Pillar
Saving
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up (Proverbs 21:20, KJV).
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise (Proverbs 21:20, KJV). The ant provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8, KJV). A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children (Proverbs 13:22, KJV).
Key passages: Proverbs 21:20 · Proverbs 6:6-8 · Genesis 41:34-36 · Luke 14:28-30
What does the Bible say about saving money?
The Bible states that there is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spendeth it up (Proverbs 21:20, KJV). It points to the ant, which provideth her meat in the summer and gathereth her food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8, KJV), and to Joseph, who laid up corn in the seven plenteous years against the famine (Genesis 41:34-36, KJV). It also states that a good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children (Proverbs 13:22, KJV), and it records the rich man who laid up treasure for himself and was not rich toward God (Luke 12:21, KJV).
The Ant and the Harvest
6 # Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
— Proverbs 6:6-8 (KJV)
The ant provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8, KJV).
He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
— Proverbs 10:5 (KJV)
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
— Proverbs 20:4 (KJV)
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
— Proverbs 30:24-25 (KJV)
Treasure in the Dwelling of the Wise
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
— Proverbs 21:20 (KJV)
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up (Proverbs 21:20, KJV).
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
— Proverbs 13:11 (KJV)
The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
— Proverbs 12:27 (KJV)
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
— Proverbs 21:17 (KJV)
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
— Proverbs 23:20-21 (KJV)
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
— Proverbs 31:16 (KJV)
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
— Proverbs 24:3-4 (KJV)
Storehouses and Barns
34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
— Genesis 41:34-36 (KJV)
Joseph gathered the food of the seven plenteous years and laid it up against the famine (Genesis 41:34-36, KJV).
47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
— Genesis 41:47-49 (KJV)
53 # And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
— Genesis 41:53-57 (KJV)
And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
— Genesis 6:21 (KJV)
The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
— Deuteronomy 28:8 (KJV)
That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
— Psalms 144:13 (KJV)
27 # And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.
29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.
— 2 Chronicles 32:27-29 (KJV)
Counting the Cost
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
— Luke 14:28-30 (KJV)
Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost (Luke 14:28, KJV).
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
— Proverbs 24:27 (KJV)
23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
— Proverbs 27:23-27 (KJV)
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
— Proverbs 22:3 (KJV)
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
— Proverbs 27:12 (KJV)
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
— Ecclesiastes 11:2 (KJV)
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
— Ecclesiastes 11:6 (KJV)
An Inheritance for Children's Children
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
— Proverbs 13:22 (KJV)
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children (Proverbs 13:22, KJV).
Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
— 2 Corinthians 12:14 (KJV)
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
— Proverbs 19:14 (KJV)
1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
— Psalms 112:1-3 (KJV)
The Limits of Hoarding
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
— Luke 12:15-21 (KJV)
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:21, KJV).
13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
— Ecclesiastes 5:13-15 (KJV)
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
— James 5:1-3 (KJV)
He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
— Proverbs 11:26 (KJV)
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
— Psalms 39:6 (KJV)
16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
— Job 27:16-17 (KJV)
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
— Ecclesiastes 2:26 (KJV)
Questions answered with Scripture
What is in the dwelling of the wise, according to the Bible?
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
— Proverbs 21:20 (KJV)
What creature does the Bible point to for gathering in harvest?
# Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
— Proverbs 6:6-8 (KJV)
What does a good man leave to his children's children?
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
— Proverbs 13:22 (KJV)
What did Jesus say about counting the cost?
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
— Luke 14:28 (KJV)
What did Joseph do with food in the years of plenty?
Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
— Genesis 41:34-36 (KJV)
What did Jesus say of the man who laid up treasure for himself?
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
— Luke 12:21 (KJV)
Related pillars
Inheritance
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children (Proverbs 13:22, KJV).
Proverbs 13:22 · Proverbs 19:14
Work & Diligence
The hand of the diligent maketh rich (Proverbs 10:4, KJV).
Proverbs 10:4 · Proverbs 21:5
Debt
The borrower is servant to the lender (Proverbs 22:7, KJV).
Proverbs 22:7 · Romans 13:8