There are two things conventional wisdom says to never talk about at the family dinner table: religion and money. However, the Bible is full of insights and practical wisdom about both! In fact, there are 2,350 verses about money in the Bible, and Jesus preached 11 parables about wealth. Why, then, are so many Christians uncomfortable talking about money?

The Bible makes it plain: money is not the root of all evil, but loving money is. There is a profound difference there. At the end of the day, money is just a tool that keeps us from having to trade in order to buy things. Like a hammer, money can be used to help or hurt. How we use our money reflects the nature of our hearts.

What is the Love of Money?

The love of money involves valuing, pursuing, and trusting money more than God and/or the wellbeing of other people. Jesus referred to the love of money as a Spirit of Mammon and plainly said you cannot be devoted to both mammon and God at the same time.

Your relationship with money might be veering into love if:

• You let a paycheck direct your decisions rather than God
• Money makes you anxious and fearful
• You’ve become obsessive about building wealth
• You’ve cheated, lied, or stolen to acquire wealth 
• You feel stingy 
• You don’t pay your tithes or offerings
• You pursue security and comfort over God’s plans and purposes for your life

There are several Bible verses about the love of money. As we grow in financial stewardship and move along our wealth building journey, guarding our hearts against the love of money is vital.

Is Money the Root of All Evil?

There is no doubt that money has been used to facilitate evil agendas. However, 1 Timothy 6:10 makes it clear that money is not the root of all evil–the love of it is. When people love money, their love drives them to gain more and more at the cost of hurting others. When evil people have money, the root of evil in their hearts can produce all sorts of bad things.

Take heart–the wealth of the wicked won’t stay in the hands of the wicked forever. Proverbs 13:22 encourages, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.”

What is the Right Way to Think About Money as a Christian?

So, if we want to build generational wealth and leave an inheritance, we can’t think about money as evil. Rather, it is a powerful way to bless others, preserve legacy, and advance the Kingdom of God. 

However, I have a bit of a curveball for you:

As you build wealth, money should never be your focus. Yes–you read that correctly. 

Money is attracted, not pursued. The moment you begin to pursue money, it becomes a spirit of mammon. Rather, when you pursue God’s purposes for your lives and operate in wise financial stewardship, money will be attracted to you. To learn more about how to combine your faith and finances, download your free two week Money Mastery devotional below.

10 Bible Verses About The Love of Money 

1. 1 Timothy 6:9-11, NKJV

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” 

2. Luke 16:13-15, NLT

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.” 

3. Ecclesiastes 5:10, NIV

Whoever loves money never has enough;

    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.

     This too is meaningless.” 

4. Hebrews 13:5, AMPC

“Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.” 

5. 2 Peter 2:14-15, ESV

“They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,” 

6. 1 Timothy 3:2-3, NLT

“So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.”

7. 2 Timothy 3:1-5, NKJV

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, [b]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 

8. Matthew 6:24, ESV 

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” 

9. Mark 4:18-19, NIV

“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” 

10. Mark 10:23-27, NLT

The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler

“Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Read Next: What Does The Bible Say About Money?

This post was originally written on June 6, 2023, and has since been modified for content and accuracy.