Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8700 Threats to the life of faith  »  8701 affluence

Literally, “flowing” with prosperity. Wealth is not condemned in Scripture but is seen as a good gift of God. However, affluence has its dangers.

Godly affluence

Exodus 3:8 See also Deuteronomy 28:1-6,11; Psalm 1:3; Psalm 112:3; Proverbs 8:18-21; Proverbs 22:4; Isaiah 60:5; Isaiah 61:6; Isaiah 66:12; Micah 4:4

Examples of affluence

Genesis 2:8-12 Eden; Genesis 13:2 Abraham; Genesis 26:12-13 Isaac; Genesis 33:11 Jacob; Job 42:10-12 Job

Solomon:

1 Kings 3:13; Kings 10:23-29 2 Chronicles 32:27-29 Hezekiah; Matthew 27:57 Joseph of Arimathea

The dangers of affluence

Pride

Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Timothy 6:17 See also Psalm 10:4-6; Psalm 73:3-6

Reliance upon riches

Proverbs 11:28; 1 Timothy 6:17 See also Psalm 62:10; Proverbs 23:5; Ecclesiastes 10:19; Mark 10:24 fn; Luke 12:16-21

Over-attachment to riches

Matthew 19:22 pp Mark 10:22 pp Luke 18:23

Greed for more riches

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Temptation

1 Timothy 6:9-10

Cares and anxieties

Matthew 13:22 pp Mark 4:19 pp Luke 8:14

Spiritual complacency

Revelation 3:17

Contempt for God

See also Proverbs 30:8-9

Contempt for the poor or unfortunate

Job 12:5; Proverbs 22:16; Amos 2:6-8; Amos 4:1; Amos 5:11; Luke 16:24-31; James 5:1-6

Affluence is temporary

It is for this life only

1 Timothy 6:7 See also Job 1:21; Psalm 37:35-36; Psalm 49:10-12,16-20; Ecclesiastes 5:15

It is often lost

Job 1:13-15; Ecclesiastes 5:13-14

Spiritual affluence

The riches of God

Philippians 4:19 See also Psalm 36:7-9; 2 Corinthians 9:9; Ephesians 3:8

Spiritual wealth

Ephesians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 2:9

The shared wealth of the church

Mark 10:29-30; Acts 4:34-35; Philippians 4:18

The wealth of heaven

Matthew 6:20; Luke 12:33; Revelation 7:16-17

See also

1050  God, goodness of
5399  luxury
5413  money, attitudes
5446  poverty
5810  complacency
5858  fat
6248  temptation
8261  generosity, God's
8778  materialism
8808  riches
8848  worldliness