To want for the necessities of life is ultimately the result of human sin.
Poverty arises from human sin
Genesis 3:17–19 Compare this with the description of Eden in Genesis 2:9–14.
And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground — because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
Causes of poverty
Divine retribution brings poverty
Deuteronomy 28:47–48 See also Proverbs 22:16; Isaiah 3:1; Amos 4:6, Amos 5:11
Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance, you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.
Idleness brings poverty
Proverbs 6:10–11 See also Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 14:23, Proverbs 20:13, Proverbs 24:33–34
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
Dissolute living brings poverty
Proverbs 21:17 See also Proverbs 6:26, Proverbs 28:19; Luke 15:14
He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
Lack of discipline brings poverty
Rash promises bring poverty
Debt brings poverty
Neglect of God's law of giving brings poverty
Proverbs 11:24, Proverbs 28:22; Acts 20:35
Neglect of God's work brings poverty
Oppression brings poverty
Judges 6:6; Job 20:19; Proverbs 13:23; Isaiah 1:7; James 5:4
Famine brings poverty
Genesis 45:11, Genesis 47:20–21
Misfortune brings poverty
Job 1:13–21 These trials were inflicted by Satan but allowed by God as a test of Job's faith.
Poverty affects good as well as evil people
The righteous often escape poverty
Deuteronomy 8:7–9; Psalm 34:9–10, Psalm 37:25
Many of the godly have been poor
2 Kings 4:1; Luke 16:20; Romans 15:26
Jesus Christ was poor
Results of poverty
Poverty results in ruin
The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
Poverty results in shame
See also Proverbs 13:18; Luke 16:3
Poverty results in misery
Poverty results in crime
Proverbs 6:30, Proverbs 30:8–9
Poverty need not lead to ungodliness
Psalm 119:71; Mark 12:44 parallel Luke 21:4; 2 Corinthians 8:2; James 2:5; Revelation 2:9
Voluntary poverty
Jesus Christ's example of voluntary poverty
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Voluntary poverty commanded of some
Matthew 19:21–22 Jesus Christ did not say this to everyone.
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Voluntary poverty experienced by others
See also Hebrews 10:34
Love essential in voluntary poverty
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.