The financial landscape has drastically changed since the 2020 pandemic and, for the most part, that change has not been a good one.
Bankrate, a leading financial news and advice company, states in their March 2024 survey that approximately 65% of all U.S. adults said money negatively impacts their mental health. 59% of those surveyed said their stress level rose when figuring out how to pay their bills with the money they have.
Money not only adds stress to your life but is also the leading cause of marital problems and divorce.
Money burdens can cause a couple to seek help before they get married as well as search for answers after they’ve said “I do.”
A common place many people seek financial advice from is their church. They hope their pastor can give them Biblical advice that would be pleasing to God while relieving the stress that money has caused.
Any Biblical study on money must begin with finding out what the scriptures say on the subject. The Bible is jam-packed with various teachings on money and wealth. In fact, it has 2,350 verses dealing with money and wealth.
Let’s dive in and find out what the Bible says about money.
Is Money Evil?
For centuries the phrase “money is the root of all evil” has been quoted time and time again. In fact, many people think that God hates money.
The phrase comes from The Apostle Paul’s letter to his understudy Timothy. But did the Apostle Paul actually claim “money is the root of all evil?”
In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul instructs Timothy:
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Money isn’t the root of all kinds of evil but it is the LOVE of money that creates all kinds of problems for someone. According to Paul, the wrong attitude about money can lead to Christians wandering from the faith and adding unnecessary grief to their lives.
Paul’s attitude toward money isn’t new. Centuries before he penned that phrase, Solomon advised us about an unhealthy view of money.
“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
The first thing God wants us to learn is when we give money top priority in our lives, we are inviting all types of grief into our lives. The wrong attitude toward money will adversely affect our spiritual growth and our ability to please the Lord.
When Jesus taught his disciples how to understand his teachings, he compared the lessons to seeds being sown into the ground.
“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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.” (Mark 4:18-19)
Having a healthy spiritual attitude on money means we need to understand two undisputed facts about God’s view of wealth.
1. God Owns Everything
When David told all of Israel how God wanted his temple to be built and the response the people gave to those plans, David led everyone in praise for what God had done.
“Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11-12)
The paycheck you receive is money God owns. Sure, you worked hard for that money. But, God is the owner of all wealth and honor and he has allowed you to enjoy that wealth.
“The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; on them he has set the world.” (1 Samuel 2:7-8)
God gives us from the abundance of his own wealth, allowing us to enjoy him.
“Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:19)
2. God Gives You the Ability to Make Money
Before we go any further, we need to clarify that we aren’t talking about a prosperity gospel. There are some preachers and televangelists today who would have you believe that if you give to their ministry, God will bless you with an abundance of wealth.
They twist the scriptures to promise you that your money problems will vanish by supporting them and that God will give you anything you want as long as you pray to him.
Pastor Alastair Begg famously said, “God is not our personal vending machine, Jesus Christ is not our butler, and the Holy Spirit is not our genie.”
It’s not money that God dislikes. It’s our attitude toward money. In fact, the scriptures teach us that God wants us to prosper.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17)
Moses reminded the people of Israel that God has given them the ability to gain wealth.
“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)
Whatever your occupation is, God gave you the ability to perform that job as a means for providing a lifestyle for you and your family. That talent should be used to serve him also.
When God was giving Moses instructions on how to construct the Tent of Meeting (the portable tents Israel would use to temporarily house the Ark of the Covenant) he told Moses:
“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills — to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.
Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you.” (Exodus 31:1-6)
When God calls someone to a certain occupation, but they don’t use their talent for God’s glory, they have misplaced the ability God has given them. Their priorities are off.
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)
Your “wealth” not only means your money, but also the talent God has given you to make money. No matter what your occupation is, remember God gave you the ability to do that job so you can enjoy his wealth and honor him.
Want some more Christian financial resources?
- Check out this book.
- Join our next Financial Peace University class.
