Which other scriptures emphasize reliance on God over material wealth? Proverbs 30:9—A Plea for Dependence on the Lord “Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.” Agur’s request balances daily provision with spiritual integrity. His concern is that surplus or scarcity might shift his loyalty away from God. Scripture repeatedly revisits this same tension. Old Testament Echoes • Deuteronomy 8:17-18—“You may say in your heart, ‘The power and the strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.’ But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth….” • Psalm 62:10—“Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” • Proverbs 11:28—“He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.” • Jeremiah 9:23-24—“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his strength, nor the rich man in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this: that he understands and knows Me….” • Haggai 1:5-6—The prophet rebukes those who work for wealth yet remain empty because they have neglected the Lord’s house. Jesus’ Teaching on Wealth and Trust • Matthew 6:19-21—“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” • Matthew 6:24—“You cannot serve both God and money.” • Luke 12:15—“Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” • Luke 12:16-21—Parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns but was “not rich toward God.” • Mark 10:23-25—Jesus notes how hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom because riches can eclipse dependence on God. Paul and the Apostles Add Their Voice • 1 Timothy 6:6-10—“Godliness with contentment is great gain… For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil….” • 1 Timothy 6:17-19—The rich are commanded “not to be arrogant, nor to put their hope in wealth, which is uncertain, but to put their hope in God….” • Philippians 4:11-13—Paul testifies he has learned to be content “in any and every situation… I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” • Hebrews 13:5-6—“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God Himself has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” • James 1:9-11—Both poor and rich believers should view their status through the lens of eternity, for wealth “will pass away like a flower.” Threading the Truth Together • Scripture treats wealth as a stewardship, never an ultimate security. • God alone grants power to gain wealth and sustains life; therefore, reliance must remain fixed on Him. • Abundance and lack are both spiritual tests: surplus can breed self-sufficiency; scarcity can tempt dishonesty. • The antidote is continual acknowledgment that everything belongs to the Lord and ends in eternity. Living the Principle Today • Cultivate daily gratitude—recognize God’s hand behind every paycheck and provision. • Practice generosity—giving loosens money’s grip and redirects trust to God. • Guard the heart—regularly measure where time, thought, and energy are invested; they reveal true treasure. • Seek contentment—embrace whatever season God allows, confident of His unchanging presence. From Proverbs 30:9 to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, the Bible’s consistent call is clear: set hope not on fluctuating riches, but on the faithful God who supplies every need and secures eternal treasure. |
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