What does the Bible say about money?
The Bible contains more teaching on money and possessions than on almost any other topic. Scripture neither condemns money as evil nor endorses the pursuit of wealth as a goal, instead, it calls for faithful stewardship, generosity, and freedom from the love of money.
Key Verses
8
supporting KJV passages
How to use this page
Read the full explanation, then explore each verse with its context. The FAQs at the bottom answer the most common follow-up questions.
Summary Answer
The Bible contains more teaching on money and possessions than on almost any other topic. Scripture neither condemns money as evil nor endorses the pursuit of wealth as a goal, instead, it calls for faithful stewardship, generosity, and freedom from the love of money.
What does the Bible say about money?
Money is one of the most frequently addressed topics in Jesus's teaching. He spoke about money in roughly one-third of His parables, not because money itself is bad, but because He understood its enormous power over the human heart.
The Bible's foundational statement on money is often misquoted. 1 Timothy 6:10 says: "the love of money is the root of all evil", not money itself but the love of it. Money is morally neutral; what matters is our relationship to it. When money becomes a rival god, something we trust, serve, and arrange our lives around, it has become an idol. Jesus warns starkly: "No man can serve two masters... Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24).
The Old Testament includes wealth among God's blessings. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Solomon, and Job were all wealthy men whose riches were treated as evidence of God's favour in specific circumstances. Proverbs 10:22 says: "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." But wealth in the Old Testament always came with responsibility, to the poor, to the widow, to the foreigner. The law built care for the poor into the agricultural and economic system (Leviticus 19:9-10).
The New Testament raises the stakes. Jesus tells a rich young ruler to sell all and give to the poor, not because possessions are wrong, but because this man's wealth had become his functional god (Luke 18:18-23). The parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) shows a man whose entire vision of the future was shaped by financial accumulation with no thought of God. In contrast, Zacchaeus, upon encountering Jesus, gives half his goods to the poor and restores fourfold to those he had defrauded, and Jesus pronounces salvation on his household (Luke 19:9).
The consistent biblical call is for generosity. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says "God loveth a cheerful giver." Proverbs 11:24-25 says "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat." Giving is not merely a financial transaction, it is a spiritual act that reflects and produces freedom from the grip of money.
The Bible also promises that God is a reliable provider for those who seek first His kingdom. Matthew 6:33: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." This is not a prosperity-gospel formula, it is a call to reorder priorities, trusting that the God who feeds the birds of the air will provide for His children.
Supporting Bible Verses
Key KJV passages that speak directly to what the Bible says about money.
1 Timothy 6:10
“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.”
Context
The love of money, not money itself, is identified as a root of all kinds of evil, capable of pulling people away from faith and into sorrow.
Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Context
Jesus presents money as a rival master, the question is not how much we have but who or what actually governs our decisions.
Proverbs 11:24-25
“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”
Context
The counterintuitive biblical economy: generous giving leads to increase, while hoarding leads to lack, a principle repeated throughout Proverbs.
2 Corinthians 9:7
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Context
God's concern is with the heart behind the gift, cheerful, intentional generosity is what He delights in, not reluctant obligation.
Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Context
Contentment is grounded in God's promised presence, we can be satisfied with what we have when we know the One who will never leave us.
Matthew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Context
The right priority for the Christian: God's kingdom first, with the promise that God will add what is needed to those who put Him first.
Proverbs 22:7
“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
Context
Proverbs' observation about debt, borrowing creates a relationship of servitude that constrains freedom, a practical wisdom caution.
Luke 12:15
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
Context
Jesus directly challenges the assumption that more possessions equal a better life, our real life is found in something money cannot buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is money evil according to the Bible?
No. 1 Timothy 6:10 says the love of money is the root of all evil, not money itself. The Bible acknowledges wealth as a reality, sometimes as a blessing, and calls for faithful stewardship rather than either accumulation or rejection of money.
What does the Bible say about wealth and prosperity?
The Bible is balanced: it presents wealth as sometimes a blessing (Proverbs 10:22; Deuteronomy 8:18) while consistently warning against its spiritual dangers (Luke 18:24-25; 1 Timothy 6:6-10). The prosperity gospel that treats wealth as proof of God's favour is not supported by the full counsel of Scripture.
What does the Bible say about giving and generosity?
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 calls for cheerful, intentional giving with the assurance that God multiplies what is given. Proverbs 11:24-25 teaches that the generous soul increases. Luke 21:1-4 shows Jesus honouring the widow who gave all she had, generosity is measured by sacrifice, not amount.
What does the Bible say about debt?
Proverbs 22:7 warns that "the borrower is servant to the lender." Romans 13:8 encourages "owe no man any thing, but to love one another." The Bible does not absolutely forbid debt but consistently cautions against it as something that limits freedom and creates obligation.
How should a Christian think about money?
As a steward rather than an owner (Luke 16:10-12, God is the true owner; we are managers). With generosity as a priority (2 Corinthians 9:7). With contentment in what God has provided (Philippians 4:11-12; Hebrews 13:5). And with money in its proper place, always subordinate to God and people.