How Does The Bible Define Wealth?

One of the hotly debated issues in our society concerns the issue of riches and wealth. The vast majority of people believe that to be wealthy, you must become rich by accumulating large sums of money. Some believe being wealthy is a result of hard work and sacrifice. Others believe being wealthy is a result of taking advantage of someone else. Some Christians believe that if you are not wealthy, you are missing out on what God wants for you. With all of these perspectives, we should seek to know how does the Bible define wealth?

What is wealth?

Since people’s opinions vary so much today on the definition of wealth, an historic definition of wealth needs to be made. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines wealth as follows (1): “WEALTH, n. 1. Prosperity; external happiness. 2. Riches; large possessions of money, goods, or land; that abundance of worldly estate which exceeds the estate of the greater part of the community; affluence; opulence.” The word wealth comes from the Middle English welthe, from well or weal, on the pattern of health (2).

From this definition, we see that the first definition of wealth is prosperity and external happiness. Prosperity is primarily defined as (2): “PROSPER”ITY, n. [L. prosperitas.] Advance or gain in any thing good or desirable…” Webster alludes that good external happiness is an outward display that reflects an inward happiness that comes from God. We know this because Noah Webster often listed Bible verses that use the referenced word. In the case of prosperity, he listed “The prosperity of fools shall destroy them. Prov.1.” By this reference to fools, we see that prosperity can come from self or it can come from God to those the Bible describes as wise.

These definitions demonstrate that wealth is an advance or gain in anything good or desirable toward the health and benefit of others.” We also notice that the primary definition and use of the word wealth is not tied to money or riches. Historically however, one’s health was a reflection of their ability to provide for their physical needs, but the origin of the word had nothing to do with being rich.

What does it mean to be rich?

Being rich is commonly described as possessing a large amount of money or assets. It originated from the (4) “Old English rīce ‘powerful, wealthy,’ of Germanic origin, related to Dutch rijk and German reich; ultimately from Celtic; reinforced in Middle English by Old French riche ‘rich, powerful.’” The origination of this word ties together being rich with being powerful.

How does the Bible define wealth?

The Bible makes a distinction between the wealth and riches from both temporal and eternal perspectives. Likewise, the Bible clearly points out that earthly wealth has no eternal value:

They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. (Psalm 49:6-13). (See also Proverbs 10:15; Proverbs 13:11)

Since earthly wealth has no eternal value the question then becomes, how do we gain wealth with a heavenly value? The first thing to consider is that there is a Spiritual element to wealth if it is provided by God as follows:

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day (Deuteronomy 8:18).

Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever (Psalm 112:1-3).

When we keep a heavenly Spiritual perspective on where our wealth comes from, we experience a joy that is not based on what we have done. Instead, our joy is based on the fact that our relationship with God is good:

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart (Ecclesiastes 5:19-20).

Who gains from heavenly wealth?

When our wealth is from God, it changes our perspective on what we do with the things that God has blessed us with. Instead of accumulating things out of a desire to please our self, we see the things that God has given us as something we can use to serve God and bless others. Likewise, we see our work as something that is not for personal gain, but for the beneficial gain of others as follows:

Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth (1 Corinthians 10:24).

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves (Philippians 2:3).

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth (Ephesians 4:28).

We are instructed in Matthew 6:19-21 that we should not seek earthly treasures, but treasure in heaven, which has eternal value. Likewise, our focus of where our treasure is reveals where our heart is. If our heart is set on pleasing God, our view of wealth is set on using what God has given us to please God and benefit our neighbor. This has an eternal value because our attitude about what we do with our life and assets is not about our wealth, but instead, the wealth of others.

What is a Biblical example of someone who was blessed with eternal wealth?

We see an example of this in 1 Kings 3:1-15 when King Solomon had just finished building the temple. That night, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted God to give him. Solomon responded by remarking how God had shown mercy to his father David and made Solomon the king over the people. Solomon continued by saying that he was just a child and desired that God would only give him the wisdom and understanding to discern between good and bad so that he could be a good judge over God’s people.

After Solomon made this request, God gave Solomon what he asked for, but added something that Solomon did not ask for too. God added riches, honor, and long life. Solomon’s response to this newfound wealth from God was to go and worship God and make a feast to all his servants. His action demonstrated his love for God and others. This had an eternal impact on untold numbers of people and pleased God.

Conclusion 

Wealth is a term that is primarily defined as prosperity and external happiness. Wealth does not necessarily result in riches, but instead it results in a joy that has a focus. If the focus is on how we can obtain more riches, it is not pleasing to God and does not last. However, if the focus in on how we can be a blessing or use what we have for the wellbeing and gain of others, it pleases God and results in everlasting wealth. Solomon was a Biblical example of someone who was blessed with eternal wealth.

Article by Dr. Michael L. Williams

Dr. Michael L. Williams is a pastor, author, Christian educator and Biblical counselor who has served in ministry since March of 2000. Dr. Mike holds under-graduate through post graduate degrees in Christian Education and formerly worked as a nurse. Dr. Mike is the Senior Pastor of Selah Mountain Ministries, which he founded in March of 2010 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA (selahmountain.org). In addition to counseling, he teaches how to overcome life issues Biblically on topics such as anger management, marriage, addictions, and other subjects typically referred to as mental illnesses. Dr. Mike is also a writer at What Christians Want To Know. Dr. Mike lives with his wife Pamela Rose and adult daughter Hollie Rose. He and Pamela have other adult children and several grandchildren as well. Learn more about Dr. Mike at his personal ministry web site Wisdom4Today

Resources – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, King James Version

(1) Webster, Noah (1828) “Wealth”. Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1828): American Dictionary of the English Language, Retrieved from http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resource=Webster%27s&word=wealth&use1828=on

(2) Google. (2014). “Wealth”. Retrieved from Google, https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=wealth+definition

(3) Webster, Noah (1828) “Wealth”. Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1828): American Dictionary of the English Language, Retrieved from http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resource=Webster%27s&word=prosperity&use1828=on

(4) Google. (2014). “Rich”. Retrieved from Google, https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=rich and definition