Wealthy People in the New Testament 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 … “Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all,” notes Proverbs 22:2. They grind vulnerable people into dust, and they are the enemies of all that is good and holy. The Bible does not condemn wealth and neither should we. By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future. 2 Corinthians 8:9 | View whole chapter | See verse in context For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. In some parts of the Bible, rich people are portrayed as the worst kind of criminals. 1. Psalms 45:12 | View whole chapter | See verse in context And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. We can know that the presence or absence of money is not the way we measure God’s blessing. Tell them to hope in God, not in their uncertain riches. One of the Bible’s most famous rags to riches stories, Joseph was a rich kid who was sold by his brothers into slavery. Then he ended up in jail and then, well, he became the second most powerful person in the ancient world’s most powerful country, Egypt. Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share. God richly gives us everything to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich with things of this world not to be proud. Among these Christians are: Joseph, called Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37) Dorcas (Acts 9:36) Cornelius (Acts 10:1) Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:6-12) Lydia (Acts 16:14-15) Jason (Acts 17:5-9) Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:2-3) Mnason of Cyprus (Acts 21:16) Philemon (Philemon 1) The Bible does not uphold poverty as the pathway to righteousness, nor should we.