Bible Verses About Warning To The Rich

Dear friends, earthly riches can seem appealing, but the Bible urges caution about becoming obsessed with money and possessions.

Jesus warned that it is very difficult for the rich to enter God’s kingdom. When we accumulate treasures here, it can displace our reliance on and gratitude toward God. The wealthy may feel self-sufficient rather than acknowledging their complete dependence on the Lord. Yet no amount of money can purchase salvation or eternal life.

God calls us to be rich in love and generosity rather than material things. Those who are generous and freely give to the poor store up eternal treasure in heaven. When we grasp at money, we miss the truth – it has no lasting value. Neither huge bank accounts nor overflowing barns can guarantee security. Rather than working constantly to acquire more, we find contentment by keeping our lifestyle simple.

The Lord hears the cries of the impoverished and defends their cause. He may judge those who achieve riches by exploiting workers or showing no pity for the weak. We must exhibit care and compassion for those struggling in poverty.

So dear friends, lay up imperishable treasures in heaven through serving God and others. Choose generosity over greed, people over possessions. Then you will find lasting contentment.

The Dangers of Riches and Complacency

Matthew 19:23-24
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Again I say unto you, 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”

1 Timothy 6:9
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation a snare, into many foolish hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction perdition”

James 5:1-3
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, your garments are motheaten. Your gold silver is cankered; the rust of them shall be a witness against you, shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days”

Proverbs 11:28
“He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch”

Luke 12:15
“He said unto them, Take heed, beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth”

Calls to Help the Poor and Needy

Proverbs 14:31
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor”

Isaiah 58:10
“If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, thy darkness be as the noon day”

Luke 12:33-34
“Sell that ye have, 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”

Galatians 2:10
“Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do”

Deuteronomy 15:7-8
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth”

The Difficulty of Entering Heaven for the Rich

Matthew 19:24
“Again I say unto you, 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”

Mark 10:25
“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”

Luke 18:25
“For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”

James 2:6-7
“But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?”

Living Simply and Generously

Proverbs 19:17
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord ; that which he hath given will he pay him again”

2 Corinthians 9:7
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver”

Acts 20:35
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive”

Proverbs 22:9
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor”

Luke 6:38
“Give, it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”

The Temporary Nature of Earthly Possessions

Matthew 6:19-21
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth rust doth corrupt, where thieves break through steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”

Ecclesiastes 5:15
“As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand”

1 Timothy 6:7
“For we brought nothing into this world, it is certain we can carry nothing out”

Proverbs 23:4-5
“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”

God’s Judgment of Those Who Oppress the Poor

Proverbs 14:21
“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he”

Amos 5:11-12
“Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right”

Jeremiah 22:13
“Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, giveth him not for his work”

James 2:5
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”

The Deceitfulness and Anxiety of Riches

Proverbs 23:4
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom”

Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, love the other; or else he will hold to the one, despise the other. Ye cannot serve God mammon”

1 Timothy 6:10
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, pierced themselves through with many sorrows”

Luke 12:22-23
“He said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, the body is more than raiment”

Storing Up Treasure in Heaven

Matthew 6:20
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, where thieves do not break through nor steal”

Luke 12:33
“Sell that ye have, give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth”

1 Timothy 6:18-19
“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”

Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”