Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5475 property  »  5476 property, nature of

Possessions are a gift from God to be used for his glory, for human pleasure and in benefiting others.

Possessions are a cause for thanksgiving

Ecclesiastes 5:19 See also Genesis 39:2-4; Deuteronomy 8:18; 1 Chronicles 29:12; 2 Chronicles 31:21; Hosea 2:8

Owning possessions is open to abuse

They can be coveted

Exodus 20:17 See also 1 Kings 21:1-4; Jeremiah 6:13; Micah 2:2; Luke 12:15; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

They can cause deceit

Acts 5:1-9

They can cause pride and forgetfulness

Proverbs 30:9 See also 2 Kings 20:13-17; Daniel 4:30; Daniel 5:20; Hosea 13:6; Matthew 19:24; Luke 12:13-21

Abuse of ownership leads to judgment

Isaiah 3:16-24; Isaiah 5:8; Habakkuk 2:6-9

Property is for benefiting others

It is to be used to help others

Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-35; Galatians 6:6,10; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 6:17-18; James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17-18

It is to be used to assist strangers

Leviticus 25:35; Numbers 35:15; Deuteronomy 10:19; Matthew 5:42

Property provides no lasting satisfaction

Ecclesiastes 2:26 See also Job 27:16-17; Psalm 39:6; Ecclesiastes 2:21; Ezekiel 28:4-7; Haggai 1:6; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:20-21; James 5:3

Laws governing the inheritance of property

Numbers 27:3-11; Deuteronomy 21:15-17; Ezekiel 46:16-18

Godly men of property

Genesis 13:2 Abraham; Genesis 26:14 Isaac

Jacob:

Genesis 30:43; Genesis 32:5; Genesis 36:7 2 Samuel 19:32 Barzillai; 1 Chronicles 29:28 David

Solomon:

2 Chronicles 1:15; Corinthians 9:22 2 Chronicles 32:27-29 Hezekiah; Job 1:3 Job; Matthew 27:57 Joseph of Arimathea; Acts 4:36-37 Barnabas

See also

5556  stewardship
5703  inheritance
5839  dissatisfaction
5960  success
6133  coveting
6145  deceit
8260  generosity
8434  giving
8701  affluence
8763  forgetting
8802  pride
8808  riches