Rich, the

It is hard but not impossible for rich people to enter God's kingdom. They must put their hope in God, not in their riches. Rich people who live selfishly, abuse their position and fail to repent and live for Jesus Christ, are in peril.

Parables concerning rich people

2 Samuel 12:1–10; Matthew 13:44–46, Matthew 18:23, Matthew 22:2 parallel Luke 14:16; Matthew 25:14 parallel Luke 19:12; Luke 12:16, Luke 15:11–13, Luke 16:1, Luke 18:10

Rich people have received blessing

1 Timothy 6:17 See also Psalm 1:3, Psalm 112:1–3

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.

Warnings to rich people

They should recognise that God is the giver of riches

Deuteronomy 8:17–18 See also Deuteronomy 32:13–15; Hosea 2:8

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.

They should not be arrogant or complacent on account of their riches

Jeremiah 9:23–24 See also Psalm 49:5–6; Jeremiah 49:4; Hosea 12:8; 1 Timothy 6:17; Revelation 3:17

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth — for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

They should not trust in their riches

Proverbs 11:28 See also Psalm 49:6, Psalm 52:7, Psalm 62:10; Jeremiah 48:7

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

They face disaster if they lack wisdom

Psalm 49:20 See also Proverbs 28:11; Jeremiah 9:23–24

A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

They must live moral lives

Proverbs 28:6 See also Proverbs 22:16; Jeremiah 5:27–28, Jeremiah 17:11; Micah 6:12

Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

Wealth can bring anxiety

Ecclesiastes 5:12 See also Matthew 6:25–34 parallel Luke 12:22–31

The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

Riches are of fleeting value

Luke 12:16–21 See also Psalm 49:5–12; Proverbs 27:24; Ecclesiastes 5:15; Isaiah 10:3; Matthew 6:19; 1 Timothy 6:7; Job 1:21; James 1:10–11

Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Ultimate security is found in God alone

Exodus 15:2; 2 Samuel 22:33; 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalm 28:7, Psalm 29:11, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 52:6–7; Isaiah 12:2; Habakkuk 3:19

It is hard for rich people to enter God's kingdom

Matthew 19:23–26 parallels Mark 10:23–27, Luke 18:24–27 See also Matthew 13:22 parallels Mark 4:18–19, Luke 8:14; Matthew 19:16–22 parallels Mark 10:17–22, Luke 18:18–23

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Rich people will be judged for their behaviour

Zechariah 11:5–6; Luke 1:53

If they exploit, oppress or kill the poor

James 5:1–4 See also Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 22:16, Proverbs 28:3; Ezekiel 18:12–13, Ezekiel 22:29–31; James 2:6, James 5:6

Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.