The Bible tells us the next life is more important than this earthly life. As a result, the collection of material wealth should be at least a secondary occupation. But what about the Bible verses on fortune? What do they have to say about wealth itself?
You Can’t Take It With You
This is probably what you think of when you think of Bible verses on fortune. We are told in Proverbs 11:4 that “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
This Biblical wisdom is preserved in modern sayings like “You can’t take it with you.” The rich and the poor alike will face judgment, and earthly fortunes are of no account.
Follow Me
Not only are riches not crucial in the next life, but they can get in the way of what is essential in this life. When Jesus is approached by a would-be disciple and asked what must be done, Jesus tells the man to sell what he has, give it to the poor, and follow Him. The man “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:17–23).
The moral of this story isn’t that there is anything wrong with having money. This story illustrates that money can be helpful when we put it to service. Jesus doesn’t turn away the man because he has money; the man chooses to turn away from Jesus because money is more important to him than serving others—which is what Jesus wants him to do.
Laborers Deserve Their Wages
The Bible periodically warns us about unhealthy preoccupations with wealth, but it never tells us not to sustain ourselves. When Jesus tells the apostles that “the laborer deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7), He isn’t talking about money—He is talking about food and lodging provided by hospitable townspeople.
However, most of us don’t have the opportunity to work in exchange for our sustenance. We work for money and use that money to buy food and pay the rent or mortgage. And that’s okay.
That Which Fails to Satisfy
All the Bible verses on fortune can be summed up by one question posed by the prophet Isaiah: “Why would you spend your money on that which is not bread; your wages on that which fails to satisfy?” (55:2).
Here again, the point isn’t that money is a problem—the point is that money isn’t really what makes us happy. We can accumulate wealth because we think it will make us happy, but in the end, once we are fed and housed, anything else we can accumulate is likely to simulate comfort and joy, which we should find in our spiritual lives instead.
More Bible Verses on Fortune
There are many more Bible verses on fortune, and you can find them if you like. But they all say pretty much the same thing. We need money to supply our material needs, but only God can supply the needs of our hearts.
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