How do you measure wealth?
Is it by the balance in your bank account, the value of your home, or the size of your pension pot? These are the measures our society readily offers us—but Scripture invites us to look deeper.
Psalm 112 declares, “Blessed are those who fear the Lord… Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures for ever.” Likewise, Proverbs 22:4 reminds us that “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honour and life.” At first glance, these verses may seem to promise material prosperity. Yet the Bible consistently widens our understanding of what “wealth” truly means.
Value and wealth are not the same. Value is what we cherish most—health, relationships, wisdom, faith. Wealth, by contrast, is the accumulated store of assets that can be measured and exchanged. Wealth can support what we value, but it cannot replace it. Over time, what we value most shapes the kind of wealth we seek.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, riches (osher) are often seen as signs of God’s blessing—but not merely as coins or currency. Wealth is pictured in harvests, livestock, family, peace, and the ability to live well before God and neighbour. Material abundance is recognised as a gift, yet it is always temporary. True and lasting riches are found in righteousness, wisdom, and the fear of the Lord.
There is a further clue hidden in language itself. The word wealth comes from the Old English weal, meaning welfare or well-being. At its root, wealth is about living well—flourishing in body, mind, and spirit, under God’s care.
Illustration:
Imagine two people with identical savings. One lives anxiously, guarding every penny. The other lives generously, grateful and at peace. The numbers are the same—but the wealth is not.
Challenge:
This week, ask yourself: What am I truly rich in? And just as importantly: What am I investing in—things that pass, or things that endure?
Prayer:
Gracious God,
Teach us to measure wealth by Your standards.
Free us from trusting only in what can be counted,
and help us treasure what truly lasts—faith, love, wisdom, and generosity.
May our lives reflect the riches of knowing You.
Amen.
