We suffer when we lose material things. Many times in our lives, we encounter situations where we lose things that we love a lot. If we live by God’s grace and faith, we can easily accept these losses.
Material things are temporary, and they can never give us true happiness. The Lord makes us aware through His Word that our true wealth is not in earthly possessions but in divine blessings, which are eternal. This helps us to recognize our true wealth and guide us to live our lives that way.
In the life of Job, we see that when he was tested by God, he lost his wealth, children, and even his health. He suffered a lot but never cursed God. He said that the Lord gave me everything, and the Lord took it all away. From this, we see what attitude we should have towards God when we face worldly losses.
In another incident, we see that a rich young man once asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor. Then the young man went away sad because he had many possessions. This story teaches us that excessive worldly wealth is a danger to our eternal life. Worldly wealth prevents us from following God’s will.
So, should we not accept worldly wealth? In this regard, Jesus tells us to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. If we do this, God will provide all our needs. This will allow us to be completely dependent on God and not grieve over worldly losses.
Now let’s look at the following Bible verses that talk about losing material things.
Matthew 13:22 : —
“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; the care of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, he becometh unfruitful”
Matthew 16:26 : —
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Matthew 19:21 : —
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go sell that thou hast, give to the poor, thou shalt have treasure in heaven: come follow me”
Matthew 6:19-21 : —
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth rust doth corrupt, where thieves break through stealBut lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, where thieves do not break through nor stealFor where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”
Matthew 6:24 : —
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, love the other; or else he will hold to the one, despise the other. Ye cannot serve God mammon”
Matthew 6:33 : —
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, his righteousness; all these things shall be added unto you”
Luke 12:15 : —
“He said unto them, Take heed, beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth”
Luke 12:33-34 : —
“Sell that ye have, give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corruptethFor where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”
Luke 16:13 : —
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, love the other; or else he will hold to the one, despise the other. Ye cannot serve God mammon”
Luke 9:25 : —
“For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, lose himself, or be cast away?”
Proverbs 11:4 : —
“Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death”
Proverbs 23:4-5 : —
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdomWilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven”
Proverbs 28:20 : —
“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent”
Hebrews 13:5 : —
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 : —
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity”
Mark 8:36 : —
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, lose his own soul?”
Philippians 4:11-13 : —
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be contentI know both how to be abased, I know how to abound: every where in all things I am instructed both to be full to be hungry, both to abound to suffer needI can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”
James 5:1-3 : —
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep howl for your miseries that shall come upon youYour riches are corrupted, your garments are motheatenYour gold silver is cankered; the rust of them shall be a witness against you, shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days”
Psalm 49:16-17 : —
“Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increasedFor when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him”
Colossians 3:2 : —
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”
Acts 20:35 : —
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive”