What are Spiritual Riches?

Two types of riches are mentioned in the scriptures—natural and spiritual riches. James 2:5 above talks about both categories in the same scripture. The poor of this world is in reference to natural poverty, meaning lacking financial resources. However, the “rich in faith” is in reference to spiritual riches. James was saying the financially poor of this world were those that were rich in faith.

What are spiritual riches?  It is easy to understand them if you consider what natural riches are. Today, we measure wealth essentially using money. All material resources have monetary value.  Natural riches or wealth have to do with the number of material possessions a person has.  Just as we have natural resources in the physical world, there are spiritual resources. They are naturally intangible but are spiritually real and palpable. 

The scripture above clearly calls faith spiritual wealth. A man can be poor or rich in faith. Other spiritual riches mentioned in scripture include love, joy, power, wisdom, etc. These are spiritual resources or virtues that dwell in the spirit. Though they are naturally not palpable, they are spiritually real and tangible. Hebrews 11:1 calls faith substance. The amount of spiritual virtues your spirit possesses is a measure of your spiritual wealth.  We celebrate financial billionaires on the earth right now, but heaven celebrates spiritual billionaires. Labor to build up spiritual wealth.