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, Deuteronomy 28:11; 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
I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey— the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
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; 1 Kings 3:13, 1 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
You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
Reliance upon riches
Proverbs 11:28; 1 Timothy 6:17 See also Psalm 62:10; Proverbs 23:5; Ecclesiastes 10:19; Mark 10:24; Luke 12:16–21
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
Over-attachment to riches
Matthew 19:22 parallels Mark 10:22, Luke 18:23
When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Greed for more riches
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.
Temptation
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Cares and anxieties
Matthew 13:22 parallels Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14
The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Spiritual complacency
You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
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, Psalm 49:16–20; Ecclesiastes 5:15
For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.
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
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
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
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.