ABC:Psalms 112

Verse 1
TheThinkingAtheist.com claims the Bible is wrong about the following passage, and makes the following comments:

Psalms 112:1 ¶ Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. Riches are good. Matthew 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Riches are a hindrance.

Ultimately the critic makes a very simple mistake in failing to distinguish between this life and the next. Psalms 112 in context is speaking of future rewards, eternal rewards, as evidenced by the phrase "righteousness endureth for ever" (which the 'ThinkingAtheist' dishonestly did not quote). Another verse in the chapter shows that this is referring to eternal riches, not in this life:

Psalms 112:6 ¶ Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

The Bible does say that riches in this life are deceitful and can deter people from the kingdom of God in which lies the true riches.

Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

A general principle of the Bible seems to be that those who have good things in this life will be appointed evil things in the next, and vice versa, though there are presumably exceptions (such as David). As a general rule it seems to be the evil who advance in wealth in this world, however.

Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Proverbs 13:7 ¶ There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. Psalms 73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. James 5:1 ¶ Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

It is ultimately not riches themselves that are evil, however, but the love of them, trusting in them, rather than in God and the eternal riches which He gives to the righteous.

1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Proverbs 11:28 ¶ He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Ultimately, neither great wealth or great poverty are to be desired in this life, Biblically.

Proverbs 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Proverbs 23:4 ¶ Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Proverbs 28:20 ¶ A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. 21 ¶ To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. 22 ¶ He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Riches, like wisdom, are a snare that leads to self-reliance rather than reliance upon God.

Jeremiah 9:23 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.