Wealthy People in the New Testament
Topic : -Most of Jesus’ followers were not wealthy, but a few notable ones, like Joseph of Arimathea (v. 57), were. We can learn a great deal from the wealthy people recorded in the New Testament, about the dangers and the disciplines of money.
Person | What They Did With Their Wealth | Lessons to Be Learned |
| Zacchaeus the tax collector (Luke 19:110) | Before faith, cheated citizens and abused the poor. After faith, repented and made restitution. | (1) Ill gotten gain must be repaid. (2) God saves and changes us—all the way down to our pocketbooks. |
| Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:56-61; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-53) | Pre-paid his own funeral Sonated his tomb for the burial of Jesus | (3) Forsaking treasures on earth for the kingdom will be rewarded |
| Women supporters of Christ (Luke 8:3; 23:55-24:10; Mark 15:40; 16:1) | Supported Jesus’ work Assisted in His burial (probably donated expensive perfume). | (4) Generosity characterizes those who follow Jesus. |
| Roman centurion who believed. (Matt. 8:5-13; Luke 7:5) | Showed kindness toward the Jews. Paid for the building of a synagogue. Showed compassion for his ill servant. | (5) When we love people it shows in the things we do and the projects we support. |
| Rich young ruler (Matt. 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 | Unwilling to part with his wealth when tested by Jesus | (6) Those who cling to wealth have difficulty getting into the kingdom. (7) Righteousness cannot be earned, but must be received as a gift. (8) “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” |
| Philemon (Philemon 1) | Owned slaves and other property. Forgave a runaway slave, both morally and financially. | |
| Joseph, called Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37) | Sold land and gave the proceeds to believers. | (10) Partnership in the Gospel may mean putting your money where believers hurt. |
| Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) | Sold land and tried to deceive the church about the proceeds to gain a reputation | (11) God is not fooled by gracious appearances but sees the heart and acts accordingly. |
| Rich Christians written about by James (James 2) | Exploited the tendency of some to cater to them because of their wealth. Dragged other believers into court and slandered Jesus’ name. | (12) God favors those who are rich in faith; they will inherit the kingdom. |
| Lydia (Acts 16:13-15, 40) | Hosted the first church in Europe in her home. | (13) We should use our resources and homes to accomplish God’s purposes. |
| Cornelius the Centurion (Acts 10:1-48) | Generous to the poor. Sought out Peter concerning the faith. | (14) Fear of God should prompt us to admit our own need for a Savior. |
| The Ethiopian Treasurer (Acts 8:26-40 | Nurtured his belief in God by traveling to Jerusalem. Invited Philip to explain more about the faith. | (15) Stewardship of money and study of Scriptures go hand in hand—as do business trips and worship services. |
| Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25) | Longed for spiritual power and thought it could be bought and sold. | (16) The gifts of God cannot be bought. |
Your checkbook is a diary of your values. God calls believers to be compassionate, merciful, and just to all. Does your checkbook reflect such values? Does it show a pattern of godly concern for people'
