HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THE MATERIAL BLESSINGS (WEALTH) IN THE OLD

TESTAMENT?

Just to be clear, we are not dealing with the “wicked” rich that prospers (Ps 37:35; 73:3, 12). Our
focus is solely on the “righteous” rich (could be an individual or a community) in the Old
Testament. There is no arguing that God blessed Abraham with material wealth (Genesis 13:1-
7), the same is with Isaac (Genesis 26:12-14), Jacob (Genesis 30:43), Joseph (Genesis 39:2-6),
Solomon (1 Kings 3:13), and Job (Job 42:10-17). The same promise of wealth and prosperity is
given to the Israelites. God would reward them material blessings so that they would faithfully
give in return. (Deuteronomy 15:10; Proverbs 3:9-10; 11:25; Malachi 3:8-12). For that matter, a
thematic summary on the subject of wealth (of the righteous people) can be presented as under:

1. Wealth is a gift of God, and received as a result of God’s grace. The Israelites were warned
NOT to take the credit for achieving them through their own skill, strength, or effort (even if
these things have been legitimately deployed) (Deut. 8:17-18, 1 Chr. 29:11-12, Jer. 9:23-24).
Wealth in the Old Testament that is acceptable is the wealth is accompanied by trust in God,
commitment to him, and acknowledgement of him (Prov. 3:5-10).

2. Wealth must be understood as a RESPONSIBILITY and NOT a PRIVILEGE. Abraham was

blessed so that he could be a blessing for all the nations of the earth (Gen. 12:1-3). This is the
context in which wealth or blessing is to be set.

3. Wealth is NOT the primary thing. It is secondary to many things including wisdom, but
especially personal integrity, humility, and righteousness (I Chron. 29:17, Prov. 8:10-11, 1 Kgs.
3, Prov. 16:8, 28:6).

4. Wealth must be handled with justice. It should NOT be accumulated by corrupt means such
as bribery. Likewise, wealth should not be used in a way that is exploitative of other’s need (e.g.,
through interest; Ps. 15:5, Ezek. 18:7-8).

5. Wealth should not be idolized (Deut 8:18). Neither should we put inordinate trust nor should
we too anxious to lose them (Ps 62:10). Personal relationship with God matters the most as
reflected in the live of Job. (Job 31:24-25)

6. The Israelites were instructed to make their wealth available to the wider community through
responsible lending that is both practical (Lev. 25) and respectful to the dignity of the debtor
(Deut. 24:6, 10-13).

7. Wealth should be considered a vehicle/means for GENEROSITY. It could be risky, and even
when it hurts, generosity should be shown to bless the poor and needy thus reflecting the
generosity of God at the same time (Deut. 15, Ps. 112:3, Prov. 14:31, 19:17).

8. Wealth should be used in the SERVICE of God, whether by contributing to the practical needs
that are involved in corporate worship of God (David’s generosity in the construction of temple
in Jerusalem, 1 Chron. 28-9) or by providing for God’s servants who particularly need material
support (The Israelites generous giving for the Levites, 2 Chron. 31).

WORDS OF CAUTION TO THE WEALTHY:

Even if wealth and riches are acquired in a righteous manner or someone is naturally blessed
with wealth and riches, the Old Testament texts have warned the Israelites on the challenges of
being wealthy:

1.  Wealth can lead to pride and arrogance. Proverbs 28:11 notes, “The rich is wise in self-
esteem, but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose.” Wealthy people tend to
believe they have gained it solely through their own cleverness or hard work. Ezekiel
warns the King of Tyre, “By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your wealth,
and your heart has become proud in your wealth” (Ezekiel 28:5).
2. Wealth makes people self-sufficient, complacent and gives people a false sense of
security. One extreme example of this is Ephraim’s boast in Hosea 12:8. “Ah, I am rich, I
have gained wealth for myself; in all of my gain no offense has been found in me that
would be sin.” Hosea 13 describes how Israel abandons God—“When I fed them, they
were satisfied; they were satisfied, and their heart was proud” (Hosea 13:6).

3. Wealth has a strong ability to capture human heart and divide loyalties. The Psalmist
warns us of this when he writes, “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them”
(Psalm 62:10b). This danger is also carefully spelled out for the people of Israel
in Deuteronomy 8:12-17: “When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and
live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is
multiplied…then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God…Do not say to
yourself, “My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.”

FINAL NOTE: The value of CONTENTMENT with sufficiency cannot be ignored since
excessive poverty nor excessive wealth is desirable. Both tempt people to behave in ways that
disown or dishonor God. With the wealthy people, the implication seems to be that the righteous
rich should know when to say, “Enough is enough”:

Give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, “Who is the LORD?”
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. (Prov. 30:8-9)