The rich have friends, the poor have none
All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them. Proverbs 19:7 (ESV)
The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. Proverbs 14:20 (ESV)
Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. Proverbs 19:4 (ESV)
A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. Proverbs 18:16 (ESV)
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:7 (ESV)
Wealth is power
The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. Proverbs 18:23 (ESV)
The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. Proverbs 13:23 (ESV)
There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind. Proverbs 30:14 (ESV)
The rich man is secure, the poor man is insecure
A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. Proverbs 10:15 (ESV)
A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. Proverbs 18:11 (ESV)
Wealth can mean having higher standards
One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet. Proverbs 27:7 (ESV)
But sometimes it’s good to be poor!
The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. Proverbs 13:8 (ESV)
Wealth is God’s blessing to the wise and he punishes the foolish with poverty
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20 (ESV)
“Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”Proverbs 1:29-33 (ESV)
The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Proverbs 10:3 (ESV)
Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. Proverbs 8:18 (ESV)
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22 (ESV)
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. Proverbs 21:20 (ESV)
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3-4 (ESV)
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. Proverbs 14:24 (ESV)
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. Proverbs 17:2 (ESV)
Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance. Proverbs 28:10 (ESV)
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4 (ESV)
But… sin also leads to wealth
A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. Proverbs 11:16 (ESV)
Wealth may be good and a gift from God; but it has it limits
a. It cannot avert judgment
He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts. Proverbs 6:35 (ESV)
b. It has less value than righteousness
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. Proverbs 28:6 (ESV)
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:19 (ESV)
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Proverbs 19:1 (ESV)
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. Proverbs 15:16-17 (ESV)
Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. Proverbs 17:1 (ESV)
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. Proverbs 16:8 (ESV)
c. Wisdom can make you rich, but wealth cannot make you wise
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out. Proverbs 28:11 (ESV)
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? Proverbs 17:16 (ESV)
d. It doesn’t help your relationship with God
The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all. Proverbs 22:2 (ESV)
The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the Lord gives light to the eyes of both. Proverbs 29:13-14 (ESV)
e. Wealth is transient
for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? Proverbs 27:24 (ESV)
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28 (ESV)
f. A Good name is better than wealth
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1 (ESV)
g. Riches do not save from judgement
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4 (ESV)
Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 10:2 (ESV)
h. A good wife is better
House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. Proverbs 19:4 (ESV)
i. Wisdom is better
How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Proverbs 16:16 (ESV)
j. The wisdom of the wise is better
There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Proverbs 20:15 (ESV)
h. In fact, the benefits of wisdom are greater than wealth
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.Proverbs 3:13-18 (ESV)
Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. Proverbs 8:10-21 (ESV)
There are certain wise and godly things to do with your money. There are also very wicked things to do with your money. Both have their results.
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; Proverbs 3:9 (ESV)
a. Generosity and stinginess
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Proverbs 11:24 (ESV)
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. Proverbs 11:25-26 (ESV)
Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. Proverbs 19:6 (ESV)
Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. Proverbs 25:14 (ESV)
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Proverbs 14:21 (ESV)
Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words. Proverbs 23:6-8 (ESV)
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17 (ESV)
Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. Proverbs 28:27 (ESV)
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Proverbs 22:9 (ESV)
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17 (ESV)
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Proverbs 14:21 (ESV)
A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. Proverbs 28:22 (ESV)
She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20 (ESV)
b. Bribery
A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath. Proverbs 21:14 (ESV)
The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. Proverbs 17:23 (ESV)
Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. Proverbs 15:27 (ESV)
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. Proverbs 17:8 (ESV)
The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. Proverbs 17:23 (ESV)
A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath. Proverbs 21:14 (ESV)
c. Oppression of the poor
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate. Proverbs 22:22 (ESV)
A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. Proverbs 28:3 (ESV)
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. Proverbs 14:31 (ESV)
A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge. Proverbs 29:7 (ESV)
d. Usery
Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor. Proverbs 28:8 (ESV)
Appearances
Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread. Proverbs 12:9 (ESV)
One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. Proverbs 13:7-8 (ESV)
Contentment is the lesson to learn
A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. Proverbs 28:25 (ESV)
Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9 (ESV)
Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. Proverbs 23:4 (ESV)