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From Millionaire to Poor Man: What We Can Learn From Job's Attitude Toward Money

Writer's picture: Sophia ColemanSophia Coleman

Updated: Nov 2, 2024

Imagine if you had everything: a million-dollar summerhouse with a pool and private beach, hired workers to do all your chores, designer clothes and shoes, and enough money to go on a first-class world cruise every year! Then imagine if you lost all your money, your house(s), and possessions, plus getting diagnosed with a very painful skin problem. This is what Job had to go through.


job is devastated after learning he has lost everything
Job Learns that He Has Lost Everything - from Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org

Job's Story

Job lived thousands of years ago, probably in the time of Abraham, and he was rich-in fact, so rich that he was the greatest man in the east. He had a big family, a good reputation, lots of friends, and 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pairs of oxen, 500 donkeys, and many servants. In this situation he could have been very prideful, greedy, and rebellious toward God. But he wasn't-the bible says Job was blameless, upright, and feared God. Satan saw Job's righteousness and gained permission from God to test him by destroying Job's family, possessions, and health. Did Job fear God only because everything was going his way? When he lost everything, would he curse God? All in one day, Job lost his livestock, children, and many of his servants. Devastated, he tried to figure out why God had let this happen. He would not curse God, however, and in the end God gave him back twice as much as he had before.

job playing with his children while his restored flocks graze in green fields
God Restores the Fortunes of Job - from Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org

What We Can Learn From Job's Attitude Toward Money

We can find out Job's attitude toward money from Job chapter 31, where Job defends his righteousness to his friends, who think his suffering is a judgement from God.


1. Job recognised that everything he had was from God.

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job 1:21, ESV


2. Job was generous because of his awe of God.

“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow), if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering, if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate, then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty."

Job 31:16–23, ESV


3. Although it was hard for Job to lose everything (and fair enough), he did not put his trust in riches and possessions.

“If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much...this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above."

Job 31:24–25, 28, ESV


Also, Job proved that you do not have to be proud, greedy, or materialistic when you have plenty of money and possessions - although these sins are often harder to avoid the more you have. What can you learn from Job's attitude toward money?


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Let's Laugh:

Q. What do you call a shoe thief?

A. Sneaker!






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