What good is wealth?

Wealth

 

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 267 helpful votes

 

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.”

Matthew 6:24 ESV / 256 helpful votes

 

“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.

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV / 241 helpful votes

 

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.

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV / 211 helpful votes

 

“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.

Deuteronomy 8:18 ESV / 194 helpful votes

 

You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Proverbs 13:22 ESV / 179 helpful votes

 

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV / 172 helpful votes

 

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.

Philippians 4:19 ESV / 158 helpful votes

 

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 22:7 ESV / 158 helpful votes

 

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Luke 12:33-34 ESV / 144 helpful votes

 

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 135 helpful votes

 

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Acts 4:32-35 ESV / 114 helpful votes

 

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Proverbs 22:1 ESV / 113 helpful votes

 

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

Acts 2:44-45 ESV / 110 helpful votes

 

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Matthew 6:31-33 ESV / 101 helpful votes

 

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV / 99 helpful votes

 

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

Luke 16:11 ESV / 98 helpful votes

 

If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

Proverbs 13:11 ESV / 95 helpful votes

 

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Proverbs 8:18 ESV / 94 helpful votes

 

Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

Proverbs 10:22 ESV / 90 helpful votes

 

The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 28:22 ESV / 80 helpful votes

 

A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV / 75 helpful votes

 

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Luke 12:15 ESV / 74 helpful votes

 

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Proverbs 21:20 ESV / 73 helpful votes

 

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Luke 6:38 ESV / 70 helpful votes

 

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 14:28 ESV / 65 helpful votes

 

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Proverbs 11:4 ESV / 65 helpful votes

 

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV / 64 helpful votes

 

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 62 helpful votes

 

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5 ESV / 58 helpful votes

 

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

1 Samuel 2:7 ESV / 58 helpful votes

 

The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.

Matthew 25:14-30 ESV / 56 helpful votes

 

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ...

Proverbs 10:4 ESV / 56 helpful votes

 

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 28:8 ESV / 52 helpful votes

 

Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV / 51 helpful votes

 

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Acts 20:35 ESV / 50 helpful votes

 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV / 49 helpful votes

 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Mark 10:23-27 ESV / 48 helpful votes

 

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Malachi 3:10 ESV / 48 helpful votes

 

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 ESV / 44 helpful votes

 

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.

Proverbs 16:3 ESV / 44 helpful votes

 

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Psalm 112:3 ESV / 44 helpful votes

 

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Matthew 13:22 ESV / 42 helpful votes

 

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV / 42 helpful votes

 

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ...

Proverbs 22:4 ESV / 42 helpful votes

 

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 18:11 ESV / 42 helpful votes

 

A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.

Proverbs 13:4 ESV / 42 helpful votes

 

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

1 Timothy 6:1-21 ESV / 40 helpful votes

 

Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. ...

Proverbs 11:28 ESV / 39 helpful votes

 

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

Proverbs 10:15 ESV / 38 helpful votes

 

A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

Joshua 1:8 ESV / 36 helpful votes

 

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Proverbs 3:9 ESV / 35 helpful votes

 

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

Proverbs 15:16 ESV / 34 helpful votes

 

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.

Deuteronomy 28:11 ESV / 34 helpful votes

 

And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.

1 Timothy 6:17 ESV / 33 helpful votes

 

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.

Proverbs 30:8-9 ESV / 33 helpful votes

 

Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Proverbs 23:4-5 ESV / 33 helpful votes

 

Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Psalm 128:1-6 ESV / 33 helpful votes

 

A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! ...

Romans 13:8 ESV / 32 helpful votes

 

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Proverbs 14:31 ESV / 32 helpful votes

 

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV / 31 helpful votes

 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 23:5 ESV / 31 helpful votes

 

When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Psalm 1:1-3 ESV / 31 helpful votes

 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV / 30 helpful votes

 

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 29 helpful votes

 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 28 helpful votes

 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 37:16-17 ESV / 28 helpful votes

 

Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

John 10:10 ESV / 27 helpful votes

 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Mark 8:36 ESV / 27 helpful votes

 

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

Proverbs 23:4 ESV / 27 helpful votes

 

Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.

Deuteronomy 16:17 ESV / 27 helpful votes

 

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.

Proverbs 22:16 ESV / 26 helpful votes

 

Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Genesis 13:2 ESV / 26 helpful votes

 

Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

Mark 4:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes

 

But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Proverbs 22:9 ESV / 25 helpful votes

 

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

John 3:16 ESV / 24 helpful votes

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 Samuel 2:8 ESV / 24 helpful votes

 

He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.

Hebrews 11:26 ESV / 23 helpful votes

 

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Proverbs 28:6 ESV / 23 helpful votes

 

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

Mark 12:41-44 ESV / 21 helpful votes

 

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Mark 10:29-30 ESV / 21 helpful votes

 

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Proverbs 21:6 ESV / 21 helpful votes

 

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 ESV / 20 helpful votes

 

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Luke 16:13 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

No servant 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.”

Proverbs 28:20 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Psalm 37:21 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

Revelation 13:1-14:20 ESV / 17 helpful votes

 

And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. ...

Revelation 6:2-9 ESV / 17 helpful votes

 

And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” ...

Hebrews 11:26-13:14 ESV / 17 helpful votes

 

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. ...

1 John 2:15-17 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

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 Peter 1:1-2:25 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ...

James 5:17 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.

James 1:25 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ...

Colossians 1:5 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,

1 Corinthians 9:7 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

Romans 12:1-15:33 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...

Acts 20:24 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

John 21:4-6 ESV / 16 helpful votes

 

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.