Paul calls the love of money the root of all kinds of evil and warns about the danger of pursuing wealth. Jesus says that one cannot serve both God and mammon, commands us to beware of covetousness, and warns about the danger of wealth. As for the rich in the present age, Paul instructs them not to put their hope in uncertain riches but in God, to do good, and to be generous.
What Does the Bible Say About This?
- Paul writes that godliness with contentment is great gain; those who desire to become rich fall into temptation and a snare, and the root of all kinds of evil is the love of money; by craving it, some have wandered from the faith (1 Tim. 6:6–10).
- Jesus says not to store up treasures on earth but to store them up in heaven, because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also; no one can serve two masters—you cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:19–24).
- Elsewhere Jesus says: beware of covetousness; a person's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. In the parable, God calls a person foolish who stored up for himself instead of growing rich toward God (Luke 12:15–21).
- Jesus speaks about how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven; the disciples are astonished, and He answers: with people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:23–26).
- Paul instructs the rich in the present age not to be proud or to set their hope on uncertain riches but on God, to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous (1 Tim. 6:17–19).
- The author of Proverbs asks God for neither poverty nor riches, but only daily bread, so that, having too much, he would not deny God, and, being poor, would not resort to stealing (Prov. 30:8–9). This is the author's prayer, not a rule for everyone.
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
6 Scripture passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
1 Timothy 6:6–10
6 Godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and it is clear that we can take nothing out of it. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts that plunge people into ruin and destruction; 10 for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Matthew 6:19–24
19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal, 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 12:15–21
15 And He said to them, “Watch out and beware of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. 16 And He told them a parable: The land of a rich man produced a bountiful harvest; 17 and he reasoned with himself, saying, ‘What shall I do? I have nowhere to store my crops.’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods, 19 and I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and who will own what you have prepared?’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Matthew 19:23–26
23 Jesus said to His disciples: “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven; 24 and again I tell you: it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
1 Timothy 6:17–19
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be proud of themselves or to put their hope in uncertain wealth, but in the living God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment; 18 command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of eternal life.
Proverbs 30:8–9
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread, 9 lest, having too much, I deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” or, being poor, I steal and dishonor the name of my God.
