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

Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.

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

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

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

Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.

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, Galatians 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

To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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; Genesis 30:43, Genesis 32:5, Genesis 36:7; 2 Samuel 19:32 Barzillai; 1 Chronicles 29:28 David; 2 Chronicles 1:15, 2 Chronicles 9:22; 2 Chronicles 32:27–29 Hezekiah; Job 1:3 Job; Matthew 27:57 Joseph of Arimathea; Acts 4:36–37 Barnabas