Many wealthy people in the Bible prosper because of their wickedness, not righteousness. The story of the people of Israel confirms this assessment. Therefore, a strong connection between righteousness and wealth is difficult to make. But the unique covenantal arrangements between God and Israel prevent us from generalizing and saying that God must materially reward his faithful people in other nations or eras. Wealth can be a sign of God’s blessing, even if it is not always related to an individual’s or a nation’s obedience. Biblical scholar Craig Blomberg notes that in the Old Testament, And there is little doubt that their experience of abundance was tied in some way to their faithfulness to God. They include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Boaz, Job, David and Solomon. “ makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).Īdvocates of the health-and-wealth gospel often note that in the Old Testament, many of the characters we most revere were wealthy. Neither is poverty an indication of God’s punishment. But in the Bible, wealth is no indication of God’s favor. Some churches preach what may be called a “health and wealth gospel,” claiming that God always rewards his people with prosperity in this world. Learning From the Psalms How to Pray Through Your Work.Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership.Evangelism - Sharing the Gospel at Work.10 Key Points About Work in the Bible That Every Christian Should Know.

Blessing of the old god