For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. 1 Timothy 6:10 NLT
“Money is the root of all evil” is one of the most common misquotations of the Bible. To make the misquote even worse, it is commonly attributed to Jesus. Paul is the one who correctly said, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” But Paul’s statement agreed with all the teachings of Jesus. And honestly? If you think about it for a minute, you’ll agree too. The evils of the world all go back to greed and jealousy. They always have.
Jesus did not view money as evil. He viewed it as amoral. It depends on how you think about it; how you use it. Money is an inanimate object. It can’t do anything on its own. It does what YOU decide with it. It is a tool. It is also a spiritual test, a witness to what truly rules your heart.
Jesus talked more about money than about heaven and hell combined because the place of money in our lives significantly determines what we do with our lives, and ultimately our legacy and destiny. What Jesus had to say can be gathered into repeated themes:
My heart follows my wallet. Jesus taught, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34 NLT). We simply think our hearts dictate how we spend our money, but Jesus said it is bigger than that. He flips it and says that intentionally investing our resources in something or someone grows our heart in that direction. You can see that in your own life. He tells us that when we invest in God’s Kingdom, our love for Him grows. Our love for Him will send our resources to heaven because of the good we do with them! Money easily becomes the master. "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money" (Matthew 6:24 NIV). Money has such a powerful pull on our hearts and lives that it easily moves from being a helpful tool to an addictive master, enslaving us to desires and debt. Thinking I am my provider leads to paralyzing anxiety. Jesus said God is the supplier of our needs. He even cares for the birds and will care for us (Matthew 6:35-34). When I think I am my ultimate provider, I am prey to anxiety and the exhausting daily pursuit of enough and more. God delights to provide for me. True wealth is being “rich toward God” (Luke 12:13-21). Jesus warns against putting our riches in the wrong place. God is not opposed to having money, but He challenges us to view our resources as tools to bless others and honor God. This is storing up riches in God’s Kingdom, riches that last forever.
- My Father, may my resources be used in agreement and cooperation with the heart of Jesus, reflecting His love, grace, and generosity.