Money. It’s something we all have to deal with. When most Christians think about the Bible and money, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Paul’s warning about its dangers to his protégé, Timothy:
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10 (CSB)
Some misquote this verse, mistakenly believing money is a root of all kinds of evil. But notice that Paul says it’s “the love of money” — not money itself — that brings evil.
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (CSB)
We can learn four powerful lessons about money in these verses.
Money is part of God’s provision for us. Paul sounds a lot like the author of Ecclesiastes:
Furthermore, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, he has also allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God … Ecclesiastes 5:19 (CSB)
God’s gifts are good and given to us for our benefit and enjoyment — including our financial resources. Enjoying what God provides is part of his design.
The Bible teaches that sin has pervasively poisoned this world and human nature, leaving us prone to prideful self-reliance and selfishness. Sin has warped our understanding of the nature of money and wealth. It becomes something that we can twist and abuse for our purposes. We can hoard, idolize and even sacrifice other good things to acquire and keep it.
God, in his incredible grace, sent his Son, Jesus, to rescue us from the grip of sin through his death and resurrection. And because of that, everything changes — even how we think about and use our money! What once seemed like just a material resource now becomes a gift from God, meant to be enjoyed and used with purpose.
Money is also meant to be employed in the service of the Lord. In the hands of Christians, it can be a tool for good. God intends us to steward it carefully and use it generously to multiply Kingdom impact.
God gives us wealth to enjoy and employ for him!
Finally, Paul knows the joys and struggles of wealth. Our sinful “present age” can blind us to the reality of eternity — our glorious and perfect “coming age”. Our true life begins in eternity, but in the meantime, we are free to enjoy and employ wealth on this earth in light of the coming restoration of all things under Christ. Our goal as good stewards of all things God has given us is to hear the Master say, “Well done!"
So, what does the Bible say about money? Enjoy it and use it wisely. As Christ’s followers, we are responsible for stewarding all we’ve been given and fostering wellness in all aspects of our lives so that we can serve him wholeheartedly.
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• Oct 9, 2025 