While the book of Proverbs encourages diligence and honestly earning wealth, it also has some warnings against putting one’s hope in untrustworthy riches.

First of all, it says that it is always insecure. If a man places his dependence on wealth, it will in due time fail him, and only in his imagination is it a sure defense. Proverbs 23:5 says, “Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”

The Bible says also that if it is obtained in any other way than by honest labor it is useless, even worse than useless. So, if it is obtained by falsehood, by tricks, by misrepresentations in business, for example, it is likely to be, according to the Bible, as a vapor driven to and fro. Wealth obtained that way will never rest until finally it makes its way into the hands of the righteous.

The Bible also says that there are certain spiritual and moral dangers in the pursuit of wealth and that one needs to pursue it with caution. Paul says the love of money is the root of all evil, and those that would hasten to be rich are going to indeed fall into a snare. And if that seeking of riches involves any deviation from the uprightness which God requires of us, then it is worse than death. Better is a little with righteousness than great treasure without it.