The Bible does not call money evil, but Jesus warns that it can quietly become our master: "You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24, ESV). Scripture calls us to hold money with open hands: give generously, work honestly, and trust God as our provider rather than our wealth.
The Bible does not call money evil, but Jesus warns that it can quietly become our master: “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24, ESV). Scripture calls us to hold money with open hands: give generously, work honestly, and trust God as our provider rather than our wealth.
Short answer: The Bible does not call money evil, but Jesus warns that it can quietly become our master: “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). He calls us to guard against greed, to store up treasure in heaven through generosity, and to seek God’s kingdom first, trusting our Father to provide what we need (Matthew 6:19–21, 33).
Money touches almost every part of life: where we live, what we worry about, how we spend our time, and even how we feel about ourselves. So it shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus talked about money often. He spoke about it not because God wants our money, but because he wants our hearts, and he knew how easily money competes for them.
Let’s look at what Jesus actually said, and how his words can bring freedom rather than guilt.
Is money evil according to the Bible?
No. Money itself is a tool. Jesus received financial support from friends (Luke 8:3), paid taxes, and praised wise, faithful stewardship in his parables. The problem is not having money. It is loving and trusting money.
Jesus put it this way:
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24, ESV).
Jesus treats money almost like a rival god. It promises security, identity, and control, all things only God can truly give. The question isn’t how much I have, but who my master is.
What did Jesus say about treasure in heaven?
Just before that warning, Jesus gave one of his most famous teachings on wealth. Don’t pile up treasure on earth, where moths, rust, and thieves can take it; store up treasure in heaven, where nothing can touch it, because your heart follows your treasure (Matthew 6:19–21).
Jesus isn’t condemning savings or planning. He’s pointing out a simple fact: everything on earth is temporary. Moths, rust, and thieves are ancient versions of inflation, market crashes, and fraud. If our hope is tied to earthly treasure, our hearts will always be anxious.
Then comes the key line: your heart goes where your treasure is. We usually think our hearts lead our money. Jesus says our money also leads our hearts. When we invest in God’s kingdom by giving, serving, and caring for the poor, our affections follow.
What does the Bible say about greed?
Jesus spoke directly to greed when a man asked him to settle an inheritance dispute. He told the crowd to watch out for every kind of greed, because life isn’t measured by how much you own (Luke 12:15).
Jesus’ call to be on guard means greed is sneaky. It rarely looks like greed from the inside. It looks like a little more security, what I deserve, or keeping up. Jesus then told the parable of the rich fool, a man who built bigger barns but was not rich toward God.
The cure for covetousness is not merely having less. It is learning that life, real life, is found in God, not in possessions. (Our Devotional on Contentment explores this further.)
Can rich people go to heaven?
After a wealthy young man walked away from Jesus, unwilling to let go of his possessions, Jesus looked at his disciples and said how hard it is for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom (Mark 10:23).
The disciples were amazed. In their culture, wealth often looked like a sign of God’s blessing. But Jesus explained that riches can make it hard to see our need for God. When we feel self-sufficient, we resist coming through the narrow gate with empty hands.
Yet Jesus also said that what is impossible for people is possible for God (Mark 10:27). Wealthy people can enter the kingdom, the same way everyone else does: by grace, through humble faith. The issue is never the size of the bank account but whether we will let go of it as our savior.
What does Jesus say about giving?
One day Jesus sat near the temple treasury and watched people give. Wealthy people dropped in big amounts. Then a poor widow dropped in two small coins. Jesus said she had given more than all the others, because they gave from their surplus, but she gave all her living (Luke 21:3–4).
Heaven measures giving differently than we do. God doesn’t look at the amount; he looks at the heart and the cost. Her gift was small in coins but enormous in trust.
This frees us. Whether you have much or little, your generosity matters to God. Giving is not a fee or a burden. It is an act of worship and trust, a way of telling God that our security is in him.
How can I stop worrying about money?
Right after warning about treasure and masters, Jesus turned to worry. He pointed to the birds and the lilies, cared for by their Creator, and said that our heavenly Father knows what we need. Then he gave this promise:
Matthew 6:33: Put God’s kingdom and his righteousness first, and he will provide everything else you need.
This isn’t a promise of wealth. It’s a promise of a Father’s care. When God’s kingdom comes first, our needs are held in his hands, and our anxiety loosens. (See our Do Not Worry About Tomorrow Devotional and Devotional on Trusting God.)
Practical steps for a Gospel-shaped relationship with money
- Ask the master question. Where do I feel most secure: in my balance, or in my Father?
- Give first, not last. Set aside a regular gift for your church or for people in need before other spending.
- Practice contentment. Thank God daily for specific things you already have.
- Live below your means. Debt and overspending often come from comparison, not need.
- Be rich toward God. Use money to love people: hospitality, generosity, and helping the poor.
- Bring money worries to prayer. Jesus invites you to ask your Father for daily bread.
For more verse-by-verse teaching like this, browse our Gospel studies.
Related Bible studies
- Sermon on the Mount Bible Study: A Sermon on the Mount Bible study on Matthew 5–7: the Beatitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, the narrow gate, and the wise builder.
- Devotional on God’s Provision: A devotional on God’s provision from Matthew 6:25-33: trusting your Father to provide and seeking first his kingdom when money is tight.
Frequently asked questions about money
Does the Bible say money is the root of all evil? No. Scripture warns about the love of money, not money itself. Jesus said no one can serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). The danger is money becoming our master.
What did Jesus say about treasures in heaven? He told us to store up treasure in heaven, because our hearts follow our treasure (Matthew 6:20–21).
Is it a sin to be rich? No, but Jesus warned that wealth makes it hard to enter the kingdom (Mark 10:23), because riches can make us trust ourselves instead of God.
How much should Christians give? Jesus focused on the heart rather than a fixed amount, praising a poor widow who gave all her living (Luke 21:4). Give regularly, generously, and joyfully as an act of trust.
How do I stop worrying about money? Jesus tells us to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, trusting that our Father knows what we need (Matthew 6:33).
Related: read: Parable of the Persistent Widow Meaning
Related: Parable of the Talents Devotional (devotional)
Related: Parable of the Hidden Treasure Devotional (devotional)
Related: our devotional: Devotional on God’s Care
Related: Treasure in Heaven Devotional (devotional)
Find your treasure in Christ
If you’d like to spend a few quiet mornings with Jesus’ words, our free 7-Day Gospel Devotional, The Narrow Gate, offers a short Scripture reading, reflection, and prayer for each day. It’s a simple way to fix your heart on the treasure that lasts. Get the free devotional
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.