Money Matters

 

Money is one of those taboo topics in the church that we don’t like to talk about. The problem is that money touches every part of our lives. We earn it, spend it, save it, worry about it, and sometimes even fight over it. And since money is such a central part of human life, it’s no surprise that the Bible has a lot to say about it. The thing is, though, the way Scripture talks about money challenges the way our culture tells us to think about money. So, let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says, and you can determine for yourself where you need to change your thinking. 

1. Money Is Not Evil. . . But Loving It Is

One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible is 1 Timothy 6:10. Many people say, “Money is the root of all evil.” That’s not what it says. Paul actually writes:

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

Money itself is neutral; it’s simply a tool. But when our hearts begin to crave it, worship it, or put our trust in it above God, it becomes dangerous. That is where all kinds of evil spring forward in our lives; after we replace our love of God with our love of money. So, how important is money to you? Where does it fall in your list of loves? Remember, the money itself is not evil, it is our view of it that makes it evil. 

2. God Owns It All

Psalm 24:1 tells us:

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

This means every dollar in our bank account and every possession we own ultimately belongs to God. We are not the owners but stewards or managers of what He has given to us. This should change the way we think about spending, saving, and giving. If it all belongs to God anyway, then our view should be to use it in ways that honor God and give Him glory! 

3. Money Can Become an Idol

Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:24:

“You cannot serve both God and money.”

Money can easily compete with God for our devotion. If our identity, security, or happiness depends on the size of our paycheck or the balance in our savings account, then we’ve allowed money to take God’s rightful place in our lives. This is easy to do in our modern culture where so much of our lives are consumed and touched by money, but we always have to remember where our heart truly lies and who we truly worship and serve. 

4. Contentment Is More Valuable Than Wealth

The Bible consistently teaches that real peace doesn’t come from wealth, but from contentment. Hebrews 13:5 says:

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.”

The apostle Paul echoed this in Philippians 4:11–12, saying he learned to be content whether he had plenty or little. True security doesn’t come from a padded bank account, it comes from trusting God. This is particularly difficult to remember, especially when times are tight and money is scarce and when needs are high, but I’d much rather place my bets on the God of the Universe who loves and cares for His children than some paycheck or workplace that doesn’t. It’s better that we be content with what God has given us and place our trust in Him than to seek that happiness in wealth or the workplace. 

5. Work Hard, but Work Honestly

Money should be earned with integrity. Proverbs 13:11 warns:

“Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”

Work is a God-given gift. The Bible even says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” Work isn’t just about making a living, though. It’s about honoring God through diligence and honesty. When our true goal is to honor God and bring Him glory, then everything else tends to have a way of working itself out. Our goal in working shouldn’t be to stockpile money and build a fortune, but to be a reflection of Jesus Christ in our workplace so that others may see the gospel in us! God will take care of the rest!

6. Use Money to Bless Others

One of the clearest teachings of Scripture is that we are called to generosity. Proverbs 19:17 says:

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.”

The New Testament reinforces this: “God loves a cheerful giver,” Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:7. Generosity isn’t about how much you give, it’s about the heart behind it. The key is being a “cheerful” giver, not a begrudging or non-committed giver. We should genuinely want to use the ways God has blessed us to bless others because that most vividly reflects His giving character. We look most like our Father when we do what He does, and He is the very definition of generosity. Just look at the cross! 

7. Earthly Riches Don’t Last

At the end of the day, we can’t take money with us. Ecclesiastes 5:15 puts it bluntly:

“As everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.”

Jesus calls us to focus on eternal treasure rather than worldly wealth:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–20).

Our bank accounts will one day be emptied, but the investments we make in God’s kingdom will last forever. Better to be rich in heaven for eternity than to be wealthy and comfortable for a few decades on this sinful earth anyway, am I right? We have to have that perspective in order to honor God with our money. 

Final Thoughts

The Bible doesn’t say money is bad; it says money is a test. It reveals where our trust lies, what we value most, and whether we will use what God gives us to serve ourselves or to serve Him. The question is not, “Do I have money?” but rather, “Does money have me?” When we see money as a tool instead of a treasure, we can live with freedom, contentment, and generosity, trusting that God is the one who provides all we need.