What Does the Bible Say About Money? #21
The Bible treats money as a good gift that becomes dangerous when it captures the heart, warning that it is not money itself but the love of money that is 'a root of all kinds of evils.' Jesus teaches plainly that no one can serve both God and money, since divided loyalty at that level is not possible, and he repeatedly calls his followers to store up treasure in heaven rather than on earth, where it decays and can be stolen. Paul instructs the wealthy to put their hope in God rather than in their riches and to be generous, using what they have for good.
Money touches nearly every decision of daily life, and the Bible speaks about it more often than almost any other practical subject, because how a person handles money reveals where their trust actually lies. Understanding the Bible’s teaching on money matters because Scripture treats the subject not as neutral but as a genuine spiritual battleground for the human heart.
What the Bible Teaches
Paul warns Timothy that “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10) — the danger lies not in money itself, which Scripture nowhere condemns, but in the craving that displaces God. Jesus makes the stakes unmistakable: “You cannot serve God and money,” and he redirects his followers’ ambitions toward treasure that lasts, since earthly wealth is subject to “moth and rust” and theft, while heavenly treasure is secure (Matthew 6:19-24). Paul instructs those who are rich in this present age “not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God,” and to be “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). The wisdom writer’s prayer in Proverbs 30:8-9 captures the biblical balance well, asking for neither poverty nor riches, “lest I be full and deny you… or lest I be poor and steal.”
Living It Out
A biblical approach to money means holding it with an open hand — using it to provide for one’s household, to be generous toward others, and to advance good in the world, while refusing to let it become the measure of security or worth. It requires regularly examining the heart’s actual attachments, since Jesus’s warning about serving two masters exposes divided loyalty long before outward behavior does. Practically, this looks like contentment in both scarcity and abundance, honest work, wise stewardship, and generosity that flows from trust in God’s provision rather than anxiety about the future.
Key References
- 1 Timothy 6:10
- Matthew 6:19-24
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19
- Proverbs 30:8-9