By Peter Anderson
I wrote a post on this site a while ago that talks about what the bible has to say about money topics, and some of the biggest search referrals to that post involve people searching for biblical ways to make money, or get rich quick tips or prayers relating to making money quickly.
While I’m glad that people are searching for biblical wisdom when it comes to their financial lives, I think a lot of them may have missed the point when it comes to faith and money. The Bible doesn’t have a lot of verses (that I’m aware of) that talk about how to get rich quick, but it isn’t silent on the topic of getting rich quick. In fact, it talks quite a bit about it.
Today I thought I’d explore what the bible says about getting rich quick.
Beware Of Get Rich Quick Schemes
In doing my research for this post I found that there are plenty of verses in the Bible that talk about how we should beware of get rich quick schemes, and how often, even if we are able to get rich quick that money tends to disappear faster than we could have imagined. Here’s one of my favorite verses on the topic, in two translations:
Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows. Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11
The verse tells us that while get rich quick schemes can work sometimes, often because our heart isn’t in the right place the money disappears as fast as it appeared. If instead, we work hard for the money and build it up over time, we’ll appreciate it more, be more grateful and be more likely to put it to good use.
Here’s another verse talking about how sometimes, when we get too much money right away, it isn’t as much of a blessing as we thought it would be.
An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end. Proverbs 20:21
Again, when we get money in a large lump sum, it can be more of a hindrance than a blessing. How many times have you heard of lottery winners having financial or family troubles years later?
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20
Far too often those who try to get rich quick take shortcuts both on their work and on their ethics, and it can lead to problems down the line. Instead, work your way up!
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9
Don’t forget that building wealth shouldn’t be an aim in itself as it’s an empty promise. Trying to fill a hole in our lives with money, just leads to disappointment.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5
Cast but a glance at wealth, because it’s only a temporary thing, we can’t take anything with us. In the end it’s meaningless.
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4
Wealth Comes From Hard Work And Sound Counsel
The Bible tends to towards cautioning people away from get rich quick schemes for a variety of reasons, but it doesn’t leave it there. It encourages us to build wealth through hard work and by getting advice from wise counsel.
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. Proverbs 28:19
Working hard leads to “having plenty of bread”, but when you waste your time and are lazy, it only leads to poverty.
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23
Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. Proverbs 20:13
The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. Proverbs 20:4
All of us would do well to seek and accept wise advice from those around us who are in the know.
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15
Even If You Do Find Wealth, Don’t Trust In It
One thing we should beware of is, even if we are able to create wealth, we need to make sure that we don’t put too much trust in it.
..if riches increase, do not set your heart on them Psalm 62:10
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Luke 12:15
Whoever loves money never has enough;whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 5:10
A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. Proverbs 28:22
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6
We need to make sure that we place our trust in God, and not in money or things. We need to be good stewards of what we’ve been given, and give generously and in love.
Where To Find True Wealth
So where can we find true wealth?
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also Matthew 6:19-21
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
We can only find true wealth in the gift of salvation that God has given us. Nothing we can do to build wealth or riches can hold a candle to what we’ve been given in Christ Jesus.
Attribution: http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/bible-verses-about-how-to-get-rich-quick/
