In the Bible, the concept of wealth and the status of being wealthy are addressed in various contexts, reflecting both the blessings and the challenges associated with material abundance. Wealth is often seen as a gift from God, but it also comes with responsibilities and potential spiritual pitfalls.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, wealth is frequently portrayed as a sign of God's blessing. For instance, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all wealthy patriarchs, and their riches were seen as evidence of God's favor. Genesis 13:2 states, "Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold." Similarly, Job, described as "the greatest man among all the people of the East" (Job 1:3), was blessed with immense wealth, which was later restored and increased after his trials (Job 42:10).

The Mosaic Law included provisions for the fair distribution of wealth and care for the poor. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds the Israelites, "But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day." This underscores the belief that wealth is ultimately granted by God and should be used in accordance with His will.

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Old Testament, particularly Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, offers nuanced views on wealth. Proverbs 10:22 states, "The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it," suggesting that true wealth comes from God and is accompanied by peace. However, Proverbs also warns of the dangers of wealth, as in Proverbs 11:28: "He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf."

Ecclesiastes reflects on the futility of wealth when pursued as an end in itself. Ecclesiastes 5:10 observes, "He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile."

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles address wealth with a focus on its spiritual implications. Jesus warns of the deceitfulness of riches in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:22) and challenges the rich young ruler to sell his possessions and follow Him (Matthew 19:21-22). Jesus famously states in Matthew 19:24, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

The early church in Acts demonstrated a communal approach to wealth, where believers shared their possessions to ensure no one was in need (Acts 4:34-35). The apostle Paul advises Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, "Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share."

Spiritual Implications

Throughout Scripture, wealth is seen as a test of character and faithfulness. The Bible encourages believers to view wealth as a tool for serving God and others, rather than an end in itself. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates the expectation that believers will use their resources wisely and for the advancement of God's kingdom.

Ultimately, the Bible teaches that true wealth is found in a relationship with God and in the treasures of heaven, as Jesus instructs in Matthew 6:19-21: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."1. (superl.) Having wealth; having large possessions, or larger than most men, as lands, goods, money, or securities; opulent; affluent; rich.

2. (superl.) Hence, ample; full; satisfactory; abundant.

WEALTH, WEALTHY

welth, wel'-thi (hon, chayil, nekhacim; euporia, "to possess riches," "to be in a position of ease" (Jeremiah 49:31)): The possession of wealth is not regarded as sinful, but, on the contrary, was looked upon as a sign of the blessing of God (Ecclesiastes 5:19; Ecclesiastes 6:2). The doctrine of "blessed are the poor, and cursed are the rich" finds no countenance in the Scriptures, for Luke 6:20, 24 refers to concrete conditions (disciples and persecutors; note the "ye"). God is the maker of rich and poor alike (Proverbs 22:2). But while it is not sinful to be rich it is very dangerous, and certainly perilous to one's salvation (Matthew 19:23). Of this fact the rich young ruler is a striking example (Luke 18:22, 23). It is because of the danger of losing the soul through the possession of wealth that so many exhortations are found in the Scriptures aimed especially at those who have an abundance of this world's goods (1 Timothy 6:17 James 1:10, 11; James 5:1, etc.). Certain parables are especially worthy of note in this same connection, e.g. the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21), the Rich Man and Lazarus-if such can be called a parable-(Luke 16:19-31). That it is not impossible for men of wealth to be saved, however, is apparent from the narratives, in the Gospels, of such rich men as Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38, 39 Matthew 27:57-60), and Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10). It may fairly be inferred from the Gospel records that James and John, who were disciples of our Lord, were men of considerable means (Mark 1:19, 20 John 19:27).

Wealth may be the result of industry (Proverbs 10:4), or the result of the special blessing of God (2 Chronicles 1:11, 12). We are warned to be careful lest at any time we should say "My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember Yahweh thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:17, 18).

Those possessing wealth are liable to certain kinds of sins against which they are frequently warned, e.g., highmindedness (1 Timothy 6:17); oppression of the poor (James 2:6); selfishness (Luke 12 and 16); dishonesty (Luke 19:1-10); self-conceit (Proverbs 28:11); self-trust (Proverbs 18:11).

It is of interest to note that in the five places in the New Testament in which the word "lucre"-as applying to wealth-is used, it is prefaced by the word "filthy" (1 Timothy 3:3 (the King James Version), 8; Titus 1:7, 11 1 Peter 5:2), and that in four of these five places it refers to the income of ministers of the gospel, as though they were particularly susceptible of being led away by the influences and power of money, and so needed special warning.

The Scriptures are not without instruction as to how we may use our wealth wisely and as well-pleasing to God. The parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16) exhorts us to "make.... friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness," by which is meant that we should use the wealth which God has committed to us as stewards in order that we may win friends (souls) with it for Him and His kingdom, just as the unfaithful steward used the goods with which his master had entrusted him to make friends for himself. The parable of Dives and Lazarus gives us the sad picture of a selfish rich man who had abused his trust, who had failed to make friends with his money, and who, in the other world, would have given anything just for such a friend (Luke 16:19-31).

See also RICHES.

William Evans

4145. plousios -- wealthy
... wealthy. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: plousios Phonetic Spelling:
(ploo'-see-os) Short Definition: rich Definition: rich, abounding in, wealthy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4145.htm - 7k

4147. plouteo -- to be rich
... Word Origin from ploutos Definition to be rich NASB Word Usage abounding in riches
(1), become rich (4), become wealthy (1), get rich (1), rich (5). be rich. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4147.htm - 7k

5536. chrema -- a thing that one uses or needs
... possessions. Word Origin from chraomai Definition a thing that one uses or
needs NASB Word Usage money (4), wealthy (2). money, riches. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5536.htm - 6k

4148. ploutizo -- to make rich
... enrich. From ploutos; to make wealthy (figuratively) -- en- (make) rich. see GREEK
ploutos. (eploutisthete) -- 1 Occurrence. (ploutizomenoi) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4148.htm - 7k

2158. euschemon -- comely
... yoo-skhay'-mone) Short Definition: comely, honorable Definition: (a) comely, seemly,
decorous, (b) of honorable position (in society), wealthy, influential. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2158.htm - 7k

7310. revayah -- saturation
... runneth over, wealthy. From ravah; satisfaction -- runneth over, wealthy. see
HEBREW ravah. 7309, 7310. revayah. 7311 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7310.htm - 6k

7961. shalev -- quiet, at ease
... 1), quiet (1), satisfied (1). being at ease, peaceable, in prosperity, quietness,
wealthy. Or shaleyv {shaw-lave'}; feminine shlevah ...
/hebrew/7961.htm - 6k

4220. meach -- a fatling
... Definition: beasts. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a fatling NASB
Word Usage fat beasts (1), wealthy (1). fatling one. From ...
/hebrew/4220.htm - 6k

2428. chayil -- strength, efficiency, wealth, army
... strong (2), substance (1), troops (2), valiant (41), valiant* (4), valiantly (6),
valor (18), very powerful (1), warriors (1), wealth (25), wealthy (1), worthy ...
/hebrew/2428.htm - 6k

2831. chashman -- ambassador
... princes. From an unused root (probably meaning firm or capacious in resources);
apparently wealthy -- princes. 2830, 2831. chashman. 2832 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/2831.htm - 5k

2044. Hashem -- father of one of David's heroes
... Hashem. Perhaps from the same as Chashum; wealthy; Hashem, an Israelite -- Hashem.
see HEBREW Chashum. 2043, 2044. Hashem. 2045 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2044.htm - 6k

1431. gadal -- to grow up, become great
... become great NASB Word Usage advanced (1), arrogantly (1), became great (1), became
greater (2), became rich (1), became tall (1), became...wealthy (1), become ...
/hebrew/1431.htm - 7k

"A Certain Young Man from Asia, Exceedingly Wealthy, of ...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter XXII. "A certain young man from
Asia, exceedingly wealthy, of distinguished family? "A ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxii a certain young.htm

Antiphonal Hymns against the Arians Introduced by John. The ...
... John. The Interests of the Orthodox are much augmented by the Teachings
of John, while the Wealthy are More and More Enraged. The ...
/.../chapter viii antiphonal hymns against the.htm

Psalm CXXIII.
... 6. "Our soul is filled exceedingly; a reproach to the wealthy, and a contempt to
the proud" (ver.4). We were asking who were "the wealthy:" he hath expounded ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxiii.htm

"Inasmuch. "
... He might not be any better understood in New York than He was in Jerusalem,
but the doors of the wealthy would quickly open to Him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks with world winners/inasmuch.htm

A Rebuke against Extortion
... To add to the distress of the poor, the more wealthy among the Jews had taken
advantage of their necessities, thus enriching themselves. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 54 a rebuke against.htm

Jesus' Law for the Use of Money.
... He is talking about the dishonest overseer of a wealthy man's estate. ... You
remember the very old story of the wealthy man who died. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/jesus law for the use.htm

Treatise ii. On the Dress of virgins.
... Therefore, Even If She Be Wealthy, She Should Consider Certainly How to Use Wealth,
But for Good Purposes, for Those Things Which God Has Commanded, to Wit ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise ii on the dress.htm

Answer to Mr. W's Third Objection.
... day-labourer is as useful, as raising a prince; and opening the eyes of a blind
beggar by the way side, as curing a powerful magistrate, or a wealthy merchant. ...
/.../section iii answer to mr.htm

Ruth and Naomi.
... and sons. There lived in Bethlehem a man named Boaz, who was a relative
of Naomi's husband, and who was also very wealthy. He had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/wee ones bible stories/ruth and naomi.htm

Jowett -- Apostolic Optimism
... No one can be five minutes in the companionship of the Apostle Paul without discovering
how wealthy is his sense of the wealthy, redeeming ministry of God. ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/jowett apostolic optimism.htm

Wealthy (22 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. WEALTH, WEALTHY. ... See also RICHES. William
Evans. Multi-Version Concordance Wealthy (22 Occurrences). ...
/w/wealthy.htm - 17k

Laodicea (6 Occurrences)
... routes, it was a place of little consequence until the Roman province of Asia was
formed in 190 BC It then suddenly became a great and wealthy center of ...
/l/laodicea.htm - 11k

Chiefs (227 Occurrences)
... Chiefs of Asia: "Asiarchs," the title given to certain wealthy persons annually
appointed to preside over the religious festivals and games in the various ...
/c/chiefs.htm - 37k

Asia (22 Occurrences)
... The "chiefs of Asia" (Acts 19:31) were certain wealthy citizens who were annually
elected to preside over the games and religious festivals of the several ...
/a/asia.htm - 71k

Schoolmaster (3 Occurrences)
... Schoolmaster" is a translation of paidagogos, literally, "child-leader." This
paidagagos was not a teacher but a slave, to whom in wealthy families the general ...
/s/schoolmaster.htm - 10k

Wealth (340 Occurrences)
... WEALTH, WEALTHY. ... Matthew 27:57 Towards sunset there came a wealthy inhabitant of
Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself also had become a disciple of Jesus. ...
/w/wealth.htm - 40k

Ephesus (20 Occurrences)
... The wealthy king Croesus supplied it with many of its stone columns, and the pilgrims
from all the oriental world brought it of their wealth. ...
/e/ephesus.htm - 24k

Drunkenness (10 Occurrences)
... Thus, Amos proclaims judgment on the voluptuous and dissolute rulers of Samaria
"that drink wine in (large) bowls" (Amos 6:6), and the wealthy ladies who press ...
/d/drunkenness.htm - 24k

Wean

/w/wean.htm - 8k

Songs (100 Occurrences)
... The fidelity of the Shulammite to her shepherd lover, notwithstanding the blandishments
of the wealthy and gifted king, stands as a rebuke to the notion that ...
/s/songs.htm - 62k

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Wealthy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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