The Bible talks about money often, and it is neither for nor against having it. It warns against loving money and trusting it, calls for generosity and honesty, and offers a better security: “be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
A verse for you
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Written about money and its worries: whatever you have or lack today, God has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
KJVLet your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Written about money and its worries: whatever you have or lack today, God has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Whatever you treasure most will have your heart, so treasure what cannot rust or be stolen.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Paul learned contentment both with plenty and in need. It is learned, not switched on.
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Your life is not measured by how much you own.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Seek God’s kingdom first. Your Father knows what you need, and you can trust Him with it.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Give what you have decided in your heart, freely and gladly, not under pressure.
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
A prayer for enough: neither poverty nor riches, because both can pull a heart away from God.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Not money but the love of money is the root Paul warns about: wanting it at any cost brings deep sorrow.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Money makes a good servant and a poor master; you cannot give your whole heart to God and to it.
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Loving money never leads to having enough. The Preacher says it plainly from experience.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
To those who have plenty: do not trust uncertain riches, but enjoy God’s gifts and be rich in generosity.
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Kindness to the poor is counted as a loan to God Himself.
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Faithfulness with small amounts of money is where trust with greater things begins.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Jesus takes it for granted that a wise builder sits down and counts the cost first.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
A sober observation about debt: borrowing can put you in someone else’s power.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Paul thanks a church that gave to him out of little: my God will supply every need you have, from His riches in Christ.
The best-known verse about money is often misquoted. Scripture does not say that money is the root of all evil, but that “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Money itself is a tool. The danger is in what it becomes to us: a master (“Ye cannot serve God and mammon”), a measure of our worth (“a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth”), or a place to hide from God.
The Bible holds together two truths that are often pulled apart. It does not promise that faith will make you rich. The claim that enough giving or believing guarantees wealth is not what these texts say, and Jesus Himself “hath not where to lay his head.” Nor does it treat poverty as a sign of God’s displeasure: “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith?” If you are struggling to pay the bills, that is not a verdict on your faith. The prayer in Proverbs 30 asks for neither poverty nor riches, only “food convenient for me,” because both extremes carry their own temptations.
What the Bible does ask is practical. Learn contentment; Paul says it was something he had “learned.” Give freely and cheerfully, not under pressure (2 Corinthians 9:7). Care for the poor (Proverbs 19:17). Plan ahead and count the cost (Luke 14:28). Be wary of debt, since “the borrower is servant to the lender,” and be honest in small things (Luke 16:10). To those who have plenty, Paul’s charge is not shame but responsibility: to be “rich in good works, ready to distribute.”
If money worries keep you up at night, you are not alone, and it is not unspiritual to get help: a church benevolence fund, a nonprofit credit counselor, a friend who is good with budgets. Jesus’ words about the birds and the lilies (Matthew 6:25-34) were spoken to ordinary people who did not know where tomorrow’s food would come from. He invites you to seek God’s kingdom first and to bring your needs to a Father who already knows them.
Father, everything I have comes from You. Teach me to be content with what I have, and free me from the love of money and from the fear of not having enough. Give me neither poverty nor riches, but the bread I need. Make me honest in small things, wise with what I spend and owe, and glad to give. Where I am worried about tomorrow, help me seek Your kingdom first and trust You with my needs. Amen.
No. 1 Timothy 6:10 says “the love of money is the root of all evil.” The problem is craving it and trusting it, which Paul says has led some to wander from the faith and pierce themselves with many sorrows.
Scripture does not condemn having wealth; Abraham and Job were wealthy. It warns that riches are “uncertain” and easily trusted in place of God, and asks those who have much to be generous and “rich in good works” (1 Timothy 6:17-18). Jesus’ warnings about wealth are serious, and they are about the heart.
It is realistic: “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). It calls for repaying what we owe and for honesty in lending, and Romans 13:8 says “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another.” Most Christian traditions read that as a call to pay what you owe, not a ban on every loan. If you are in debt, it is wise, not shameful, to ask for help making a plan.
Christians answer differently. Many practise the tithe, a tenth, from the Old Testament; the New Testament asks each person to give “as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity” (2 Corinthians 9:7), and praises a widow who gave two small coins (Mark 12:42-44). Give freely, regularly and as you are able, never out of fear or pressure.
Hebrews 13:5 for God’s presence, Matthew 6:33 for priorities, and Philippians 4:19, which Paul wrote to a church that had given generously out of little: “my God shall supply all your need.” See also our verses for anxiety.