Bible verse about material things with explanations | NKJV PDF

This article identifies Bible verses about material things as recorded in the NKJV Bible. In this article, material things is taken to mean mammoth, possessions, riches, or wealth. Click the download button at the end of the post to get a PDF version of the article.

The following are Bible verses about material things as retrieved from the NKJV:

Deuteronomy 8:18

“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant, which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”

These were the words of Moses to the children of Israel as they journeyed to the Promised Land. He was reminding them that it is God who empowers people to acquire wealth.

Job 36:19

“Will your riches, or all the mighty forces, keep you from distress?”

These words were spoken by one of Job’s friends, Elihu. In this passage, he was emphasizing the fact that riches or any other material thing cannot deliver someone from distressing times in their lifetime.

Psalm 37:16

“A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked men.”

This psalm teaches that the riches or material possessions of a righteous person are better than the riches or possessions of many wicked people.

This is because righteous people use godly ways to acquire wealth, whereas the wicked use unorthodox means to accumulate wealth.

Psalm 39:6

“Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches and does not know who will gather them.”

In this scripture, the psalmist teaches that though we work very hard to accumulate wealth in our lifetime, when we die, we shall leave everything behind us.

To make matters worse, we never know who will inherit this wealth or how they will spend it, whether extravagantly or otherwise.

This implies that our lives’ goals should be more than just the accumulation of wealth or material things.

Psalm 49:6-7

“Those who trust in their wealth and boost in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem their brother nor give to God a ransom for him.”

This passage means that a rich person cannot use his wealth to deliver the soul of his brother from God’s judgment.

Psalm 52:7

“Here is the man who did not make God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his riches and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

This scripture refers us to a wicked person who, instead of seeking God, falsely trusts in his abilities, knowledge, skills, and wisdom to help him get things done. In other words, God does not appear anywhere in his plans.

Psalm 62:10

“Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”

This scripture cautions us against setting our hearts on riches when they increase. This is because riches or material things have an expiration date. This means that there comes a time when the same riches grow wings and fly away, leaving us worse off than before we had them (Proverbs 23:4–18).

Psalm 73:12

“Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches.”

According to this scripture, ungodly people seem to have favor when it comes to acquiring material things. However, the Bible is clear that at the end of it all, they get destroyed.

Psalm 112:3

“Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.”

According to this scripture, wealth and riches are found in the house of those who fear God and walk according to His commands.

Proverbs 8:18

“Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness.”

According to this scripture, when you have wisdom, you get enduring riches, among other material things.

Proverbs 8:21

“That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.”

According to this scripture, those who love wisdom inherit wealth.

Proverbs 10:15

“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty.”

This scripture teaches that the bargaining power of a rich man is his wealth. On the other hand, because the poor have nothing, they cannot be heard.

Proverbs 11:4

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

According to this scripture, the material things a person has cannot save him from destruction. However, when someone does the right thing, whether he is rich or poor, his righteousness will save him from death.

Proverbs 11:16

“A gracious woman retains honor, but ruthless men retain riches.”

According to this verse, ruthless or merciless men have the ability to retain wealth. In other words, if you want to succeed in acquiring wealth or material things, you must be a pitiless or merciless person in your pursuits.

Proverbs 11:28

“He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”

This scripture reminds us not to put our trust in riches or material wealth, as they cannot save us in the day of trouble.

Proverbs 13:8

“The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor do not hear rebuke.”

According to this scripture, your riches or wealth will speak for you, but when you are poor, you cannot even be reprimanded.

Proverbs 13:11

“Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he how gathers by labor will increase.”

This scripture encourages us to acquire wealth or material things in the right way; otherwise, we lose it all.

Proverbs 13:22

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”

This verse encourages us to do two things. Firstly, to work hard enough during our lives so as to leave an inheritance or material wealth to our children.

Secondly, the scripture teaches us that the riches or material things accumulated by sinners will eventually be transferred to those in right standing with God.

Proverbs 14:24

“The crown of the wise is their riches, but the foolishness of fools is folly.”

A crown is a symbol of authority and power. So, according to this verse, wise people are powerful because of their wealth or material things.

Proverbs 19:4

“Wealth makes many friends, but the poor are separated from their friends.”

This scripture teaches us that when you are endowed with material things, you will make many friends. This is because wealth attracts people. But when you are poor, even your friends will desert you.

Proverbs 22:1

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.”

According to this scripture, a person’s reputation is more important than wealth. In other words, it is better to be poor but have a good reputation or character than to be rich but have a questionable character.

Proverbs 22:4

“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor, and life.”

According to this scripture, the key to acquiring or accumulating wealth lies in the fear of the Lord and walking in humility. Job 28:28 defines the fear of the LORD as wisdom.

James 4:6-7 teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. When God’s grace is upon you, wealth creation becomes easy.

Proverbs 22:16

“He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.”

This scripture is a warning to those who shortchange their employees in order to make an extra coin. When you do this, the Bible teaches that no matter how much wealth or material things you accumulate, one day they will all be lost. Also, see Proverbs 13:11.

In addition, this scripture warns us not to give to those who are already rich, as this will make us poor!

Proverbs 23:5

“Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”

This scripture warns us to beware that riches are not eternal. Therefore, it encourages us to not only seek material things but also work on our spiritual wellbeing.

Proverbs 24:4

“By knowledge, the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

According to this verse, knowledge is the key to filling your house with material wealth.

Proverbs 27:24

“For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.”

This verse is yet another reminder that riches don’t last forever. Also see Proverbs 23:5 above.

Proverbs 28:22

“A man with an evil eye hastens after riches and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.”

This scripture is a warning to those who seek to acquire material wealth as quickly as they can. The Bible teaches that people with such intentions will actually get that wealth, but later on they will lose all of it.

Proverbs 29:3

“Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, but a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.”

This scripture teaches that when a wealthy person befriends prostitutes, they will consume all of his wealth, leaving him with nothing.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

“There is one alone, without companion; he has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But never asks, ‘For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good? This is also vanity and a grave misfortune.’”

This scripture advises us to enjoy the fruits of our labor whenever time allows. It encourages us to set aside adequate time for rest and the rejuvenation of strength lost while working.

Ecclesiastes 5:13-14

“There is a severe evil which I have seen under the son: riches kept for their owner to his hurt. But those riches perish through misfortune; when he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.”

This scripture teaches that though one may be diligent and accumulate a lot of material things, he may give rise to a lazy son, by whose hands all that wealth may be lost.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

“As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage, and to rejoice in his labor, this is the gift of God.”

This scripture teaches that the ability to enjoy one’s wealth is a God-given gift.

Ecclesiastes 6:2

“A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction.”

This scripture agrees with Ecclesiastes 5:19 by stating that it is God who grants a person the ability to enjoy his wealth.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

“I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.”

This scripture teaches that everyone has the chance of becoming wealthy if they play their cards right.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom; let not the mighty man glory in his might; nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the LORD.”

This scripture teaches that as much as we work to gain wealth, we should also invest adequate time in spiritual matters to better our relationship with God.

Jeremiah 15:13

“Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder without price, because of all your sins, throughout your territories.”

Jeremiah 17:11

“As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by right; it will leave him in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool.”

In this scripture, Prophet Jeremiah warns us against using unorthodox means to acquire wealth. If we don’t heed this instruction, the prophet teaches that such wealth won’t last for long.

Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters; for he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

In this passage, Jesus taught His disciples that if they truly wanted to serve God, they would have to forgo the pursuit of material things.

Mark 4:19

“And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

This passage teaches that the riches we accumulate have the ability to choke the word of God planted in our hearts, rendering it unfruitful.

Mark 10:23-24

“Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!’”

In this passage, Jesus teaches that wealthy people find it more difficult to trust God because of the abundance of their riches. In short, their wealth means much more to them than God.

1 Timothy 6:17

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

Here, the apostle Paul encourages us to hope in God, who is eternal, and not in riches that have an expiration date.

I hope this information was helpful. Thank you, and Shalom.

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