“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”
Introduction
Wealth is a rec urring theme in the Bible, yet its spiritual implications are often misunderstood. The Bible does not condemn wealth itself but provides specific, powerful guidance on how it should be viewed, acquired, and utilized. Through the lives of rich men in Scripture, we learn that wealth can be a blessing, a test, or even a stumbling block, depending on one's heart and relationship with God. The Amplified Bible (AMP) offers a deeper exploration of these themes, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing spiritual over material wealth.
Now Let’s Eat Some Meat!
Abraham: Wealthy and Faithful (Genesis 13:2, AMP)
Abraham, one of the most significant figures in the Bible, was “extremely rich in livestock and in silver and in gold” (Genesis 13:2, AMP). Despite his wealth, Abraham is more celebrated for his unwavering faith in God. His willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac, “The Lord said, “Do not reach out [with the knife in] your hand against the boy, and do nothing to [harm] him; for now I know that you fear God [with reverence and profound respect], since you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son [of promise].”” (Genesis 22:12, AMP) shows that his loyalty was to God, not to his possessions. Abraham’s life exemplifies that wealth, when subordinated to faith, can be a blessing from God.
Job: Wealth Tested by Suffering (Job 1:1-3, 42:10, AMP)
Job was a man “blameless and upright,” “feared God [with reverence] and abstained from and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1, AMP). He was also extremely wealthy, with “7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys” (Job 1:3, AMP). When tested by losing everything, including his wealth, Job remained faithful to God. In the end, God restored his fortunes, even giving him twice as much as he had before, “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him over all the [distressing] adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters.” (Job 42:10, AMP). Job’s story illustrates that wealth is not a measure of righteousness and that faith in God is paramount, in prosperity and also in loss.
Solomon: The Danger of Abundant Wealth (1 Kings 10:14-23, AMP)
King Solomon was one of the richest men in history, receiving “666 talents of gold” annually (1 Kings 10:14, AMP) and accumulating vast wealth, including “1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses” (1 Kings 10:26, AMP). Despite his wisdom, Solomon’s wealth eventually led him to turn away from God, as his many foreign wives led him to idolatry, “He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away [from God]. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not completely devoted to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.” (1 Kings 11:3,4 AMP). His life warns against the corrupting influence of wealth when it takes precedence over spiritual devotion.
The Rich Young Ruler: A Heart Attached to Wealth (Mark 10:17-27, AMP)
The story of the Rich Young Ruler is a powerful lesson on the spiritual dangers of wealth. When Jesus told him to “go and sell all your property and give the money to the poor” (Mark 10:21, AMP), he went away grieved because he had great wealth. This story emphasizes that attachment to wealth can prevent one from fully following Christ, demonstrating that spiritual riches are of far greater value than material ones.
The Parable of the Rich Fool: Misplaced Security (Luke 12:16-21 AMP)
Jesus told the parable of a rich man whose land produced abundantly. The man decided to store up his surplus grain, saying, “Soul, you have many good things stored up, enough for many years; rest, eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19, AMP). However, God called him a fool, for that very night his life would be demanded from him. This parable teaches that storing up wealth without being “rich in relationship toward God” (Luke 12:21 AMP) is ultimately futile.
The Rich Man and Lazarus: Eternal Consequences (Luke 16:19-31 AMP)
“Now there was a certain rich man who was habitually dressed in expensive purple and fine linen, and celebrated and lived joyously in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, covered with sores. He [eagerly] longed to eat the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now it happened that the poor man died and his spirit was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom (paradise); and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades (the realm of the dead), being in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom (paradise). And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in severe agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things [all the comforts and delights], and Lazarus likewise bad things [all the discomforts and distresses]; but now he is comforted here [in paradise], while you are in severe agony. And besides all this, between us and you [people] a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to come over from here to you will not be able, and none may cross over from there to us.’ So the rich man said, ‘Then, father [Abraham], I beg you to send Lazarus to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may solemnly warn them and witness to them, so that they too will not come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have [the Scriptures given by] Moses and the [writings of the] Prophets; let them listen to them.’ He replied, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent [they will change their old way of thinking and seek God and His righteousness].’ And he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to [the messages of] Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
In this parable, Jesus contrasts a rich man who lived in luxury with a poor man, Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores. After death, Lazarus was comforted, while the rich man was tormented in Hades. The rich man’s fate underscores the peril of living selfishly and neglecting the needs of others. This story vividly illustrates that wealth without compassion leads to eternal loss. As a note it is also a prophecy of the hard-headedness of us believers after Christ rose from the dead, “they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
Conclusion: Wealth in Light of Eternity
The Bible consistently teaches that wealth itself is not evil, but it is the love of wealth and the neglect of God’s commandments that lead to spiritual peril. As the Amplified Bible expresses, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God… to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18, AMP). Through biblical examples, we see that wealth should be used to serve God and others, storing up “for themselves the enduring riches of a good foundation for the future” (1 Timothy 6:19, AMP).
Summary
The Bible presents a balanced view of wealth, warning against the dangers of loving riches while acknowledging that wealth, when used righteously, can be a divine blessing. Abraham, who was "extremely rich in livestock, silver, and gold" (Genesis 13:2, AMP), serves as an example of wealth subordinated to faith. Despite his material abundance, his loyalty to God remained paramount, as seen in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:12, AMP).
Similarly, Job, a man of great wealth and integrity, endured severe trials yet remained steadfast in his faith and praise (Job 1:1-3, AMP). His story underscores that true righteousness is not measured by wealth but by unwavering trust in God, even in adversity. Job’s fortunes were ultimately restored, demonstrating that God rewards faithfulness (Job 42:10, AMP).
King Solomon’s life illustrates the potential pitfalls of wealth. Though he was one of the wealthiest men in history, receiving “666 talents of gold annually” (1 Kings 10:14, AMP), his wealth led him away from God as he indulged in idolatry influenced by his foreign wives (1 Kings 11:4, AMP). His story serves as a caution against allowing wealth to corrupt one’s spiritual devotion.
The New Testament continues this theme with the Rich Young Ruler, whose attachment to his possessions prevented him from fully following Christ (Mark 10:21-22, AMP). This story illustrates the danger of allowing material wealth to supersede spiritual commitments. Similarly, the Parable of the Rich Fool warns against finding security in earthly riches, emphasizing that life’s true value lies in being “rich in relationship toward God” (Luke 12:21, AMP).
Finally, the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31, AMP) presents a stark contrast between earthly luxury and eternal loss. The rich man’s neglect of Lazarus at his gate led to eternal torment, highlighting the eternal consequences of a life focused solely on self-indulgence and neglect of the needy.
In conclusion, the Bible, as detailed in the Amplified Bible, teaches that while wealth is not inherently evil, it must be managed wisely, with a heart that prioritizes God and His commandments above all else. The lives of rich men in the Bible offer timeless lessons on using wealth to serve God and others, ensuring that our treasures are stored up in heaven, not merely on earth, “Do not store up for yourselves [material]treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store 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 [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, AMP). Let me conclude with this advice from the bible, “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” Selah!
If You Have Ears To Hear, Then Hear It!
🌟 Support My Biblical Writings on Buy Me a Coffee! 🌟
Since March 2023, I've been passionately crafting scripture-based narratives and essays that explore and illuminate God's Word. It’s been an incredible journey of reflection, inspiration, and growth, and now I’m excited to share these writings with you on Buy Me a Coffee.
If my work has touched your heart, brought you closer to God's truth, or simply provided a moment of reflection, I invite you to visit and read my writings, and consider supporting this ministry. Your contribution, even as small as buying me a cup of coffee, helps sustain the time and energy I pour into these writings.
✨ Support My Work ✨
Not able to contribute financially? No problem! You can still help by sharing my page with others who might be blessed by these writings. Every little bit helps me continue this work and reach more hearts with the message of God’s love and wisdom.
May You Be Abundantly Blessed & Thank You In Advance!