anything that is yours, in order that you may not say, ‘It was I who made Abram rich.’ Nothing for me!” (Gen. 14:22-24) When Job lost all his livestock and his children, he exclaimed: “Jehovah himself has given, and Jehovah himself has taken away. Let the name of Jehovah continue to be blessed.”—Job 1:21.

Abraham, Job and others showed that they could be trusted with riches. They were industrious and used their material possessions properly. Job, for example, was ever ready to help the poor and afflicted. (Job 29:12-16) In view of their right attitude, there was good reason for Jehovah God to protect his servants from being defrauded by selfish and greedy men.—Gen. 31:5-12; Job 1:10; Ps. 105:14.

ISRAEL, IF OBEDIENT, WAS TO BE A PROSPEROUS NATION

As in the case of the faithful patriarchs, the material prosperity of the Israelites depended upon their maintaining a proper relationship with Jehovah God. Moses strictly counseled them to remember that it was Jehovah their God who gave them power to make wealth. (Deut. 8:18) Yes, Jehovah was the One who gave an inheritance of land to that nation in covenant relationship with him. (Num. 34:2-12) He could also see to it that they received the rain in its season and did not experience loss through crop failures or invasions by enemy forces.—Lev. 26:4-7.

It was God’s purpose that Israel, if obedient, would be a prosperous nation. Said Moses: “Jehovah will open up to you his good storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain on your land in its season and to bless every deed of your hand; and you will certainly lend to many nations, while you yourself will not borrow. And Jehovah will indeed put you at the head and not at the tail; and you must come to be only on top, and you will not come to be on the bottom, because you keep obeying the commandments of Jehovah your God.” (Deut. 28:12, 13) The prosperity of the nation would have brought honor to Jehovah, constituting a powerful proof to surrounding nations that he was the “Enricher” (1 Sam. 2:7) of his people and that the Law he had given to them was beyond compare in securing the welfare of all concerned.

That Israel’s prosperity did move other peoples to glorify Jehovah is illustrated in the case of King Solomon. At the start of his kingship, he, when given the opportunity to request what he wanted from Jehovah, did not ask for great riches, but requested wisdom and knowledge to judge the nation. Jehovah granted Solomon his request and also gave him “wealth and riches and honor.” (2 Chron. 1:7-12; 9:22-27) As a result reports of Solomon’s wisdom and wealth came to be associated with the name of Jehovah. Having heard about Solomon in connection with Jehovah, the queen of Sheba, for instance, came from a distant land to see whether the reports about his wisdom and prosperity were true. (1 Ki. 10:1, 2) What she saw prompted her to acknowledge Jehovah’s love for Israel. She said: “True has the word proved to be that I heard in my own land about your matters and about your wisdom. And I did not put faith in the words until I had come that my own eyes might see; and, look! I had not been told the half. You have surpassed in wisdom and prosperity the things heard to which I listened. Happy are your men; happy are these servants of yours who are standing before you constantly, listening to your wisdom! May Jehovah your God come to be blessed, who has taken delight in you by putting you upon the throne of Israel; because Jehovah loves Israel to time indefinite, so that he appointed you as king to render judicial decision and righteousness.”—1 Ki. 10:6-9.

As a prosperous nation the Israelites were able to enjoy food and drink (1 Ki. 4:20; Eccl. 5:18, 19) and their riches served to protect them from the problems of poverty. (Prov. 10:15; Eccl. 7:12) However, although it was in harmony with Jehovah’s purpose that the Israelites enjoyed prosperity from their hard work (compare Proverbs 6:6-11; 20:13; 24:33, 34), he also saw to it that they were warned concerning the danger of forgetting him as the Source of their wealth and beginning to trust in their riches. (Deut. 8:7-17; Ps. 49:6-9; Prov. 11:4; 18:10, 11; Jer. 9:23, 24) They were reminded that riches were but temporary (Prov. 23:4, 5), could not be given to God as a ransom to deliver one from death (Ps. 49:6, 7) and were of no value to the dead. (Ps. 49:16, 17; Eccl. 5:15) They were shown that attaching undue importance to riches would lead to fraudulent practices and Jehovah’s disfavor. (Prov. 28:20; compare Jeremiah 5:26-28; 17:9-11.) They were also encouraged to “honor Jehovah with [their] valuable things.”—Prov. 3:9.

Of course, the prosperity of the nation did not mean that every individual was wealthy or that those who had little were necessarily under divine disapproval. Unforeseen occurrences might plunge individuals into poverty. (Eccl. 9:11, 12) Death could leave behind orphans and widows. Accidents and sickness could temporarily or permanently hinder a person from performing necessary work. Hence the Israelites were encouraged to be generous with their riches in giving aid to the poor and afflicted in their midst.—Lev. 25:35; Deut. 15:7, 8; Ps. 112:5, 9; Prov. 19:17; see GIFTS OF MERCY; POOR.

RICHES AMONG THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST JESUS

Unlike the patriarchs and the nation of Israel, the followers of Jesus Christ had the commission to “make disciples of people of all the nations.” (Matt. 28:19, 20) Fulfilling that commission required time and effort that might otherwise have been properly used in secular pursuits. Therefore, one who continued to cling to his wealth rather than unburdening himself in order to be able to use his time and resources to fulfill that commission could not be a disciple of Jesus, with the prospect of gaining life in the heavens. That is why the Son of God said: “How difficult a thing it will be for those having money to make their way into the kingdom of God! It is easier, in fact, for a camel to get through the eye of a sewing needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:24, 25) These words were prompted by the reaction of a rich young ruler upon being told by Jesus: “Sell all the things you have and distribute to poor people, and you will have treasure in the heavens; and come be my follower.” (Luke 18:22, 23) That rich young ruler was under obligation to help needy fellow Israelites. (Prov. 14:21; 28:27; Isa. 58:6, 7; Ezek. 18:7-9) But his unwillingness to use his wealth to assist others and thereby to free himself to be a follower of Jesus Christ blocked his gaining entrance into the kingdom of the heavens.

Christ’s followers, however, were not to reduce themselves to a state of poverty and then depend upon others for support. Rather, they were to work hard so as to be able to care for their families and also have “something to distribute to someone in need.” (Eph. 4:28; 1 Thess. 4:10-12; 2 Thess. 3:10-12; 1 Tim. 5:8) They were to be content with sustenance and covering, not striving to become rich. Any who made material pursuits of prime concern were in danger of becoming involved in dishonest practices and losing their faith because of neglecting spiritual things. This did happen to some, as shown by Paul’s words to Timothy: “Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.”—1 Tim. 6:9, 10.

Of course, what Jesus said to the rich young ruler does not mean that a Christian cannot have riches. In the first century C.E., for instance, wealthy Christians were associated with the congregation at Ephesus. The apostle Paul did not instruct Timothy to advise these rich brothers specifically to divest themselves of all material things, but wrote: “Give orders to those who are rich in the present system of things not to be high-minded, and to rest their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who furnishes us all things richly for our enjoyment; to work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be liberal, ready to share, safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, in order that they may get a firm hold on the real life.” (1 Tim. 6:17-19) Thus these wealthy Christians had to watch their attitude, keeping riches in their proper place and using them generously to aid others.

MAMMON

The original-language term ma·mo·nasʹ (or, its anglicized form “mammon”) is generally understood to denote money or riches. (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:9, 11, 13; compare AS, AV, NW.) There is no evidence that the expression was ever the name of a specific deity. Jesus used the term when showing that a person cannot be a slave to God and to riches. (Matt. 6:24) He urged his hearers: “Make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous riches, so that, when such fail, they may receive you into the everlasting dwelling places.” (Luke 16:9) Since the possession or desire for material riches can lead to lawless acts, they may for this reason have been designated as “unrighteous riches,” in contrast with the spiritual riches. Also, material riches, particularly money, actually belong to and are under the control of “Caesar,” who issues money and assigns a particular value to it. Such riches are transitory, being subject to economic conditions, and the possession of such is liable to loss due to circumstances. Hence, one having such riches should not put his trust in them, nor use them as the world in general does for selfish purposes, such as the amassing of still greater wealth. (1 Cor. 7:31) Rather, he should be alert and diligent to make friends of the possessors of the everlasting dwelling places.

The possessors of “the everlasting dwelling places” are Jehovah God and his Son Christ Jesus. (Compare John 6:37-40, 44.) Persons who do not use their “unrighteous riches” in a proper way (as in assisting those in need and in furthering the “good news” [Gal. 2:10; Phil. 4:15]) could never be friends of God and of his Son Christ Jesus. Their unfaithfulness in the use of unrighteous riches would show that they are unfit to be entrusted with spiritual riches. (Luke 16:10-12) Such persons could never be fine stewards of God’s undeserved kindness, dispensing spiritual riches to others.—1 Pet. 4:10, 11.

RIDDLE

A saying that is puzzling. Riddles are contrasted with plain speech that can be readily understood. (Num. 12:8) The word is sometimes used as an expression parallel to proverbial saying, because a riddle may well be a statement that is full of meaning but set out in obscure language. (Ps. 49:4) The same Hebrew word that is rendered “riddles” is also, in a different context, translated “perplexing questions.” (2 Chron. 9:1) Formulating a riddle, which often involves an obscure but accurate analogy, requires a keen mind, and solving such a riddle calls for ability to see things in relation to one another; so the Bible refers to riddles as the product of wise persons and as something that can be fathomed by a man of understanding.—Prov. 1:5, 6.

The Bible itself contains riddles involving Jehovah’s purposes. (Ps. 78:2-4) They are statements that may at first perplex the reader; they may be intentionally obscure, employing meaningful comparisons that were not meant to be understood by persons at the time they were first written. For example, in Zechariah 3:8 Jehovah refers prophetically to “my servant Sprout,” but he does not there explain that this one is a sprout or offspring of the royal line of David; that actually such one is God’s own Son then in the heavens who would be born to a virgin descendant of King David. And Revelation 13:18 says the “number of the wild beast” is said to be “six hundred and sixty-six,” but it does not there explain the significance of that number.

At times riddles were used, not to mystify the ones who heard them, but apparently to arouse interest and to make the message conveyed more vivid. Such was the case with the riddle of the two eagles and the vine, propounded to the house of Israel by the prophet Ezekiel. (Ezek. 17:1-8) Immediately after he had presented the riddle, Ezekiel was instructed by Jehovah to ask the people if they understood it and then to explain it to them.

Some riddles were set forth for men to guess, and often in verse, as was the case with the one Samson propounded to the Philistines. (Judg. 14:12-18) He deliberately employed comparisons that would not be readily perceived when he said: “Out of the eater something to eat came forth, and out of the strong something sweet came forth.” His riddle was based on an experience he personally had had shortly before this when he scraped honey out of the carcass of a lion, where it had been deposited by a swarm of bees.—Judg. 14:8, 9.

RIDICULE

The act of belittling or exposing to contempt, derision or mockery. There are a number of Hebrew and Greek words that express varying degrees of ridicule, the choice of word depending on circumstances. We therefore read in the Bible of persons that mock, deride, sneer, scoff, jeer, laugh at or make fun of others.

Ridiculers, particularly those who scoff at the principles and counsel of God’s Word, are spoken of in the Bible as detestable. (Prov. 24:9) If such do not accept reproof they will experience disaster. (Prov. 1:22-27) And, how despicable are those who deride the poor, or their own parents! (Prov. 17:5; 30:17) Ridiculers often refuse to listen to rebuke (Prov. 13:1) and do not love those reproving them. (Prov. 9:7, 8; 15:12) Nevertheless, they should be disciplined for the benefit of others. (Prov. 9:12; 19:25, 29; 21:11) Instead of keeping company with such unholy ones it is better to drive them away; much happier are those who refuse to sit with ungodly ridiculers.—Ps. 1:1; Prov. 22:10.

RIDICULE AGAINST GOD’S SERVANTS

Unjustified ridicule of every sort is suffered by faithful servants of Jehovah. Job was falsely accused of deriding others (Job 11:3), whereas, in reality, he was the one derided, mocked and made a laughingstock for his course of integrity. (Job 12:4; 17:2; 21:3) David was derided and mocked. (Ps. 22:7; 35:16) Likewise, Elisha (2 Ki. 2:23), Nehemiah and those associated with him (Neh. 2:19; 4:1), and many others “received their trial by mockings.” (Heb. 11:36) When King Hezekiah of Judah sent runners throughout cities of Ephraim and Manasseh, urging them to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover, many individuals mocked and derided the messengers. (2 Chron. 30:1, 10) This, in fact, was the way apostates of both houses of Israel treated God’s prophets and messengers until the rage of Jehovah swept them all away.—2 Chron. 36:15, 16.

Jesus and his disciples ridiculed

As God’s Servant and Prophet, Jesus Christ was sneered at, laughed at, made fun of, treated insolently, even spit upon, during his ministry on earth. (Mark 5:40; Luke 16:14; 18:32) The Jewish priests and rulers were especially hateful in their derision. (Matt. 27:41; Mark 15:29-31; Luke 23:11, 35) The Roman soldiers joined in the mockery when he was delivered up to them.—Matt. 27:27-31; Mark 15:20; Luke 22:63; 23:36.

The disciples of Jesus Christ were likewise mocked by the uninformed and by unbelievers. (Acts 2:13; 17:32) The apostle Paul, speaking of the derision suffered by his fellow disciples at the hands of the Jews, points back to the prophetic picture of ancient times, wherein Isaac, at the age of about five years, was derided