The Bible provides numerous teachings on the subject of riches, cautioning believers against an over-anxious pursuit of wealth. This theme is prevalent throughout Scripture, emphasizing the spiritual dangers and distractions that can accompany an excessive focus on material gain.

Biblical Warnings Against Anxiety for Riches

1. Matthew 6:19-21: Jesus instructs His followers not to store up treasures on earth, where they are subject to decay and theft, but to store up treasures in heaven. He emphasizes that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" . This teaching highlights the importance of prioritizing spiritual wealth over material possessions.

2. Matthew 6:25-34: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses anxiety about material needs, urging His listeners not to worry about their lives, what they will eat or drink, or about their bodies and what they will wear. He reminds them of God's provision for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, concluding with the exhortation to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" .

3. 1 Timothy 6:6-10: The Apostle Paul warns Timothy about the dangers of desiring to be rich, stating that "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" . He advises contentment with godliness, noting that those who long to be rich fall into temptation and harmful desires that can lead to ruin and destruction.

4. Proverbs 23:4-5: The wisdom literature of the Old Testament also cautions against the pursuit of wealth. Proverbs advises, "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. When you glance at riches, they are gone, for they surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle" . This passage underscores the fleeting nature of material wealth and the futility of exhausting oneself in its pursuit.

The Spiritual Perspective on Wealth

The Bible consistently presents a perspective that values spiritual riches over material wealth. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's provision and to focus on eternal values rather than temporary, earthly gains. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles emphasize that anxiety over riches can lead to spiritual distraction and a divided heart, ultimately hindering one's relationship with God.

Examples of Misplaced Priorities

1. The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-22): This account illustrates the spiritual peril of prioritizing wealth over discipleship. The young man, despite his adherence to the commandments, is unable to part with his possessions to follow Jesus, revealing his attachment to material wealth.

2. The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21): Jesus tells the account of a wealthy man who hoards his abundance, only to die suddenly, leaving his riches behind. The parable serves as a warning against storing up earthly wealth without being "rich toward God" .

Encouragement for Believers

Believers are encouraged to cultivate a heart of contentment and trust in God's provision. By focusing on spiritual growth and the advancement of God's kingdom, Christians can avoid the pitfalls of anxiety over riches and instead experience the peace and fulfillment that come from a life centered on Christ.Proverbs 30:8
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

It is Then My Purpose to Prove to You...
... For you see, you who are my chief care, (for I am not over anxious about them ... world,
having a darkened hope, of beauty of wife, of pomp of riches, of emptiness ...
/.../augustine/on the profit of believing /section 2 it is then.htm

John iii. 6
... said Paul, "O the depth of the riches, both of ... by hearing and touch, why art thou
over-anxious about the ... the Divine Spirit, when thou understandest not that of ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxvi john iii 6.htm

The Subjects of the Kingdom.
... for God, they might lay aside all over-anxious thoughts about ... by being "doers of
the word, and not hearers only" (S ... warns us of the dangers of riches; "The love ...
/.../burbidge/the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter iv the subjects of.htm

Of the Character of the Unregenerate.
... We shall not be over-anxious about the order of words ... great care be to obtain those
riches and honors ... of eternity have been, if you are not practically carrying ...
/.../doddridge/practical discourses on regeneration/discourse i of the character.htm

Letter Lvii. To Pammachius on the Best Method of Translating.
... And care not thou with over anxious thought. ... of us"living as we do amid the riches
of Croesus ... blood-stained swords in books of philosophy and not in trunks of ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lvii to pammachius on.htm

The Second Theological Oration.
... I appear to anyone too careful, and over anxious about the ... of his mind after knowledge
does not end in any ... with astonishment, and calls this the riches of God ...
/.../lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxviii the second theological.htm

What does the Bible say about being poor? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about greed? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about managing your finances? | GotQuestions.org

Riches: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus