7 Biblical Reasons For Poverty

There are many reasons for poverty in someone's life. Some reasons are out of the person's control (i.e., born in a third world country or stem from systemic influence causing certain ethnic groups' inability to find adequate paying jobs; however, that is not the focus here.There is such a thing as self-imposed poverty. What I mean is that many people are experiencing poverty in their lives as a result of their own choices and foolish behavior. There are many Scriptures in the Bible to prove this.Here are seven reasons, along with supporting Scriptures, which clearly show that poverty can be self-inflicted:

1. Laziness. The Bible associates laziness with poverty and diligence (hard work) with riches. Remember: riches are much more than just money.

Proverbs 6:9, 11 - "How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep - So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man."

Proverbs 10:4 - "He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich."

Proverbs 13: 4 - The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent makes rich."

2. Foolishness, drunkenness, wastefulness.

Proverbs 23:21 - "For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags."

Proverbs 28:19 - "He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough." When one tills his land it indicates hard work, which leads to a promised reward. On the other hand, frivolity (overindulgence in fun) can lead to poverty.

3. Pride.

Proverbs 17:5 and Proverbs 21:13 - "He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;" "Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, will also cry himself and not be heard."

4. Hiding sin.

Proverbs 28:13 - "He who covers his sins will not prosper but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."

5. The love of money. This is probably the most misused verse in the Bible pertaining to money. People as claimed that "money is the root of evil" but that is not what the Bible states. It is the love of money over all else that God considers to be a root of all kinds of evil.

1 Timothy 6:10 - "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, from which some have strayed from faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

6. Stinginess/Selfishness. Stinginess may lead to poverty. Generosity has just the opposite effect. Selfishness is foolishness in the eyes of God because it dishonors Him and creates enemies.

Proverbs 11: 24, 25 - "There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right but it leads to poverty."

7. Fear.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 - "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap."

If we are experiencing poverty in our lives, it would be wise to examine ourselves and see if any these things the Bible tells us leads to poverty are in our lives and get rid of it