Wealthy People of the Bible: Learning From the Lives of Wealthy Biblical Characters

By Ola Aroyehun

Such characters of the Bible give insight into different facets and the use of wealth such as: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Joseph and his brothers; Lot, Job, Boaz, Abigail and Nabal, King David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Zacchaeus and Matthew; Joseph of Arimathea, the Roman Centurions, Lydia, Dorcas, Barnabas and Philemon. Answering common questions about wealth wraps up her book, giving keen insight into God's purpose of wealth and ending on comments from Solomon, the richest man on Earth to ever live.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Estayor Publishing
• Release date: Sep 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781912317387

Book preview

Christ.

PREFACE

This book was born of my own personal journey and search for truth on how to handle wealth as a Christian. We know verses such as give and it shall be given to you and bring the whole tithe into the storehouse of God. However, I wanted to know if there was more to the subject of biblical wealth. This book is the result of my study. It recounts the stories and principles we can learn from the lives of wealthy men and women in the scriptures with a view to understanding wealth from God’s perspective. Scripture has a lot more to tell us about wealth.

Also, there is much discussion among Christians about wealth and how we are to respond to it. It is a challenging topic on which almost everyone has an opinion. Many of us are fascinated by the stories and biographies of wealthy people, both throughout history and today. We study their lives, read all we can about how to be successful and eagerly look for the secret of their success.

When I set out to write this book, I decided to write about all the wealthy people I encountered in the scriptures, in the naïve assumption there weren’t many. I love stories and the bible is the world’s greatest storybook, so it is natural for me to study and write about great legends of the bible. This book recounts the stories of some biblical characters as they relate to wealth.

Initially, I decided to write a biographical account of their lives. However, as I started to research and write, I came across more people than I could possibly include and I felt that writing a biographical account could lose the focus on wealth. Consequently, this book discusses only the people who were commended for their wealth or who had a divine seal of acceptance.

The characters discussed in this book have been carefully chosen as biblical mentors with regard to godly wealth. Mentors, by definition, challenge us and make us aim higher. Sometimes we see ourselves in their stories. They give us insight into our own lives as we study their words and actions. Expect this book to challenge your belief system.

There is no attempt to hide the frailties of their lives or the mistakes they made, but there is a fresh perspective and understanding of the subject of wealth to be gained.

No two stories are the same. Background information has been presented to help study the character within historical context and not through the lenses of the 21st century. In retelling the stories, the book uncovers some useful insights.

The scriptures are written for our instruction and edification, so as we study the lives of these giants of faith, we will learn how to handle God’s wealth effectively.

The lives examined in this book challenge us to embrace the higher calling of being God’s financial stewards on the earth. This book is directed at all Christians whom God has blessed with wealth, regardless of whether you consider yourself rich by whatever standards. The characters all had varying amounts of wealth.

The foundation of a house needs to be strong so that whatever is built on it can stand. The same principles apply to money; when a proper foundation has been built in our lives, by the grace of God, when wealth comes our way, we will have a right perspective and see it as something useful to serve and fulfil God’s purpose on the earth.

Finally, this book will cause us to ask ourselves ‘Am I qualified to handle God’s wealth?’ Are there principles that show that we are breaking God’s laws, even if we pay our tithes and offerings regularly? It is my prayer that we will discover keys to God’s wealth through reading about the lives of His people. To be wealthy, you need to follow in the footsteps of the wealthy. This book reveals valuable lessons you can learn to duplicate the success of these biblical characters.

As you read and follow the principles, may you find yourself amongst those commended for handling wealth in a Godly way.

1

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

I grew up in an average income household. My grandfather had been a very rich man and his children had lived a privileged lifestyle until he died an untimely death. After that, his children, like many others, had to find their way through life. Growing up, I never heard my parents talk much about money. Whether or not that was deliberate, I couldn’t tell. They gave me what they had and I grew up content with whatever I had. I admired other children whose parents had money but can’t recollect ever being jealous of them.

When I became a Christian, I continued with the same contentment. I went through college and started working. Then one day, I arrived early in church and my mind strayed to all the great things I wanted to do for God. They all required one thing – money. I then wrote a letter to myself. I still remember the title of the letter – ‘why I can’t afford to be poor’. I knew that a change had to happen to my financial condition at the time.

On another occasion, as I began to meditate, my pen trying to keep up with my thoughts, I started to think about my views on wealth and its purpose. In the first instance, I thought that through hard work and God’s grace my business would make me wealthy. Secondly, when I had the money, I would do great things for God. After all, the church had so many projects it worked on, so many buildings still to be built or purchased and so many orphanages, and missions to be supported. Wealth generated by my business would give me the opportunity to achieve so much for God. The intentions seemed so noble.

Over the years, there has been much focus on giving and God giving back in return. Whilst this is true, I could not accept that this was the totality of the biblical principle of obtaining wealth. Discussions with others confirmed that they had similar views. The first question of how they intended to become wealthy elicited a myriad of responses, from building a business and having an investment portfolio, to buying and selling properties and saving. The response to the question of what they intended to do with the wealth revealed the individual aspirations and dreams that they had for God’s kingdom.

While all this has value, it is important to lay a biblical foundation for wealth, which requires a correct understanding of wealth and wealth creation.

The bible dictionary defines wealth as valuables of any sort: precious metals, gems, spices, clothing, herds, land and crops. It is also defined as prosperity, abundance of necessities, enabling an individual to take life easy and to enjoy luxuries such as fine clothing and expensive jewellery.

Few have taken the time to study for themselves what the scriptures say about wealth. Yet the word of God urges us in 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show yourself approved clearly unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth".

The more we study the word, the more we will be equipped for Godly living. We will come into a knowledge of the truth because the scriptures are alive and active (Hebrews 4:12) and work effectually in the lives of believers.

It is therefore important that we lay a foundation in our understanding of biblical wealth. Scripture says, "If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3).

Essentially wealth is having an abundance of possessions. So where does it come from?

God owns all wealth!

Any discussion must begin by acknowledging Him as the owner and source of wealth.

Yours, O Lord is the greatness,

The power and the glory,

The victory and the majesty;

For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours,

Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,

And you are exalted as head over all.

Both riches and honour come from you,

And you reign over all.

And in your hand is power and might;

In your hand it is to make great

And to give strength to all

(1 Chronicles 29:11-12).

"If I were hungry, I would not tell you;

For the world is Mine, and all its fullness"

(Psalm 50:12).

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein

(Psalm 24:1).

The starting point for any Christian is that God is wealthy, so He lacks absolutely nothing. If I give to the kingdom of God, it is because I have been privileged to do so; it is not that God needs me to give but simply that He has allowed me to be useful to Him. There is nothing that a man has that does not come from God anyway. I believe that God can do whatever He wants, with or without my wealth. So how does it transfer from God to us?

Kingdom first

Fundamentally, the biblical way to pursue wealth is to seek His kingdom first. The kingdom of God simply means the rule and reign of God on the earth. The main dimension of this kingdom is spiritual rather than secular. Jesus’ emphasis on the kingdom of God illustrates the temporal value of wealth and its pursuit. Clearly, it is not as important as things of eternal value, such as God’s kingdom and His righteousness. The message of the kingdom requires us to refocus our priorities in the light of eternity. The primary task of Jesus was to build God’s kingdom and it should be ours as well.

My wealth or the pursuit of it, even for the things of God, is not the most important thing. Matthew 6:33 says that we are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to us. We are encouraged to get wealth by seeking first the kingdom. Giving to the kingdom is the second part of the process. The scriptures do not say ‘seek first the wealth of God and you will be able to do great things for Him’. We are not encouraged to seek wealth first so we can spend it in the future. All the characters in this book had a kingdom mentality. They were passionate about the things of God. Acquiring wealth was not on their agenda. They in turn had God’s seal of approval and there is a lot we can learn from their lives.

Wealth is from God and He wants us to have it and steward it well. As Christians, we have a responsibility for the wealth that He has given us. However, getting and handling wealth can arise only out of a prioritisation of the kingdom of God. Though we are in the world, our values are not of the world and besides we are to set our eyes on things above. What use is wealth without an eternal perspective?

We can easily lose sight of the fact that as Christians we are called to supernatural living. Handling wealth and living supernaturally should be synonymous. Being salt and light means that we should apply biblical principles to wealth rather than applying wealth principles to the scriptures.

The only way to know what and how God feels about wealth and wealthy people is to study biblical men and women who have handled wealth in a Godly way. The aim of this book is to bring us back to Godly awareness and knowledge of wealth. So let’s start with the story of Abraham – how an urban dweller gets promised prime property.

COVENANT WEALTH

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children

(Proverbs 13:22)

2

ABRAHAM – HOW AN URBAN DWELLER WAS PROMISED PRIME PROPERTY

Significance: Son of Terah

Type of wealth: Livestock, gold, silver and wells

Scriptural reference: Genesis 11:26 – 25:8

Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold (Genesis 13:2).

The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys (Genesis 24:35).

Abraham is the first person in the bible associated with material wealth. Descended from Shem, son of Noah, his story began around 2100 BC in Ur of the Chaldees where Terah, his father, was an idol worshipper (Joshua 24:2).

His background

Abraham was born and grew up in Ur of the Chaldees in Mesopotamia. In ancient bible times, Ur was possibly the greatest city of the ancient world. It had been a thriving metropolitan city for at least 600 years before Abraham and Sarah were born there. Excavations show that it was enclosed by a thirty foot high wall, which encompassed two harbours as well as open squares and a giant ziggurat. Built of burnt and mud brick, the houses were comfortable and luxurious. Typically they were two storeys high with up to 14 rooms. Ur was a prosperous centre and had its share of herdsman and farmers as any city did. Archaeologists believe there were about 24,000 people living in the city of Ur during the time of Abraham.¹

The city was undoubtedly sophisticated. Tablets in the immense library at Ur revealed a vast knowledge and application of mathematical formulae. The library also boasted genealogical instruments, temple hymns and trade and diplomatic documents revealing a very well-educated society with outstanding scientific knowledge. There were also business records which showed that the people of Ur were involved in international trade.

By human standards, Abraham’s birthplace was culturally well advanced, but full of idolatry, for it was a centre for moon worship. The Chaldeans were known for astrology (Daniel 2:2) and the city was built by King Ur-Nammu for the worship of the moon-god Nanna.

The people of Ur lived in one of two main areas in the city: the sacred place, or the common district. The culture of ancient Ur was highly advanced, consequently, the common district was filled with marketplaces, schools and libraries. Many of the people were very wealthy with comfortable homes, lush gardens and many conveniences.

Dedicated to the worship of the moon-god, Nanna, the highly religious sacred place was strategically located and protected by strong walls. It was here that the Ziggurat was located, along with other great temples made of stone. It included a sacred area where people brought their gifts and offerings to Nanna. They would also bring their contributions and pay their taxes in this place, because they believed Nanna to be their protector². Some see Abraham as an urban socialite in this grand centre of civilisation and suggest that God’s call required a substantial change in lifestyle.

Genesis 12 records that it was Terah, Abraham’s father, who took the decision to leave Ur. Taking Abraham, Abraham’s wife Sarah and his grandson, Lot, he set out for Canaan. However, the bible records that when they came to Haran they settled and eventually Terah died there. It is clear from the New Testament that Abraham first received the call of God while he was in Ur. Acts 7:2 says,

The God of glory appeared to our father, Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him "Get out of your country and from your relatives and come to a land I will show you. Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran.

His journey to Canaan was interrupted by a long stay in Haran, centrally located along a trade route in the far north-western part of Mesopotamia (modern day Turkey). Haran was also known for moon worship. The people there worshipped Sin, another god of the moon. It is not clear how long Abraham stayed in Haran but it was long enough for him to accumulate possessions and acquire people (Genesis 12:5).

His journey to Canaan, as recorded in Genesis 12:4-9, took him along well-established trade routes. He passed through Shechem (Genesis 12:6), an ancient fortified city, situated near Mount Ebal and Mount Gerazim at the intersection of the major trade routes through Central Palestine. It was the first place in which Abraham built an altar to God.

By this time Abraham’s wealth had increased considerably more than when he left Haran. At this point he had to separate from his nephew Lot, as both men had accumulated so much wealth.

Abraham – the patriarch

Governance in Abraham’s time was patriarchal. There were no national boundaries and it was based on clan or tribal organisation. A patriarch is the male head of a tribe or family, the founder of a community. The word means chief father. The title bestowed on Abraham indicates that he had great organisational skills as the head of his people-group and was responsible for directing the next generation.

During patriarchal times, there was no ownership of land or permanent residence. Abraham and the other patriarchs lived a semi-nomadic life in tents, which allowed them to up and break camp at any time. Their wealth consisted of flocks, herds and people. In fact, the only official property, in the form of land, that Abraham owned was the cave he bought for Sarah’s burial.

While the patriarchs were not physically settled in one place, they were spiritually settled, having their hope in God. Their form of worship was to build an altar based on the revelation of Himself that God had given them in the place they received it.

Hebrews 11:9 gives some insight into the faith of the great biblical patriarchs, Abraham, his son Isaac and grandson, Jacob:

By faith he [Abraham] dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise, for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Acts of obedience

Abraham’s life was characterised by various acts of obedience. Faced with a number of tests of faith, on each occasion he proved himself obedient, after which God expanded His covenant with Abraham. These acts of obedience are the key to God’s favour and an example to us.

The first was when God told him to leave his country (Genesis 12:1) and "Abraham departed as the LORD told him to" (Genesis 12:4). This incident is recorded in the book of Hebrews as an act of faith. It was out of obedience that he left the security of his father’s house to go to a land that he would inherit because he knew his citizenship was reserved in a heavenly city built by God. Abraham believed God, and God’s power started working in his life through his unwavering faith. That faith opened the gate to God’s blessing in his life (Romans 4:18-22).

By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).

By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs together with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:9-10).

God Himself acknowledges Abraham’s obedience in Genesis 26:5 saying, …Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.

The height of Abraham’s obedience was evidenced when God allowed him to enact a scenario symbolic of Christ’s sacrificial death by offering up his covenant son, Isaac. God tested him to see whether he truly feared Him. By this stage, Abraham had graduated in faith and proceeded in unhesitating obedience to carry out God’s command. God was so moved by this act of obedience that He guaranteed His blessings to be upon Abraham and his descendants from then on, both physically and spiritually. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac reveals his faith and confidence in God and that he trusted God (Hebrews 11:17-19).

The offering of Isaac was another opportunity for God to re-confirm his blessing to Abraham:

…because you have not withheld your dearly loved child from me, I will surely bless you and cause your descendants to be as many as the stars in the heavens and as the seas upon the seashore. And I will bless all the nations of the earth through your descendants, because You have obeyed My voice (Genesis 22:17-18).

God stopped Abraham

Reviews for Wealthy People of the Bible

[Paul Chawagarira · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

the biblical truths, principles and partens all over in this book