Wealth and Generosity in the Bible

17Charge those who are rich in this present world, that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

18that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

6But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can`t carry anything out.

8But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

9But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

10I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

11But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don`t have.

1Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;

2how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.

3For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

4begging us with much entreaty in regard to this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

5This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

13For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

14but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

15As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

20We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us in concerning this bounty which is served by us.

21Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

7But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.

8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

10Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;

11you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.

12For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God;

13seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;

14while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

15Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

6Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

7Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

8God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.

9But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;

10and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.

11For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.

15And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,

16and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn`t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

1My brothers, don`t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.

2For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your assembly, and there come in also a poor man in filthy clothing;

3and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" and you tell the poor man, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool;"

4haven`t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn`t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

6But you have dishonored the poor man. Don`t the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?

7Don`t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?

1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you.

2Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.

3Your gold and your silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be for a testimony against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up your treasure in the last days.

4Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have kept back by fraud, cries out, and the cries of those who reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

5You have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure. You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter.

6You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous one. He doesn`t resist you.

53He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

35On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, `Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.`

15He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man`s life doesn`t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."

16He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.

17He reasoned within himself, saying, `What will I do, because I don`t have room to store my crops?`

18He said, `This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

19I will tell my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry."`

20But God said to him, `You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared -- whose will they be?`

21So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

33Sell that which you have, and give alms. Make for yourselves purses which don`t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn`t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.

34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

11He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise."

3and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod`s steward, Susanna; and many others; who ministered to them from their possessions.

22The blessing of Yahweh brings wealth, And he adds no trouble to it.

24There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.

25The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.

26He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

11Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, But he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

7There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

31He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, But he who is kind to the needy honors him.

17He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; He will reward him.

9He who has a generous eye will be blessed; For he shares his food with the poor.

27One who gives to the poor has no lack; But one who closes his eyes will have many curses.

9Honor Yahweh with your substance, With the first fruits of all your increase:

10So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

8Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;

9Lest I be full, deny you, and say, `Who is Yahweh?` Or lest I be poor, and steal, And so dishonor the name of my God.