Is Money the Root of All Evil?
The phrase "money is the root of all evil" is famous. It means that people are sometimes motivated to do wrong things because they want money. This quote has been attributed to the Bible, but this phrase does not appear in the Bible. The closest thing to it is "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10).
Despite having no Biblical basis, this phrase continues to be used today. It's often used when referring to greed and moral corruption. Some people may think that if you don't have any money, you can't do any evil or hurt anyone. We all know that’s not true!
A Balanced Biblical View of the Role of Money in Our Lives
Money is a gift from God. Yet, it can also be a severe temptation. It seems to unlock all the doors to happiness. It promises to give us what we desire. Unfortunately, the love of money can turn into senseless and harmful desires. Those desires can lead to loads of debt, overspending, impulse purchases, and selfishness. Such financial ruin can negatively affect our relationship with the people we love.
A financially stressed person is more likely to be grumpy, moody, easily agitated, short-tempered, and anxious. This is not how God wants money to affect our lives. Therefore, we must learn how to view our money correctly.
The Bible teaches us a lot about money. Such as the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). But it also teaches that the rich rule over the poor and that borrowers are slaves to lenders (Proverbs 22:7). In short, warnings like these remind us that money doesn’t necessarily buy happiness. These warnings speak to how a person consumed with money might live a life of great misery.
Loving money is a sinful and dangerous thing because you cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24). You will have a hard time following the commands of God and serving your money at the same time. This is why many Christians argue against tithing. They simply love their money more than their God!
We don’t have to love money over God
We can choose to like money and love God! Our heart must agree that God is first, and His Word determines our worldview. This will lead us to the biblical truth that money is not evil. It does not have a soul, so only our behaviors concerning money can be evil or sinful. Furthermore, the Bible doesn’t say we should not pursue wealth, gain, or financial security.
The Bible encourages us to seek all these things to have resources to sow into God’s Kingdom agenda (Malachi 3:8-12) and leave a rich financial legacy for our children (Proverbs 13:22).
You may be surprised to discover that the Bible has a lot of good to say about money’s role in society. The Bible teaches us that:
We should be grateful for what we have if we are wealthy (Deuteronomy 18:8).
We should not be overly focused on our possessions or our desire for more money (Matthew 6:33-34).
We should focus on the blessings we receive when we do good (Acts 20:35).
We should invest our money wisely (Matthew 25:14-30).
We should not be greedy (Luke 12:15).
We should be content with our income and possessions (1 Timothy 6:6-12).
We should love giving (2 Corinthians 9:7).
A balanced godly view of money will lead to greater contentment and less greed in the long run
This means your money goals should be centered on a higher purpose. The desire for wealth should be tempered with the desire for stewardship, legacy, enjoyment, and generosity. When money is abused, it can destroy people's lives (Proverbs 22:1).
Yes, the Bible warns against loving money, but don't let that stop you from liking it! When the Bible warns against the love of money, it is calling for Christians to avoid idolizing money. If we are thankful for the blessings, we are more likely to be happy and content in life. And in today's world, having money is a blessing. And if we have enough, we are happy.
You can avoid the trap of loving money by simply liking how money can help you further God’s purpose with your life. Wealth will be worthless when Jesus returns, so make it count for something now. Let’s learn to love God above all and just “like” money!