Bible Verses About Wealth and Possessions

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 possessions and give to the needy.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

love of money as root of evils

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

rich young ruler leaving sorrowful because of possessions

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.

warns against pride in possessions and worldly desire

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jesus contrasts earthly treasure with treasure in heaven.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

The early Jerusalem church shares possessions with those in need.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet:

and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

The church holds possessions with open-handed care for the needy.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Jesus says no one can serve both God and mammon.

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.

Jesus warns against covetousness and measuring life by possessions.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 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. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Paul warns that the love of money leads to ruin.

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth:

and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

James warns the rich against hoarded wealth and injustice.

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. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jesus joins generosity to heavenly treasure and the heart.

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; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Paul commands the rich to be generous and rich in good works.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews calls believers to contentment rather than covetousness.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Matthew 6:19-21.

Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Matthew 6:19-21.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Matthew 6:19-21.

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Matthew 6:19-21.

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Matthew 6:24.

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Luke 12:15.

Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Luke 12:15.

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Luke 12:33-34.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Luke 12:33-34.

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Acts 2:44-45.

For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Acts 2:44-45.

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to Acts 2:44-45.

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

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

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

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to James 5:1-5.

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to James 5:1-5.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to James 5:1-5.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Editorially approved supporting passage linked to James 5:1-5.

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

faithfulness with unrighteous mammon and true riches

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

make friends of mammon of unrighteousness

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.

warning that wanting to be rich brings snare and destruction

Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

hoarded treasure in the last days

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

treasure for future and taking hold of true life

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

riches kept to one's hurt

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

love of money is unsatisfied

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

inheritance reserved in heaven

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

rich man's wealth as strong city

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

difficulty for the wealthy to enter the kingdom

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

woe to you who are rich

The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

wealth as imagined strong city

Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

example of selling property and laying proceeds at apostles' feet

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

could have been sold and given to the poor

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

rich person hard to enter kingdom of heaven

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

camel through eye of needle saying

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

woe to rich men