The Hidden Pattern Behind Every Major Wealth Transfer
For years, I have had a handful of people in my life reciting Proverbs 13:22, “the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous,” while they seemed to just be standing back and waiting for the check to come.
Almost as if it were a promise to win the lottery or something.
Like many, they assumed this meant God would supernaturally transfer money from non-believers’ bank accounts into believers’ accounts. Or maybe wicked people would suddenly feel compelled to give their stuff away to Christians.
Something about that always felt a little “off” to me, but I didn’t fully understand what this Biblical wealth transfer was all about, so who was I to criticize?
And, if I am being honest, sure I would love to win the wealth transfer lottery too – so why not!
But then I encountered Author Craig Hill’s perspective, which was a completely different way of understanding Pro 13:22, and this transfer from the wicked to the righteous.
The Revelation That Changed Everything
In chapter 5 of Craig’s book The 5 Wealth Secrets he uses an allegory to provide an explanation of this often misunderstood concept.
Hill began his study searching Scripture for biblical definitions of “righteous” and “wicked”, specifically relating to money.
First he found Psalm 37:21:
“The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.”
And the Hebrew word for ‘righteous’ in this verse is the same word that is used in Proverbs 13:22:
“the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous”
And this single verse completely reframes the wealth transfer equation:
Because now you could interpret Proverbs 13:22 like this:
The wealth of (the wicked) those who borrow and don’t repay will be transferred to (the righteous) those who are gracious and give.
Here’s what’s fascinating: in this context, “righteous” and “wicked” aren’t about spiritual standing or salvation.
They’re specifically describing financial behavior.
So it appears that this isn’t about believers vs. non-believers.
It’s about:
- Those who borrow excessively vs. those who maintain margin
- Those who can’t repay vs. those who can be generous
- The financially stretched vs. the financially prudent
Now let’s look at ‘meekness’
Matthew 5:5 tells us:
“blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”
People often confuse meekness and humility, but they are not the same thing. Craig describes it like this:
“humility is an attitude, while meekness is an action.”
He goes on to say:
“I further learned, from the Vines Bible Dictionary, that meekness is a fruit of power. That dictionary states that Jesus was meek, not because He was impotent, but rather because He voluntarily limited Himself to use only a small percentage of available power.”
Therefore you could define meekness like this:
“meekness is voluntarily limiting the use of available resources or power. A meek person is one who has great power or resources, but voluntarily limits oneself to use only a percentage of it.”
And if that’s true then…
Meekness and debt are opposites
Debt is using MORE than the resources you have available to you and meekness is intentionally using LESS than you have available.
Hill points out that during the Great Depression, people who were deep in debt lost their homes, farms, and businesses when they couldn’t make payments.
Meanwhile, those who had maintained financial margin – as we just defined as “the meek” – were able to purchase these same assets at bank auctions for huge discounts.
So we can see how Matthew 5:5 played out:
The meek literally inherited the earth in this wealth transfer.
The meek (those who maintain margin and can be generous) end up inheriting assets during economic resets.
Meanwhile, those who are stretched thin with debt end up losing their assets.
And this same pattern has repeated throughout history:
- During economic crises in Europe over many centuries
- In America during the mid-1800s
- Throughout the Great Depression
- And many believe we’re approaching another such reset
What This Means For Us
This revelation fundamentally changed how I view financial preparation.
It’s not about hoarding or taking advantage of others’ misfortune.
Instead, it’s about:
- Maintaining enough margin to be generous in all seasons
- Avoiding the trap of excessive debt
- Being positioned to help others during difficult times
This explanation argues that this wealth transfer isn’t about spiritual status – it’s about financial positioning.
And the biblical pattern shows that those who maintain margin while practicing generosity aren’t just doing what’s morally right – they’re doing what’s economically wise.
This Should Change How We Handle Money Today
When I discovered this perspective, it transformed how I view financial stewardship.
It’s not just about having money or not having money – it’s about positioning ourselves to be a blessing, especially during difficult times.
Every generation faces its economic challenges.
The question isn’t if these times will come, but how we’ll be positioned when they do.
Will we be:
- Stretched thin with debt or maintaining margin?
- Forced to sell assets or able to help others?
- Part of the problem or part of God’s solution?
God Doesn’t Want Us Waiting For A Financial Miracle – He Wants Us Preparing To Be One
This understanding of Proverbs 13:22 isn’t about passively waiting for wealth to drop in our laps.
It’s about actively positioning ourselves to be channels of God’s provision when others need it most.
Think about Joseph in Egypt.
God didn’t just supernaturally transfer Pharaoh’s wealth to him.
Instead, He gave Joseph wisdom to prepare during seven years of plenty so he could help during seven years of famine.
The Real Wealth Transfer Might Be Simpler Than We Thought
Maybe the wealth transfer isn’t some mysterious future event.
Maybe it’s just the natural outcome of following God’s financial principles:
What if the greatest opportunity isn’t in waiting for a transfer of wealth, but in positioning ourselves to be part of God’s solution when others need it most?
Your friend and coach,
