1 Samuel 2:7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. Proverbs 10:4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 13:7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. Proverbs 22:4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. Proverbs 28:8 He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
Free market capitalism produces long-term economic growth. Socialism by the state produce poverty and bureaucracy. If your goal is to keep poor people poor, generation after generation, you should promote socialism. Economic's chief purpose is to discover and refine just and loving means of creating, distributing, and consuming wealth to overcome poverty and to increase the material and spiritual prosperity of people. In a sin-filled world, economics—like all other activities of life in this world, cannot be perfect.
2 Timothy 2:6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
In the Old Testament, Joseph was a man of economic because he knew there will be bad days down the road and that Egypt must reserve wealth and food for the people. Economic is stewardship. Economic is a system rather than beliefs. All produce, commodities, and money are to follow just weights and measures as described in the Bible: Lev. 19:35-36; Ezek. 45:10-14.
A just weight and balance are of God's work. Prov. 16:11
Those who use unjust and deceitful weights are wicked. Mic. 6:10-11
You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and light. You shall not have in your house differing measures, large and a small. You shall have a perfect and just weight and measure. Deut. 25:13-15.
A false balance and diverse weights and measures are an abomination to the LORD; but a just weight is His delight. Prov. 11:1; Prov. 20:10, 23.
So therefore, Ecclesiastes 5:10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Stewardship means when you are wealthy, do not love your wealth but use your wealth as God wanted you. Proverbs 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Romans 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
