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Relationship Between Morality and Material Prosperity in Scripture

The relationship between morality and material prosperity in Scripture is complex, often presenting prosperity as a blessing for the righteous while simultaneously warning against the dangers of wealth. The Bible indicates that God is the ultimate source of riches, giving the power to obtain them [3, 6]. The blessing of the Lord is said to bring wealth [3], and Proverbs states that "Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous" [8].

However, this connection is not always straightforward. While God's goodness is manifested in supplying temporal wants [6], and grain and new wine can make people flourish [9], the Bible also cautions about the nature of worldly riches. Riches are described as temporary, uncertain, unsatisfying, corruptible, fleeting, and deceitful [3]. They are liable to be stolen and are perishable [3]. Matthew Henry notes that "riches are a burden," bringing "a burden of care in getting them, fear in keeping them, temptation in using them, guilt in abusing them" [12].

The acquisition of wealth is also scrutinized. While commerce, involving the exchange of goods and money, is a recognized activity [1], the manner in which wealth is gained is critical. Proverbs 8:18 states, "Riches and honour are with me: even durable riches and righteousness" [5]. John Gill interprets these "durable riches" not as temporal wealth, but as the "riches of grace" and "riches of glory" [14], suggesting a spiritual rather than purely material understanding of true prosperity. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown similarly connect "durable riches" with "righteousness," viewing them as "enduring sources of happiness in moral possessions" [13].

The Bible warns against wealth obtained through unjust means. Matthew Henry observes that "wealth gotten by vanity will be bestowed upon vanity," implying that ill-gotten gains will not last [11]. The prophet Amos condemns those who exploit the poor, stating, "that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?" [7]. Such practices highlight a moral failing that undermines any claim to righteous prosperity.

Furthermore, the Scriptures frequently highlight the spiritual dangers associated with material wealth. Worldly pleasure, anxiety, labor, and enjoyment are all characterized as vanity [2]. Riches can often be an "obstruction to the reception of the gospel" [3]. The goodness of God, intended to lead people to Him, can sometimes produce the opposite effect, with prosperity leading to apostasy [15]. This is exemplified by the image of "thick clay" used to describe riches, emphasizing their burdensome and potentially ensnaring nature [12].

Contentment, particularly with "food and raiment," is presented as a virtue, especially when accompanied by godliness [4]. The apostle Paul exemplified contentment, stating he had learned to be content in all circumstances [4]. This perspective contrasts with the insatiable desire for wealth often seen in the wicked [4]. The transient nature of material possessions is also underscored by imagery such as garments, which are subject to decay and the "inroads of the moth" [10]. The emphasis shifts from the accumulation of earthly goods to the pursuit of spiritual and moral well-being.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Commerce — The barter of one commodity for another -- 1Ki 5:8,11. The exchange of commodities for money -- 1Ki 10:28,29. Called Trade. -- Ge 34:10; Mt 25:16. Traffic. -- Ge 42:34; Eze 17:4. Buying and selling. -- Jas 4:13. Articles of, called Merchandise. -- Eze 26:12; Mt 22:5. Wares. -- Jer 10:17; Eze 27:16; Jon 1:5. Persons engaged in, called Merchants. -- Ge 37:28; Pr 31:24. Chapmen. -- 2Ch 9:14. Traffickers. -- Isa 23:8. Sellers and buyers. -- Isa 24:2. Carried on in fairs, &c -- Eze 27:12,19; Mt 11:16. Inland, by caravans -- Job 6:19; Isa 21:13. Maritime, by shi”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Vanity — A consequence of the fall -- Ro 8:20. Every man is -- Ps 39:11. Every state of man is -- Ps 62:9. Man at his best estate is -- Ps 39:5. Man is like to -- Ps 144:4. The thoughts of man are -- Ps 94:11. The days of man are -- Job 7:16; Ec 6:12. Childhood and youth are -- Ec 11:10. The beauty of man is -- Ps 39:11; Pr 31:30. The help of man in -- Ps 60:11; La 4:17. Man's own righteousness is -- Isa 57:12. Worldly wisdom is -- Ec 2:15,21; 1Co 3:20. Worldly pleasure is -- Ec 2:1. Worldly anxiety -- Ps 39:6; 127:2. Worldly labour is -- Ec 2:11; 4:4. Worldly enjoym”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Riches — The true riches -- Eph 3:8; 1Co 1:30; Col 2:3; 1Pe 2:7. God gives -- 1Sa 2:7; Ec 5:19. To God belongs this world's riches -- Hag 2:8. God gives power to obtain -- De 8:18. The blessing of the Lord brings -- Pr 10:22. Give worldly power -- Pr 22:7. Described as Temporary. -- Pr 27:24. Uncertain. -- 1Ti 6:17. Unsatisfying. -- Ec 4:8; 5:10. Corruptible. -- Jas 5:2; 1Pe 1:18. Fleeting. -- Pr 23:5; Re 18:16,17. Deceitful. -- Mt 13:22. Liable to be stolen. -- Mt 6:19. Perishable. -- Jer 48:36. Thick clay. -- Hab 2:6. Often an obstruction to the reception of the go”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Contentment — With godliness is great gain -- Ps 37:16; 1Ti 6:6. Saints should exhibit In their respective callings. -- 1Co 7:20. With appointed wages. -- Lu 3:14. With what things they have. -- Heb 13:5. With food and raiment. -- 1Ti 6:8. God's promises should lead to -- Heb 13:5. The wicked want -- Isa 5:8; Ec 5:10. Exemplified Barzillai. -- 2Sa 19:33-37. Shunammite. -- 2Ki 4:13. David. -- Ps 16:6. Agur. -- Pr 30:8,9. Paul. -- Php 4:11,12.”
  5. Proverbs “Proverbs 8:18 (Geneva1599) — Riches and honour are with me: euen durable riches and righteousnesse.”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Goodness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 25:8; Na 1:7; Mt 19:17. Declared to be Great. -- Ne 9:35; Zec 9:17. Rich. -- Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4. Abundant. -- Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5. Satisfying. -- Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14. Enduring. -- Ps 23:6; 52:1. Universal. -- Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45. Manifested To his Church. -- Ps 31:19; La 3:25. In doing good. -- Ps 119:68; 145:9. In supplying temporal wants. -- Ac 14:17. In providing for the poor. -- Ps 68:10. In forgiving sins. -- 2Ch 30:18; Ps 86:5. Leads to repentance. -- Ro 2:4. Recognise, in his dealings. -- Ezr 8:18; Ne 2:18. Pra”
  7. Amos “that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?’” -- Amos 8:6”
  8. Proverbs “Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous. -- Proverbs 13:21”
  9. Zechariah “For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins. -- Zechariah 9:17”
  10. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 50:9: (Compare "deal," or "proper," Isa 52:13, Margin; Isa 53:10; Psa 118:6; Jer 23:5). as a garment-- (Isa 51:6, Isa 51:8; Psa 102:26). A leading constituent of wealth in the East is change of raiment, which is always liable to the inroads of the moth; hence the frequency of the image in Scripture.”
  11. Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 13:11: This shows that riches wear as they are won and woven. 1. That which is won ill will never wear well, for a curse attends it which will waste it, and the same corrupt dispositions which incline men to the sinful ways of getting well incline them to the like sinful ways of spending: Wealth gotten by vanity will be bestowed upon vanity, and then it will be diminished. That which is got by such employments as are not lawful, or not becoming Christians, such as only serve to feed pride and luxury, that which is got by gaming or by the stage, may as truly be said to”
  12. Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 13:1: I. Here is Abram's return out of Egypt, Gen 13:1. He came himself and brought all his with him back again to Canaan. Note, Though there may be occasion to go sometimes into places of temptation, yet we must hasten out of them as soon as possible. See Rut 1:6. II. His wealth: He was very rich, Rut 1:2. He was very heavy, so the Hebrew word signifies; for riches are a burden, and those that will be rich do but load themselves with thick clay, Hab 2:6. There is a burden of care in getting them, fear in keeping them, temptation in using them, guilt in abusing them, s”
  13. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 8:18: durable riches . . . righteousness--Such are the "riches," enduring sources of happiness in moral possessions (compare Pro 3:16).”
  14. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 8:18: Riches and honour are with me,.... By "riches" are meant not the riches of Christ's person, the perfections of his nature, his works, and his vast empire over all creatures, and the revenues arising from thence, which though durable, yet not communicable; not temporal riches, which, though with him, and at his dispose, yet these, at least a large share of them, and in common, is not given to his people, nor are they durable; but the riches of grace, redeeming, justifying, pardoning, and sanctifying grace, are intended, and the riches of glory in another world: and s”
  15. Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 5:7: It would not be consistent with God's holiness to let such wickedness pass unpunished. sworn by-- (Jer 5:2; Jer 4:2); that is, worshipped. no gods-- (Deu 32:21). fed . . . to the full--so the Keri (Hebrew Margin) reads, God's bountifulness is contrasted with their apostasy (Deu 32:15). Prosperity, the gift of God, designed to lead men to Him, often produces the opposite effect. The Hebrew Chetib (text), reads: "I bound them (to Me) by oath," namely, in the marriage covenant, sealed at Sinai between God and Israel; in contrast to which stands the”
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