Money in the Bible

David leads by example with a massive personal offering for the temple, and the leaders and people give generously and joyfully. David offers a magnificent prayer of praise, acknowledging that everything comes from God. Solomon is anointed king, and David dies.

Paul gives instructions for the collection for the Jerusalem saints and shares his travel plans. He urges the Corinthians to be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be courageous and strong, and do everything in love. He closes with greetings and the Aramaic prayer maranatha—come, Lord!

The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon, overwhelmed by his wisdom and wealth. She declares that the reports she heard were less than half the truth. Solomon's immense wealth and trading empire are described.

Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard. When Naboth refuses to sell his ancestral land, Jezebel orchestrates false charges and has Naboth stoned to death. Elijah confronts Ahab with God's judgment: dogs will lick his blood and devour Jezebel.

Paul warns against false teachers motivated by greed and declares that godliness with contentment is great gain. He charges the rich not to put their hope in wealth but in God. He gives Timothy a final charge to fight the good fight of faith and guard the deposit entrusted to him.

The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon and is overwhelmed by his wisdom and splendor. Solomon's immense wealth, trading empire, and international renown are described. Solomon dies after reigning 40 years.

Paul holds up the Macedonian churches as models of generosity—out of severe trial and extreme poverty, they gave beyond their ability. He reminds Corinth of Christ's example: though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich.

Paul encourages generous giving for the Jerusalem collection. God loves a cheerful giver, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. God is able to make all grace abound so that in all things you always have everything you need, abounding in every good work.

Naaman, commander of the Aramean army, has leprosy. An Israelite servant girl suggests he visit Elisha. Naaman is initially offended when told to wash seven times in the Jordan but obeys and is healed. Elisha's servant Gehazi secretly takes payment and is cursed with leprosy.

King Joash (Jehoash) does right while guided by Jehoiada the priest. He organizes temple repairs using a collection chest. After Jehoiada's death, Joash declines spiritually and is eventually assassinated by his own officials.

Woe to those at ease in Zion — lounging on ivory beds, feasting on lamb, singing idle songs, drinking wine by the bowlful, but not grieving over Israel's ruin. Their complacency in the face of injustice brings them first into exile.

A basket of ripe fruit — the end is ripe for Israel. The merchants can't wait for the sabbath to end so they can cheat the poor with dishonest scales. The sun will go down at noon, and God will send a famine — not of bread or water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.

God reaffirms the dietary laws distinguishing clean and unclean animals, largely repeating Leviticus 11. Israel is called a holy people and must not adopt pagan mourning practices. The chapter establishes tithing laws — a tenth of produce each year — and a special third-year tithe for Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows.

Every seventh year, debts among Israelites must be cancelled. Moses warns against being tightfisted toward the poor and commands generosity, promising that God will bless those who give freely. Hebrew servants must be released in the seventh year with generous provisions. The firstborn of flocks and herds are consecrated to God.

The Teacher tests pleasure, wealth, work, and achievement. He builds great works and acquires everything—then declares it all meaningless. A wise person and a fool share the same fate: death. He concludes that enjoyment of work is a gift from God.

Warnings about hasty words before God—let your words be few. Better not to vow than to vow and not fulfil. The lover of money never has enough. Wealth brings anxiety. The Teacher affirms that enjoyment of God's gifts is itself a gift.

A man who has wealth but cannot enjoy it—this is a grievous evil. God may give prosperity but withhold the power to enjoy it. No amount of longevity or offspring compensates for a joyless existence.

The Teacher encourages bold, generous living. Cast your bread upon the waters and it will return. Sow seed in the morning and evening since you don't know which will prosper. Rejoice in your youth but know that God will judge.

God continues the civil laws covering theft, property damage, and restitution. Laws protect the vulnerable — widows, orphans, and foreigners. God warns that He will personally hear the cry of the oppressed. Economic laws govern lending, pledges, and firstfruits offerings.

The end has come. God declares the final day of judgment on the land of Israel. Wealth will be thrown in the streets, the temple will be profaned, and violence fills the land. No prophet's vision or priest's teaching can save them now.

A detailed lament over Tyre's splendor as a great trading ship. Every luxury and trading partner is catalogued — a remarkable economic snapshot of the ancient world. But this magnificent vessel will sink beneath the waves, and all who traded with her will mourn.

Abram and Lot separate due to their growing wealth and the strife between their herdsmen. Lot chooses the well-watered Jordan plain near Sodom, while Abram remains in Canaan. God reaffirms His promise to give Abram all the land he can see and descendants as numerous as dust.

Four kings wage war against five kings near Sodom, and Lot is captured. Abram leads 318 trained men to rescue Lot and defeats the kings. On his return, Melchizedek king of Salem blesses Abram and Abram gives him a tenth of the spoils.

Sarah dies at age 127 in Hebron. Abraham mourns for her and negotiates with the Hittites to purchase the cave of Machpelah as a burial site. This is the first piece of the Promised Land that Abraham legally owns.

Joseph presents his family to Pharaoh, and Jacob blesses Pharaoh. The family settles in Goshen. As the famine worsens, Joseph acquires all the money, livestock, and land of Egypt for Pharaoh in exchange for grain. Jacob makes Joseph swear to bury him in Canaan, not in Egypt.

An oracle against Tyre, the great Phoenician trading city. Its commercial empire will be destroyed for seventy years, then restored — but ultimately its wealth will be dedicated to the Lord.

James warns the rich about coming judgment and calls for patient endurance, using Job and the prophets as examples. He encourages the sick to call for elders to pray over them. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. He closes urging believers to turn back anyone who wanders from the truth.

Zophar's second speech describes the short-lived triumph of the wicked. He argues that ill-gotten gains will be vomited up and that God's wrath will rain down upon the unrighteous.

God institutes the Sabbath year (every seventh year the land rests) and the Year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year). In Jubilee, all land returns to its original owners, slaves are freed, and debts are cancelled. God promises to provide enough in the sixth year to sustain through the rest period.

The final chapter addresses vows and dedications to God — how to value persons, animals, houses, and fields dedicated to the Lord. Redemption prices are set for those who wish to buy back what was vowed. The tithe of grain, fruit, and livestock is declared holy to the Lord and not to be substituted.

Jesus warns against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the folly of storing up earthly treasures. He tells the parable of the rich fool and teaches about anxiety, urging followers not to worry because the Father knows their needs. He calls for readiness and faithful stewardship.

Jesus tells the parable of the shrewd manager, teaching about faithfulness with money and the impossibility of serving both God and money. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus reveals the eternal consequences of ignoring the suffering at your doorstep.

Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow to encourage continual prayer and the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector to warn against self-righteous prayer. He blesses children, encounters the rich ruler, and heals a blind beggar near Jericho.

Zacchaeus the tax collector climbs a tree to see Jesus, who invites Himself to dinner, and salvation comes to his house. Jesus tells the parable of the ten minas about faithfulness. He enters Jerusalem, weeps over the city, and cleanses the temple.

Jesus commends the poor widow's offering and delivers His prophetic discourse about the destruction of Jerusalem and signs of the end. He describes tribulation, the coming of the Son of Man, and urges watchfulness and prayer to stand before the Son of Man.

God will send His messenger to prepare the way — fulfilled by John the Baptist. Then the Lord will suddenly come to His temple. God challenges: return to Me and I will return to you. Bring the full tithe and test Me — I will open heaven's floodgates of blessing. I the Lord do not change — therefore you are not consumed.

Jesus teaches about marriage, divorce, and celibacy. He blesses children brought to Him and encounters the rich young ruler, teaching that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter God's kingdom. He promises reward for those who leave everything to follow Him.

Jesus teaches about divorce, blesses little children, and encounters the rich young man who goes away sad. He declares that with God all things are possible and predicts His death a third time. James and John seek glory, but Jesus teaches that the Son of Man came to serve and give His life as a ransom.

Nehemiah confronts wealthy Jews who are exploiting their own people through excessive interest and foreclosure during the rebuilding. He demands they return the land and stop the usury. Nehemiah himself refuses the governor's food allowance to avoid burdening the people.

Warnings against foolish pledges, laziness (go to the ant, you sluggard), and the seven things the Lord hates. Another warning against adultery, comparing it to walking on hot coals—can a man carry fire in his lap without being burned?

The beginning of Solomon's collected proverbs, mostly antithetical couplets contrasting the wise and foolish, righteous and wicked. A wise son brings joy; a foolish son brings grief. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.

Proverbs on honesty, generosity, and humility. A generous person prospers; dishonest scales are an abomination. Where there is no guidance, a nation falls. Beauty without discretion is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

Proverbs on discipline, wealth, and hope. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Those who walk with the wise become wise. A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children.

Proverbs on gentle speech, God's omniscience, and contentment. A gentle answer turns away wrath. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere. Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. A cheerful heart is good medicine.

Proverbs on patience, kindness to the poor, and parenting. Kindness to the poor is lending to the Lord. A person's wisdom yields patience. Discipline your children while there is hope. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but the Lord's purpose prevails.

Proverbs on reputation, parenting, and the poor. A good name is more desirable than great riches. Train up a child in the way he should go. The rich and poor have this in common: the Lord is the Maker of them all.

Warnings against envy, gluttony, and drunkenness. Do not wear yourself out to get rich. Words of wisdom to a fool are wasted. A vivid description of the drunkard's suffering: bloodshot eyes, seeing strange sights, stumbling around.