Getting Rich The Bible Way (7 Simple Keys)

Getting rich the Bible way is possible. It’s also much easier than most people think. God is not against believers generating wealth. He is the One Who gives us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18).

The majority of what is taught about getting rich the Bible way is rubbish. One group has created a faith-based Ponzi scheme. They’ve ruined thousands of lives, families, marriages, and churches with lies and greed. On the other side of the aisle, wealth has been vilified in error. In a rush to fight off the Prosperity Gospel, they’ve destroyed all efforts to improve financially.

One group strains gnats and swallows camels. The other denies the existence of the narrow road. Thankfully, God doesn’t give up on us in our ignorance.

Here are 7 Keys To Getting Rich The Bible Way: hard work, vision, philosophy, wisdom, humility, planning, and patience. This article highlights each of these keys.

Key #1 Getting Rich The Bible Way — Diligence

Proverbs 14:23 (NASB) In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.

God designed the universe in six days and rested on the seventh day. Moses wrote that we were to work six days (Exodus 20:8-10). Not five days and certainly not four days. Secular society continues to press back against hard work. The church often follows suit. Successful people do more than is required.

Jesus worked extremely hard. He was once so exhausted that He slept through a major storm while on a boat. Jesus often worked all day and prayed through the night. He then would begin the process again the next day.

If you want to increase your salary, begin with your work ethic. Hard work may be out of style on social media but employers, customers, and God still love it.

Key #2 Getting Rich The Bible Way — Vision

Hebrews 11:7 (NIV) By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Noah accomplished one of the greatest faith feats in history. He saw the invisible and did the seemingly impossible.

Do you ever ask God to help you see the invisible? Or do you blindly follow the crowd and live like a hamster on a wheel?

Many people whine and cry about life but refuse to take decisive action. They want to be rich but want it to be pain-free, easy, and without criticism.

How much ridicule do you think Noah endured? I’m sure it was a daily event. Yet, he moved with Godly fear and instantly obeyed.

Has God inspired you to step out in faith? If you’re looking for the accolades of the masses, you’re going to be disappointed.

I have a grad school classmate who runs an international business. He humbly began that business with a machine tool lathe that was purchased at a Goodwill store. He saw something that no one else could see and acted upon it.

Farmers see the harvest before it’s a reality.

What glimpse has God given you?

Key #3 Getting Rich The Bible Way — Philosophy

Colossians 2:8 (NASB) See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.

Our philosophy shapes our finances.

My grandfather was fully persuaded that politicians in DC could keep him down. He worked hard, was honorable, and generous but could never break free financially. Why? He had an unhealthy philosophy. He was one step away from being a full-fledged victim.

Every person in life has been victimized. Being a victim, however, is a choice. Many people choose to be victims and often embrace victimhood. Blaming other people for our mistakes might feel good at the moment, but it’s never wise.

Victims never get ahead financially. They scoff, point fingers, complain, murmur, and allow negative thoughts to permeate their minds.

Life is tough. God uses challenging situations and circumstances to teach and disciple us. We need to learn how to overcome life’s challenges.

Sharpen your philosophy.

Spend time uncovering Bible verses that promote financial growth. I suggest the following verses:

• Genesis 26:12-14
• Deuteronomy 8:18
• Isaiah 48:17
• Proverbs 8 (yes, the whole chapter)

Key #4 Getting Rich The Bible Way — Wisdom

Wisdom is in short supply. A massive amount of knowledge is just a click away but wisdom is rare — especially in modern times.

Proverbs 8:18 (ESV) Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

Solomon explains in Proverbs 8 that riches and enduring wealth are packaged with wisdom. Since wisdom is rare, how does one obtain it?

James invited us to ask for wisdom. He said that God gives it without finding fault. He won’t act like Fred G. Sanford and call you a “dummy” for asking.

James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Solomon indicated that when we befriend the wise we will become wise.

Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

You are who you hang around. Birds of a feather flock together. There are many similar sayings but for some reason, these often are ignored. Breaking free from a pack of mediocrity is difficult. Plus, who can instantly find wise people who willingly share their wisdom?

Wisdom, just like knowledge is also just a click away. There are podcasts, YouTube channels, and blogs that cover every conceivable niche. If you spend fifteen minutes per day listening to a wise person you will gain tremendous wisdom over a year.

A Proverb A Day Keeps Poverty Away

I fully recommend reading a Proverb per day to gain wisdom. There are thirty-one Proverbs. Read one per day and you will get through most Proverbs twelve times in a year. Take it one step further and begin to act upon the Proverbs. Put into action what is being learned and your finances will improve dramatically.

Here’s a great article titled 44 Proverbs That Will Rock Your World.

Key #5 Getting Rich The Bible Way — Humility

Proverbs 22:4 (ESV) The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

True humility, according to C.S. Lewis, is not thinking of less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.

False humility is a non-starter when it comes to financial prowess. Simps and weaklings will embrace it and the wise will see right through it. False humility is repulsive and true humility is endearing.

The Bible indicates that Moses was the most humble man on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3). Yet, he also stood face to face with the most powerful man on the earth. He stood before the Red Sea with just a staff and watched it split in half.

Moses, in most situations, depended on God. He understood that the power working in and through him was a gift from the Almighty for a specific purpose.

Will we live in that manner? Is it possible for us to humble ourselves and admit that we don’t have all of the answers? Life is complex and problems seem to be getting knottier. When we proceed without consulting God in prayer we’re being overly presumptive.

Do you have a work or business problem that seems to be unsolvable? Have you Googled, asked your friends, and even consulted an old textbook but nothing worked? May I suggest going to the One Who created it all?

Colossians 3:12 (NIV) Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Key #6 Getting Rich The Bible Way — Planning

Proverbs 21:5 (NIV) The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Diligence and planning work together. Both are needed to ensure profitability.

Companies with a strong track record plan well. They create sales budgets and expense budgets. Planning influences their behavior. Families should act similarly.

Budgeting inspired me to increase my salary. One day I completed a budget and wondered how things would be if I could somehow get a 10% pay raise. I put the “new salary” in the topline and everything seemed much easier financially. Then, I began to plan how to get that new salary.

Fail to Plan or Plan to Fail

That is essentially a family “sales” budget. Willingly staying in the same place for a measly 2-3% raise annually is not savvy stewardship. I invite you to develop a salary plan. How can you increase your salary by double digits? Stop blaming the company, the economy, and the President.

When I began doing this my salary tripled in less than ten years.

Plan your spending. Yes, it’s a budget but you are the one who plans it. You control the budget the budget does not control you.

How can you trim expenses? Devise a plan to reduce overall spending by 10% this year. It’s possible.

Are you on track for retirement? How much do you need when you turn 65? Are you executing or are you a victim?

The plans of the diligent lead to profit.

Key #7 Getting Rich The Bible Way — Patience

Patience is more than a sunny disposition while waiting in line at the DMV. It’s the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb to trials.

Financial adversity is inevitable. Getting rich the Bible way will be challenging. You will encounter tough circumstances and trials. What will you do when it happens? Many people give up because they have undeveloped patience.

Patience is developed through tough situations. One does not grow patience muscles by reading a book or listening to a podcast. There will be pain, agony, and a struggle involved in producing patience.

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

In the liquidity crisis, we “lost” about 40% of our retirement fund. That’s a massive financial haircut. I know many people who exited the market at that time. They permanently locked in their losses when they sold. We remained patient. Plus, we began buying stocks that were beat up and theoretically on sale.

Those losses have recovered. New stock was purchased at a discount.

Patience had its perfect work.

The Purpose of Getting Rich

Riches and wealth come to us so we can make friends in high places (Luke 16:9). Jesus set an example of radical, fearless generosity that we all should imitate.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Those in the prosperity gospel have misinterpreted this verse. When scripture is isolated and taken out of context that is common. Paul was provoking the Corinthians to give as lavishly as the Macedonians. Essentially, Paul was saying that Jesus impoverished Himself, relatively speaking, by practicing fearless generosity. Then he invited the Corinthians to do the same.

How about you? Will you get rich so that you can buy a luxury automobile, take an exotic vacation, and live like someone else? Or will you follow the example of Christ?

I dare you to profit!

PS – tithing is often brought up but it’s often misunderstood. Here’s a link to The Ultimate Guide To Tithing for your edification and inspiration. Enjoy!!