment and eternal perspective in financial matters.
Wealth—it’s a topic that often stirs up a mix of emotions and opinions. In a world where success is frequently measured by the size of our bank accounts or the things we own, it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of material gain. But what does true wealth really mean? And how should we, as people of faith, approach it?
The Bible offers a treasure trove of wisdom on the subject, providing guidance that transcends time and culture. It challenges us to look beyond the surface and consider the deeper implications of wealth in our lives. Whether you’re navigating financial abundance or facing economic challenges, these 23 Bible verses about wealth will offer insight, encouragement, and perhaps a fresh perspective on what it means to be truly rich. Let’s dive in and explore the divine perspective on wealth, where the heart matters more than the wallet.
23 Bible Verses About Wealth
Verses About The Source of Wealth
Verses About The Purpose of Wealth
Verses About The Dangers of Wealth
Verses About Wealth and Contentment
Verses About Eternal Perspective on Wealth
The Source of Wealth
Wealth is often seen as a blessing, but it’s important to remember where it originates. In the Bible, figures like King Solomon are depicted as receiving their riches through divine favor. This reminds us that wealth is not merely a result of personal effort or luck, but a gift that comes from a higher source. Understanding this can shape how we view and use our resources.
Deuteronomy 8:18: “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
1 Chronicles 29:12: “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.”
James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
The Purpose of Wealth
Wealth can serve many purposes, and the Bible offers guidance on how it can be used for good. The story of the Good Samaritan illustrates how financial resources can be used to help those in need, showing that wealth can be a tool for compassion and service. This perspective encourages us to consider how our own resources can be used to make a positive impact in the world around us.
1 Timothy 6:17–19: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
2 Corinthians 9:11: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Proverbs 11:25: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Luke 12:33–34: “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Acts 20:35: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
The Dangers of Wealth
While wealth can be a blessing, it also carries potential risks. The story of the rich young ruler highlights how an attachment to wealth can hinder spiritual growth and create barriers to deeper relationships with the divine. This serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for wealth to distract us from what truly matters.
Matthew 19:23–24: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.'”
1 Timothy 6:9–10: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 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.”
Proverbs 28:20: “A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10: “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”
Wealth and Contentment
Finding contentment with what we have is a recurring theme in biblical teachings. The apostle Paul, for instance, spoke about learning to be content in all circumstances, whether in abundance or in need. This mindset encourages us to appreciate what we have, rather than constantly striving for more, and to find peace in our current situation.
Philippians 4:11–12: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
1 Timothy 6:6–8: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
Proverbs 15:16: “Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.”
Proverbs 30:8–9: “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; 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.”
Eternal Perspective on Wealth
An eternal perspective on wealth shifts our focus from temporary gains to lasting values. Jesus often spoke about storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, emphasizing that material wealth is fleeting. This perspective invites us to consider how our actions and priorities align with eternal truths, encouraging us to invest in what truly endures.
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.”
Luke 16:11: “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
James 5:1–3: “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.”
1 Peter 1:4: “And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”