⚡ Quick answer: Welcome to the what did Jesus say about money article! Money is not evil in itself, but loving it is a sin. Jesus warned about money more often than almost any other topic. The Bible’s core message is clear: do not strive to get rich, be content with food and clothing, give to the poor and store up treasures in heaven – not on earth.
You are apparently looking for information about what Jesus said about money. I can say right from the start that in the Old Testament money was viewed differently than in the New Testament. In the Old Testament God made his servants rich. There are examples where for instance David and Solomon lived as wealthy men, but when you look at the New Testament, Jesus often warned about getting rich and it runs the same way throughout the New Testament. Now I will tell you more in detail.
How to relate to money today?
I have myself been careful with money because it is warned about so much in the New Testament. Often before coming to faith I looked up to all rich people. For example one of my employers was a rich building company owner where I worked. I admired his fine cars and showed great respect toward him. Nowadays I no longer look at rich people the same way. In fact the rich are in a “danger zone” according to the New Testament. Why? Because Jesus himself says that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. ✚Mark. 10:25. What does that mean in practice?
If someone is rich in this world, mammon may blind their eyes so that they no longer care about God or need Him. When you can get almost everything with money, you no longer need anything. The poor beg but the rich answer harshly. ✚Prov. 18:23. I believe that mammon involves spiritual powers. If one manages to get too rich, it is dangerous both for a believer and for one who has no faith. I have thought about what a person does who is born into a billionaire family. He surely gets quite a large allowance already as a child. For him money is a matter of course and he does not experience what it feels like to be poor. In addition he will probably receive a large inheritance. So if he were to come to faith during his life he would need to give money to the poor. Can he do that? I have not yet seen a billionaire’s child come to faith. Of course that may have happened, but how easy is it? He would need to share his money with the poor and follow Jesus. ✚Luke. 18:22
What to do if you are rich?
Jesus warned about money in several places in the Bible. Money should be approached with caution. According to the Bible getting rich brings problems with it. It is even said so strongly that those who desire to get rich may end up in ruin. ✚1 Tim. 6:9. So if you have a lot of property, pray to God about what you would do with that money. If you are a believer and rich, you can for example pray and give part or all to the Lord and believe that the Lord does that work in you so that the money goes where the Lord wants it to go. In the Bible there is an example where a rich man gave half of his property to the poor. If you can release half to the Lord, that is good. ✚Luke. 19:8.
Is money evil?
Money is not evil in itself, but loving it and owning it in large amounts is evil. ✚1 Tim. 6:10. You must be content to be in humble circumstances. In the Bible it actually says that if you have food and clothing you must be content with that. ✚1 Tim. 6:8. According to Jesus’s teaching loving money is idolatry. In the world the rich and money are admired, but that is not God’s will. Jesus encourages storing up treasures in heaven, that is by doing spiritual work. If you serve the Lord, the use of money is in His hands and you do spiritual work and through that you store up treasures in heaven. ✚Matt. 6:19–21.
Of course money is a necessity for those living in this world, but you must remember that Satan is the god of this world. Everything that is admired in the world is what God does not want. In the world accumulating money is taken for granted and the more money the better. If the Bible did not warn about money, surely all believers would be rich. But because it is warned about in so many places, that is one reason why you so rarely see disciples being rich. Of course if you want to help the poor, you must have something to give from. Often if you are doing well and can share what you have with the poor, that is enough. It is also not good to be completely poor, because Jesus has also said that the worries of livelihood should not weigh you down. ✚Luke. 21:34.
What defines the rich?
This is a tricky question. In some countries a small sum in a wealthy country is a large sum in a poor country. For example in some African country 300 dollars can be a lot of money and with it you can live for even a month, but in the most expensive countries with it you can live for a week or two. Wealth therefore depends on where you live. I myself live in Finland and here a few thousand euros a month is not yet the boundary of wealth. Those who are well off earn perhaps 10 thousand euros or more while the average income is somewhere between three and four thousand.
So you can think that if a lot of money is left over after your own expenses, you are rich. You can say that all millionaires and billionaires are rich. I myself for example do not consider those earning a doctor’s salary to yet be wealthy but doctors are well off, though not rich. You can therefore certainly be well off as a believer if you are also able to help the poor when needed.
Why is loving money a sin?
The biggest reason loving money comes from the fact that it is an idol. Because you can get almost everything with money, it can go before God. Some believers even live by faith without receiving money from anywhere. They believe that God takes care of them. They do not beg money from anywhere but accept all donations. God takes care of them. That is an extremely respectable way to live and it requires a lot of faith! It is perhaps the safest style of life of all. Then you know that God takes care of you. It is therefore the opposite of loving money.
Is it a sin to start your own business?
No. Starting your own business is not a sin. If you have a business, you naturally earn more, but you can earn moderately. If you are also able to help the poor and put money where the Lord wants the money to go, you do not need to worry. However if running the business takes all your time, that may already be a problem. In principle Paavali also had his own business when he sold tents. Entrepreneurship is therefore not a sin in itself. ✚Acts. 18:1–3. Of course it is possible that Paul made them for someone who had a business, but I myself believe that Paul made them himself and sold tents onward.
Bible verses about money:
JESUS’S WORDS
- Money vs. God – ✚Matt. 6:24, ✚Luke. 16:13
- Heavenly treasures – ✚Matt. 6:19–21
- Greed – ✚Luke. 12:15
- The foolish rich man (parable) – ✚Luke. 12:16–21
- Wealth and salvation – ✚Mark. 10:25
- The rich young man – ✚Mark. 10:21
- Faithful stewardship – ✚Luke. 16:10–11
- Paying taxes – ✚Matt. 22:21
- The widow’s mite – ✚Luke. 21:1–4
- Zacchaeus – ✚Luke. 19:8–9
- The parable of the talents – ✚Matt. 25:14–30
- The cleansing of the temple – ✚Matt. 21:12–13
NEW TESTAMENT
13. Loving money – ✚1 Tim. 6:10
14. Contentment – ✚1 Tim. 6:6–8, ✚Heb. 13:5, ✚Phil. 4:11–12
15. Warning to the rich – ✚James. 5:1–3
16. A cheerful giver – ✚2 Cor. 9:7
17. Debt and love – ✚Rom. 13:8
18. The sharing of property in the early church – ✚Acts. 2:44–45
OLD TESTAMENT
19. Debt and power – ✚Prov. 22:7
20. Tithes – ✚Prov. 3:9–10, ✚Mal. 3:10
21. The paradox of generosity – ✚Prov. 11:24–25
22. Greed – ✚Prov. 28:22
23. Helping the poor – ✚Deut. 15:7–8
24. The prohibition of usury – ✚Exod. 22:25
25. Debt and righteousness – ✚Ps. 37:21
Summary
Money is not evil in itself, but loving it is. If you are rich, pray that Jesus would become the keeper of your purse. If you can give half of your property to the poor, you are in a good position according to the Bible’s example. According to the Bible money can become an idol, because then you no longer lean on God. Wealth depends on what country you live in. In one country you can be rich with a smaller sum because the standard of living is low and in another country with the same money you are at the poverty line. Jesus says that the worries of livelihood should not weigh you down, but the Bible also says that food and clothing shall be enough. So do not strive to get rich, but you can be well off without sinning. Thank you for reading to the end!
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Money and the Bible
- Is money evil?
Money is not evil in itself, but loving it is. The Bible says clearly: “The love of money is the root of all evil.” (✚1 Tim. 6:10) - What did Jesus teach about money?
Jesus warned about money in several places. He encouraged storing up treasures in heaven instead of earthly property (✚Matt. 6:19–21) and said that you cannot serve both God and mammon (✚Matt. 6:24). - Can a rich person get into heaven?
According to Jesus it is difficult: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (✚Mark. 10:25) Wealth does not prevent salvation, but mammon can blind the eyes from God. - What to do if you have a lot of money?
Pray to God for wisdom. In the Bible Zacchaeus gave half of his property to the poor and Jesus said salvation had come to his house (✚Luke. 19:8–9). A good starting point is to give part to the poor and let the Lord guide the use of money. - Is starting your own business a sin?
It is not. Paul also had his own work – he made tents (✚Acts. 18:1–3). Entrepreneurship is not a sin, as long as money does not rise above God and you are also able to help others. - How much does one need to earn to be rich?
It depends on the country and standard of living. In Finland a few thousand euros a month is not yet wealth. If money is clearly left over after your own needs, you can consider yourself rich. The Bible encourages contentment: food and clothing are enough (✚1 Tim. 6:8). - Is it allowed to worry about livelihood?
Jesus says that the worries of livelihood should not weigh down the heart (✚Luke. 21:34) and encourages trusting in God’s care (✚Matt. 6:25–33). At the same time the Bible says that food and clothing shall be enough – so you do not need to strive to be rich. - Why is loving money a sin?
Because it is idolatry. You can get almost everything with money, so it can easily go before God. When a person no longer needs God, he is in danger. (✚Eph. 5:5, ✚Col. 3:5)
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