Is There Anywhere That the Scriptures Says That We Should Be Poor?
1) Direct Answer
No. The Bible does not command all believers to be poor. It commands us to be content, free from the love of money, generous, and willing to suffer loss for Christ if needed.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Balance, not a vow of poverty: “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me” (Proverbs 30:8–9).
- Contentment over covetousness: “Godliness with contentment is great gain… For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:6–10).
- Instruction to the rich—not to become poor, but to be humble and generous: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded… that they do good, be rich in good works, ready to distribute” (1 Timothy 6:17–19).
- True priority: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth… but lay up… in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–21); “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).
- Grace to abound and supply: “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye… may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
- Work to have to give: “Let him that stole steal no more… rather let him labour… that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28).
- Learn to abound and to be abased: “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound” (Philippians 4:12–13).
- Godly men with means: Abraham was very rich (Genesis 13:2); Job was blessed with great substance (Job 1:3; 42:12); Joseph of Arimathaea was a rich disciple (Matthew 27:57). The early saints shared freely (Acts 2:44–45; 4:32–35), not by a universal command to take a vow of poverty.
- Jesus’ call exposes idols, not a blanket rule: the rich young ruler was told to sell all because riches had his heart (Mark 10:21–22). Zacchaeus, when converted, gave half to the poor and restored fourfold, and Jesus said, “Salvation is come to this house” (Luke 19:8–9). The issue was repentance and restitution, not mandatory destitution.
- Jesus’ own path: “The Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). That shows His chosen suffering, not a law requiring every believer to be penniless.
- Also, Scripture blesses well-being in right order: “That thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2). Soul first; other things follow as God wills.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- If God required universal poverty, why does Scripture address “the rich in this present world” and tell them how to use wealth righteously instead of commanding them to become poor (1 Timothy 6:17–19)?
- If riches proved God’s favor, why did Paul often hunger and suffer lack (1 Corinthians 4:11; Philippians 4:12)? You see, neither poverty nor wealth proves spirituality; obedience does.
- The Bible’s command is not “be poor,” but “don’t love money,” “be content,” “be generous,” and “seek the Kingdom first.” God may entrust little or much; our duty is faithfulness.
Short Reinforcing Statement
You see, money is a tool; Christ is the Treasure. We are not called to chase riches, nor to glorify lack—but to walk holy, content, generous, and ready to suffer for His Name if He so appoints.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
We would see Jesus
58-0612 §15
If the Scripture says He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then He must be the same, or the Scripture is wrong. And if the Scripture is wrong, where are we at, and what condition is the whole world in tonight? And remember Jesus said, "The Scriptures cannot be broken." That come from the mouth of Christ, the Son of God. The Scriptures cannot be broken. And if the Scripture says He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He has to be the same, or the Scriptures are wrong. Now, let's just bring God to His...
Sirs, be of a good cheer
54-0721 §6
So, just that simple little faith is what many theologians doesn't have---men who know... Scholarships has been given to them from the Scriptures, and, yet, with not that much faith as that poor little simple housewife had. That's what it takes to stop God though. Many couldn't stop Him in the day, but blind Bartimaeus at the gate, blind, beggar, poor, sitting at the gateside; his faith stopped the Lord Jesus right on His march to Calvary, and got what he asked for.
The mark of the beast
56-0715 §71
And now, Lord, give us faith to operate this power. We see when You give the disciples power and told them to raise the dead, heal the sick, and cast out evil spirits. We find that they were defeated. And they said to You, "Why couldn't we do it after You give us the power?" You said, "Because of your unbelief." God, take away my unbelief and the unbelief of this audience. And I approach Thee, Lord, as if I were dying. And I stand in the breach here this morning, between the living and dead. And I ask Thee, dear Go...
Blind Bartimaeus
57-0301 §46
What are you thinking, little Spanish man, sitting out there with that asthma, sitting on the end of the seat? You believe that Jesus Christ makes you well? Well, you're healed then. Amen. Now, the man is thirty or forty feet from me, but let me ask you something, and you listen to the man. The man was sitting there was, in his heart, saying, "I believe that that's the truth." He was witnessing that this was the truth, and believing that God would heal him. Isn't that right, sir? The little Span... Raise your hand....
Questions and Answers
59-1223 §4
And then, you could bring even the subject through. But, if it didn't coincide with the rest of it in there, the rest of the Scripture, then it would be wrong anyhow. If you brought it anywhere, it's got to fit with all the rest of the Scriptures, you see. And all Scripture will fit together if it's rightly put together. It's just like a big jigsaw puzzle. And I don't mean... If I'm saying wrong, then God forgive me. The Scripture is something likened unto a jigsaw puzzle, see. It's all broke up and just mixed up i...