Bible Verses About Luxury And Simplicity

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

Direct Bible line on luxury and self-indulgence.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

Contrasts apparent riches and poverty.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

General proverb on wealth and accumulation.

The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

General proverb on wealth and poverty.

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Directly lists sensuality, drunkenness, and orgies as former conduct.

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Relevant contrast: asceticism alone does not stop fleshly indulgence.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Direct rich-man and luxury-feasting passage.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Direct command to sell and give to the needy.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Contentment with food and clothing supports restraint.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Strong Bible warning about the desire to be rich.

He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

Generosity to the poor is related but indirect.

Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Better poor integrity than rich perversity.

Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

General proverb on wealth and social standing.

Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

Directly says luxury is not fitting for a fool.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Commands the rich not to trust riches.

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

Directly says love of pleasure leads to poverty.

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

About frivolity, not luxury specifically.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Warns against possessions as life’s measure.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Contentment is a major Christian good.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Directly lists worldly desires and pride in possessions.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Directly says love of money never satisfies.

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Prayer for neither poverty nor riches, but enough.

And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Direct command to travel without possessions.

Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Direct warning not to toil for wealth.

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

Directly mentions gorgeously appareled and delicate living.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

Quiet meal is better than a feast with strife.

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

Warns against a miser's delicacies.

He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

General proverb about hasty wealth and poverty.

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Wise use of resources versus foolish spending.

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

General proverb about folly and wealth.

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Direct Bible command about modest apparel.

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Directly says a little with righteousness is better.

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

Directly depicts luxurious bed and fabrics.

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

Lists luxury goods including gold, pearls, purple, and silk.

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

Directly contrasts soft raiment with kings' courts.