Jesus did not forbid financial wealth. Instead He warned about...

Idolizing Money

You cannot be a slave of two masters; you will hate one and love the other; you will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

This is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body.

After all, isn't life worth more than food?
And isn't the body worth more than clothes?

Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren't you worth much more than birds? Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?

And why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow: they do not work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers. It is God who clothes the wild grass --- grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won't he be all the more sure to clothe you?

What little faith you have! So do not start worrying: "Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes?" (These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things.

Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.

-- Jesus - Matthew 6:24-34 (GNT)

True Wealth

What did we bring into the world?

Nothing!

What can we take out of the world?

Nothing!

-- 1 Timothy 6:7 (GNT)

If you die today, what wealth can you take with you?

Righteousness with God

Unlike money, righteousness with God endures forever.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!

His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

-- Psalm 112:1-3 (ESV)

God maintains the righteous

Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.

But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

-- Psalm 37:16-20 (ESV)

Good people will have wealth to leave to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners will go to the righteous. -- Proverbs 13:22 (GNT)

God protects the righteous

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

-- Psalm 37:23-25 (ESV)

The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked. -- Proverbs 10:3 (GNT)

Righteous people keep their wealth, but the wicked lose theirs when hard times come. -- Proverbs 15:6 (GNT)

The LORD is like a strong tower, where the righteous can go and be safe. -- Proverbs 18:10

Wisdom

It is better --- much better --- to have wisdom and knowledge than gold and silver. -- Proverbs 16:16 (GNT)

If you know what you are talking about, you have something more valuable than gold or jewels. -- Proverbs 20:15 (GNT)

Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense --- these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell. -- Proverbs 23:23 (GNT)

Benefits of Wisdom

Happy is anyone who becomes wise --- who comes to have understanding. There is more profit in it than there is in silver; it is worth more to you than gold. Wisdom is more valuable than jewels; nothing you could want can compare with it. Wisdom offers you

• long life,
• as well as wealth and
• honor. -- Proverbs 3:13-16 (GNT)

To those with insight, it is all clear; to the well-informed, it is all plain. Choose my instruction instead of silver; choose knowledge rather than the finest gold. "I am Wisdom, I am better than jewels; nothing you want can compare with me. I am Wisdom, and I have insight; I have knowledge and sound judgment. To honor the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and false words. I make plans and carry them out. I have understanding, and I am strong. I help kings to govern and rulers to make good laws. Every ruler on earth governs with my help, officials and nobles alike. I love those who love me; whoever looks for me can find me. I have riches and honor to give, prosperity and success. What you get from me is better than the finest gold, better than the purest silver. I walk the way of righteousness; I follow the paths of justice, giving wealth to those who love me, filling their houses with treasures." -- Proverbs 8:9-21 (GNT)

If you appreciate wisdom, your parents will be proud of you. -- Proverbs 29:3 (GNT)

Family

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” -- Luke 18:29 (ESV)

Wife

How hard it is to find a capable wife! She is worth far more than jewels! Her husband puts his confidence in her, and he will never be poor. -- Proverbs 31:10-11 (GNT)

However, in contrast...

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion. -- Proverbs 11:22 (ESV)

Children

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. -- Psalm 127:3-5