Is poor more holy than rich, or vice versa?

This is #5 in a series of blogs by PJ on Finances & Giving. This blog gives ask whether poor is more holy than rich, or visa versa?

Thanks to Mark Driscoll for most of the information in this blog – I got it from a sermon he preached on money. The Bible teaches that neither poor nor rich are holier than each other. It is clear from the following Scriptures that the issue is righteousness, not being rich or poor. You can be poor and righteous or poor and unrighteous. You can be rich and righteous or rich and unrighteous. Take a look.

Unrighteous Poor

Pr 10:4. Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Pr 14:23. All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Pr 13:25. The righteous eat to their hearts’ content; the stomach of the wicked goes hungry

Pr 28:19. He who works will have abundance, but he who chases fantasies will be poor

Pr 28:20. A faithful man will be richly blessed. One eager to get rich will not go unpunished

Pr 28:22. A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.

Righteous Poor

Some of the greatest heroes of the faith including Job and Paul had seasons in their lives where they were poor but still righteous. Sometimes people choose to be poorer to facilitate something greater. For example, you might choose to be a Teacher and Pastor, or some other profession that pays less but you do it because you feel called to that profession. Sometimes people choose to live in a poorer country to rather than a wealthy one for righteous rather than economic reasons. Other people choose to be poorer to avoid turmoil: Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil (Pr 15:16). Great wealth can bring turmoil that shipwrecks marriages, families and prevents us from pursuing active church membership.

Unrighteous Rich

Pr 16:8. Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice

Pr 28:16. Tyrannical rulers due to ill-gotten gain

Pr 11:16. Ruthless men gain wealth

Pr 28:22. Rich because of greed

Pr 28:8. Rich through exorbitant interest

Pr 23:4. Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.

Righteous Rich

Pr 10:22. The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

Pr 15:6. The righteous house contains treasure. The income of the wicked brings trouble.

Pr 11:24. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Pr 3:9-10. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

So, we conclude that the issue is righteousness, not rich or poor.