What does the Bible say about money?
Short answer
The Bible talks about money constantly and with two emphases: money is a good thing to steward and share, and it is a dangerous thing to serve. 1 Timothy 6:10 warns about the love of money, not money itself, and Jesus repeatedly ties wealth to what a person actually trusts.
Key passages
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Commonly misquoted as 'money is the root of all evil'. The text says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon.”
“The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.”
“Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Four threads that run through Scripture
- Work and provision are treated as good and normal (Proverbs 6:6-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10).
- Generosity is the expected use of surplus, especially toward the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Acts 4:32-35).
- Debt is treated soberly as a form of servitude, not as a sin (Proverbs 22:7; Romans 13:8).
- Contentment is the counterweight to accumulation (Philippians 4:11-13; Hebrews 13:5).
Why Jesus talks about money so often
A large share of Jesus' parables involve money, land, wages, or debt. The consistent concern is not the amount but the grip: the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-27), the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21), and the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) each ask what a person is actually relying on and what they do with what they hold.
Tithing, giving, and what churches teach
The tithe — a tenth — comes from the Old Testament law (Leviticus 27:30). The New Testament does not repeat it as a fixed rule; 2 Corinthians 8-9 describes proportional, willing, planned giving instead. Some churches teach the tithe as a standard, others as a helpful benchmark. Both readings are held in good faith.
Christian traditions read this differently
- Prosperity-oriented teaching reads promises of blessing as material. Most historic traditions read them primarily as covenantal or spiritual, and warn against treating giving as an investment.
- Churches differ on whether the tithe is binding for Christians today.
Questions for reflection or group discussion
- If someone looked only at my spending from last month, what would they say I trust?
- What is one specific act of generosity I could plan rather than improvise?
- Is there a debt or financial fear I have never actually prayed about out loud?
Common questions
Is money the root of all evil in the Bible?
No — that is a misquotation. 1 Timothy 6:10 says 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil'. Scripture treats money itself as a tool to be stewarded and shared.
Does the Bible say Christians must tithe 10%?
The tithe is an Old Testament law. The New Testament instead describes proportional, willing, planned giving (2 Corinthians 8-9). Churches differ on whether the ten percent standard still applies.
What does the Bible say about debt?
It treats debt as serious but not sinful. Proverbs 22:7 warns that the borrower becomes servant to the lender, and Romans 13:8 urges paying what is owed — practical caution rather than prohibition.
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Find a groupLast reviewed and updated: 2026-08-11